Method for providing an extension on an end of an article having internal passageways
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsReed R. Corderman, Kevin G. McAllister, Brian J. McAndrews, John W. Locker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An extension is provided on an end of an article having internal passageways and having a directionally oriented microstructure by using the article end as a growth seed in a molten material compatible with material from which the article end is made. The extension is directionally solidified as integral with and as an extension of the article end and with a microstructure compatible with that of the article end.
Claims6
In a method for providing an extension on an end of an article having an outer cross-sectional shape, at least one passage defined by a wall through the article end communicating with a hollow interior, the article further having a directionally oriented microstructure and a superalloy chemical composition, the combination of steps of:
- providing a molten material having a superalloy chemical composition compatible with the article chemical composition;
- providing a die having an internal wall defining a die opening therethrough matched in cross-section with the article outer cross-sectional shape;
- providing a die extension having a hollow interior defined by an extension wall disposed between and in communication with the die internal wall on a first extension end and with the molten material on a second extension end;
- applying fluid pressure to the molten material to force the molten material into the die extension hollow interior through the second extension end;
- passing the article end through at least a portion of the die opening and into contact with the molten material;
- holding the article end in contact with the molten material for a time sufficient for a portion of the article end to interact with the molten material as a directionally oriented microstructure growth seed;
- and then,
- withdrawing the article end through the die opening at a rate which allows the molten material to directionally solidify in the die opening on the growth seed as an extension of and integral with the article end and with a crystal structure substantially continuous with the article directionally oriented microstructure.
In a method for providing an extension on an end of an airfoil, the airfoil having a base portion as a first end and an integral airfoil portion as a second end attached to the base portion first end, the airfoil second end having an outer cross-sectional shape, at least one passage defined by a wall through the airfoil second end communicating with a hollow interior, the airfoil further having a directionally oriented microstructure and a superalloy chemical composition, the combination of steps of:
- providing a molten material having a superalloy chemical composition compatible with the article chemical composition;
- providing a die having an internal wall defining a die opening therethrough matched in cross-section with the airfoil second end outer cross-sectional shape;
- providing a die extension having a hollow interior defined by an extension wall disposed between and in communication with the die internal wall on a first extension end and with the molten material on a second extension end;
- applying fluid pressure to the molten material to force the molten material into the die extension hollow interior through the second extension end;
- passing the airfoil second end through at least a portion of the die opening and into contact with the molten material;
- holding the airfoil second end in contact with the molten material for a time sufficient for a portion of the airfoil second end to interact with the molten material as a directionally oriented microstructure growth seed;
- and then,
- withdrawing the airfoil second end through the die opening at a rate which allows the molten material to directionally solidify in the die opening on the growth seed as an extension of and integral with the airfoil second end and with a crystal structure substantially continuous with the airfoil directionally oriented microstructure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.