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.
Claims8
In a method for repairing an article having an article portion of a metallic material, the steps of:
- concurrently applying to the article portion a laser beam and a powder comprising metal powder;
- the metal powder being of a composition substantially the same as the metallic material of the article portion;
- the laser being applied, at a laser beam spot, to the powder and the article portion beneath the powder in a power density range of 10.sup.4 to 10.sup.6 watts per square centimeter to melt both the metal powder and material of the article portion to generate a molten interaction zone from the metal powder and the metallic material of the article portion, while
- maintaining an interaction time in the range of 0.005-2 seconds between the beam and the powder and article portion beneath the powder thereby reducing the heat affected zone in the article portion and providing a repair layer on the article portion consolidated from the powder and metallic material of the portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.