Method of making metal components
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorJohn Gareth Pursell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In order to create titanium components with a titanium composite insert, a method is provided whereby an initial pre form 1 has a groove 2 formed in it. An encapsulating member 4 is then provided about the groove 2 in order to create a cavity 5 which is filled with titanium alloy powder 6. This titanium alloy powder 6 is densified and then accurately machined in order to create a groove insert form 7 which can accommodate a titanium composite material pre form insert 8 and further titanium alloy powder 9 such that through a high temperature isostatic pressing (HIP) process, the insert 8 is embedded. The original component form 1 can then be machined in order to create the final component elements such as aerofoils 13.
Claims13
A method of forming a metal component, the method comprising:
- forming a metal pre form with a groove for consolidation of a potentially consolidatible composite material,
- encapsulating the metal pre form with a groove encapsulating form to define a cavity between the metal pre form and the groove encapsulating form,
- filling the cavity with a metal powder,
- densifying the metal powder to replicate the cavity as a cavity insert form,
- shaping the cavity insert form to a groove insert form,
- filling the groove insert form with an unconsolidated composite material and metal powder, and
- consolidating and densifying the metal powder and/or the unconsolidated composite material with the metal powder cavity insert form to form a unitary structure integral with the metal pre form and forming to a final component shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.