Closure element with extensions for internal passage of component
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsYan Cui, Michael Douglas Arnett, Matthew Joseph Laylock, Brian Lee Tollison
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A closure element for an internal passage in a component, and a related method and turbine blade or nozzle are disclosed. The closure element includes a spherical body made of a first superalloy, and a plurality of extensions extending from a surface of the spherical body. The plurality of extensions made of the same, similar or different material other than the first superalloy. Subjecting the component to at least one thermal cycle causes a braze material to form a metallurgical bond with the spherical body, the plurality of extensions and the passage wall to seal the internal passage.
Claims19
A closure element for an internal passage in a component, the closure element comprising:
- a spherical body, the spherical body made of a first superalloy;
- and
- a plurality of extensions extending from a surface of the spherical body, the plurality of extensions made of a material other than the first superalloy and bonded to the spherical body before the closure element is received in the internal passage,
- wherein the plurality of extensions each has a shape of a sphere, a cone or a round plate.
A closure element for an internal passage in a component, the closure element comprising:
- a spherical body, the spherical body made of a first superalloy;
- and
- a plurality of extensions extending from a surface of the spherical body, the plurality of extensions made of a material other than the first superalloy, wherein the plurality of extensions includes uniformly distributed extensions.
A method, comprising:
- inserting a closure element into an internal passage of a component, the closure element including a spherical body and a plurality of extensions extending from a surface of the spherical body, wherein at least one of the plurality of extensions engages with a passage wall of the internal passage to position the spherical body at a closure site;
- applying a braze material at the closure site;
- and
- subjecting the component to at least one thermal cycle such that the braze material forms a metallurgical bond with the spherical body, the plurality of extensions and the passage wall to seal the internal passage,
- wherein the plurality of extensions were bonded to the spherical body before the closure element is inserted into the internal passage, and
- wherein the plurality of extensions each has a shape of:
- a sphere, a cone or a round plate.
A turbine blade or nozzle, comprising:
- a body;
- an internal passage in the body, the internal passage including a passage wall;
- a closure element at a closure site in the internal passage, the closure element including a spherical body, and a plurality of extensions in a surface of the spherical body, the spherical body and the plurality of extensions forming a metallurgical bond with the passage wall to seal the internal passage,
- wherein the plurality of extensions were bonded to the spherical body before the closure element is received in the internal passage, and
- wherein the plurality of extensions each has a shape of:
- a sphere, a cone or a round plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.