Crack resistant member and tower
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsBill Damon JOHNSTON, George Albert GOLLER, Colwyn SAYERS
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A crack-resistant member for preventing crack propagation, a method of preventing crack propagation, and method of assembly a tower are provided. The crack-resistant member includes at least one insert attached to at least one removed portion at a predetermined location along a girth weld and adjacent a heat affected zone of the tower. The at least one insert is positioned perpendicular to a weld direction and intersecting the girth weld. The at least one insert prevents crack propagation in the girth weld of the tower.
Claims20
A crack-resistant member for preventing crack propagation in a tower comprising:
- at least one insert attached to at least one removed portion at a predetermined location along a girth weld and adjacent a heat affected zone of the tower, the at least one insert being positioned perpendicular to a weld direction and intersecting the girth weld,
- wherein the at least one insert prevents crack propagation in the girth weld of the tower.
A crack-resistant member for preventing crack propagation in a tower comprising:
- at least one insert attached to at least one removed portion at a predetermined location along a girth weld and adjacent a heat affected zone of the tower, the at least one insert:
- being positioned perpendicular to a weld direction;
- and
- having a plurality of substantially linear edges, wherein the plurality of substantially linear edges:
- intersect the girth weld normal to the weld direction;
- and
- extend beyond the adjacent heat affected zones,
- wherein the at least one insert prevents fatigue crack propagation in the girth weld.
A tower comprising a plurality of metal rings and at least one crack-resistant member for preventing crack propagation in the tower, wherein:
- the plurality of metal rings comprise at least one girth weld, and at least one heat affected zone adjacent to the at least one girth weld, circumferentially joining the plurality of metal rings;
- and
- the at least one crack-resistant member comprises at least one insert attached to at least one removed portion at a predetermined location along the at least one girth weld and adjacent the at least one heat affected zone, the at least one insert:
- being positioned perpendicular to a weld direction;
- and
- having a plurality of substantially linear edges, wherein the plurality of substantially linear edges:
- intersect the at least one girth weld normal to the weld direction;
- and
- extend beyond the at least one adjacent heat affected zones,
- wherein the at least one insert prevents fatigue crack propagation in the at least one girth weld.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.