Method and apparatus for repairing metal in an article
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsPaul P. Mehta, Robert R. Otten, Ernest B. Cooper, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In the repair of a metallic article portion, a metal powder and laser beam are applied concurrently, the laser beam being applied in a power density range of 10.sup.4 to 10.sup.6 watts per square centimeter at an interaction time between the laser and the article and powder of 0.005-2 seconds to generate a repair layer. Apparatus for delivering a consistent, continuous flow of powder comprises the combination of an enclosed powder reservoir including means to introduce a gas under pressure, a mechanical means to feed powder into a conduit, a conduit vibrating means, and a fluid-cooled powder delivery nozzle.
Claims3
Apparatus for delivering a consistent, continuous flow of powder comprising, in combination:
- an enclosed powder reservoir;
- means to introduce a gas under pressure into the reservoir;
- a mechanical, volumetric powder feed means to move powder from the reservoir into a powder conduit;
- a conduit vibrating means to vibrate the powder conduit and the powder therein;
- and
- a fluid-cooled powder delivery nozzle connected with the powder conduit to receive powder from the conduit for delivery from the nozzle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.