# US 11,999,000 B2 · Pre-sintered preform braze reinforcement of pressure vessels > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,000 B2 - Document ID: US11999000B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/733,430 - Filed: 2020-01-03 - Published: 2021-07-08 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-03 - Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE plc - Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation - Inventors: Joseph Peter Henderkott - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999000B2 ## CPC - B22F 7/062: {involving the connection or repairing of preformed parts} - B23K 1/0018: {Brazing of turbine parts} - B22F 3/1035: {Liquid phase sintering} - B22F 5/009: {of turbine components other than turbine blades (of turbine blades B22F5/04)} - B22F 7/008: {characterised by the composition} - B22F 7/08: with one or more parts not made from powder {(B22F7/062 takes precedence)} - B23K 31/025: {Connecting cutting edges or the like to tools; Attaching reinforcements to workpieces, e.g. wear-resisting zones to tableware} - C22C 19/05: with chromium - C22C 19/056: {with the maximum Cr content being at least 10% but less than 20%} - C22C 19/057: {with the maximum Cr content being less 10%} - C22C 19/058: {without Mo and W} - F17C 1/02: involving reinforcing arrangements {(F17C1/14, F17C1/16 take precedence)} - B22F 2007/042: {characterised by the layer forming method} - B22F 2301/15: Nickel or cobalt - B22F 2301/35: Iron - B22F 2303/30: Coating alloy - B22F 2999/00: Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy - B23K 1/008: Soldering within a furnace (B23K1/012 takes precedence) - B23K 2103/02: Iron or ferrous alloys - B23K 2103/08: Non-ferrous metals or alloys - B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - C22C: ALLOYS (treatment of alloys C21D, C22F) - F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25) ## Abstract The disclosure describes assemblies, systems, and techniques for reinforcing complex geometries of pressure vessels using a pre-sintered preform (PSP) braze material that includes a low-melt powder and a high-melt powder. An example technique includes positioning a PSP reinforcement on a surface of a substrate. The technique includes heating the PSP reinforcement to soften or melt at least one constituent metal or alloy of the low-melt powder. During heating, the PSP reinforcement is configured to conform to a contour of the surface of the substrate. The technique also includes cooling the PSP reinforcement to define a reinforced component. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: positioning a pre-sintered preform (PSP) reinforcement that defines a thickness within a range of from about 0.381 millimeters (mm) to about 25.2 mm over a welded seam on an undamaged portion of an exterior surface of a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises at least a portion of a pressure vessel of a gas turbine engine or an outer combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine, and wherein the PSP reinforcement comprises a low-melt powder and a high-melt powder; heating the PSP reinforcement to soften or melt at least one constituent metal or alloy of the low-melt powder, wherein, during heating, the PSP reinforcement is configured to conform to a contour of the exterior surface of the substrate; and cooling the PSP reinforcement to define a reinforced component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the high-melt powder comprises a nickel-based alloy, cobalt-based alloy, or an iron-based alloy. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the low-melt powder comprises at least one of silicon or boron. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a weight percent (wt. %) of the low-melt powder is within a range from about 20 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of the total weight of the PSP. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the PSP reinforcement comprises between about 50 wt. % and about 90 wt. % Ni, up to about 15 wt. % Cr, up to about 10 wt. % Ta, up to about 10 wt. % Co, up to about 7 wt. % Al, up to about 4 wt. % W, up to about 2 wt. % Re, up to about 1 wt. % Mo, and up to about 1 wt. % Hf. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises, during heating, applying compression to a surface of the PSP reinforcement. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises, before positioning the PSP reinforcement, shaping a surface of the PSP reinforcement to substantially correspond to the exterior surface of the substrate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein heating the PSP reinforcement comprises heating the PSP reinforcement in a vacuum furnace at a temperature between about 1093° C. and about 1260° C. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, after cooling the PSP reinforcement to define the reinforced component, heat treating the reinforced component using a stepped diffusion cycle by at least heating the reinforced component to about 1038° C. for about 1 hour to about 2 hours; heating the reinforced component to about 1093° for about 1 hour to about 2 hours; heating the reinforced component to about 1121° C. for about 1 hour to about 2 hours; heating the reinforced component to about 1149° C. for about 1 hour to about 18 hours; and cooling the reinforced component to room temperature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the PSP reinforcement comprises a conforming braze material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the exterior surface comprises a contoured exterior surface, and wherein the conforming braze material is configured to soften to conform to the contoured exterior surface of the substrate.