# US 9,751,147 B2 · Fixture for high temperature joining > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,147 B2 - Document ID: US9751147B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/727,593 - Filed: 2015-06-01 - Published: 2015-12-03 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-02 - Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE plc - Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation - Inventors: Jeffrey F. Rhodes; Christopher Owen Nash; Rusty M. Garner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751147B2 ## CPC - B23K 3/087: {Soldering or brazing jigs, fixtures or clamping means} - B23K 1/0018: {Brazing of turbine parts} - B23K 20/002: {specially adapted for particular articles or work (B23K20/129 takes precedence)} - B23K 20/023: {Thermo-compression bonding} - B23K 20/16: with interposition of special material to facilitate connection of the parts, e.g. material for absorbing or producing gas - B23K 20/233: without ferrous layer - B23K 20/26: Auxiliary equipment - B23K 37/0426: {Fixtures for other work} - B23K 37/0443: {Jigs} - B23K 2101/001: {Turbines} - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM ## Abstract A fixture may include a plurality of alloy pressure pads shaped to contact a component to be brazed or diffusion bonded, a plurality of springs, and at least one alloy support. In some examples, each spring of the plurality of springs is shaped to have a substantially constant stress throughout the spring. The plurality of springs may be between and contacting the at least one alloy support and the plurality of alloy pressure pads to exert spring forces on the plurality of alloy pressure pads. In some examples, the plurality of springs include a plurality of silicon nitride springs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fixture comprising: a plurality of alloy pressure pads shaped to contact a component to be brazed or diffusion bonded; a plurality of springs, wherein each spring of the plurality of springs is shaped with a horseshoe or a capital omega symbol shape; and at least one generally annular alloy support, wherein the plurality of springs are between and contacting the at least one generally annular alloy support and the plurality of alloy pressure pads to exert spring forces on the plurality of alloy pressure pads. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fixture of claim 1, wherein the plurality of springs comprises a plurality of silicon nitride springs. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fixture of claim 1, wherein the plurality of alloy pressure pads comprise a Ni-based superalloy. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one generally annular alloy support comprises an alloy comprising molybdenum, titanium, and zirconium. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fixture of claim 1, further comprising at least one compliant member configured to be positioned between the plurality of alloy pressure pads and the component to be brazed or diffusion bonded. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fixture of claim 5, wherein the at least one compliant member comprises a mild steel screen. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fixture of claim 1, wherein each spring of the plurality of springs has a respective spring constant, a respective pre-load, and a respective load vector; and wherein the respective spring constant of each of the plurality of springs, the respective pre-load of each of the plurality of springs, and the respective load vector for each of the plurality of springs are simultaneously solved to produce force equilibrium and moment equilibrium at the component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fixture of claim 1, wherein a spring of the plurality of springs and an alloy pressure pad of the plurality of alloy pressure pads are provided in a pair, and wherein a length of the spring and a length of the alloy pressure pad are selected such that the load on the component remains substantially constant as the temperature of the fixture increases. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fixture of claim 1, wherein a spring of the plurality of springs and an alloy pressure pad of the plurality of alloy pressure pads are provided in a pair, and wherein a length of the spring and a length of the alloy pressure pad are selected such that the load on the component increases as the temperature of the fixture increases. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fixture of claim 1, wherein a spring of the plurality of springs and an alloy pressure pad of the plurality of alloy pressure pads are provided in a pair, and wherein a length of the spring and a length of the alloy pressure pad are selected such that the load on the component decreases as the temperature of the fixture increases. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: assembling a component in a fixture, wherein the fixture comprises: a plurality of alloy pressure pads shaped to contact a component to be brazed or diffusion bonded; a plurality of springs, wherein each spring of the plurality of springs is shaped with a horseshoe or a capital omega symbol shape; and at least one generally annular alloy support, wherein the plurality of springs are between and contacting the at least one generally annular alloy support and the plurality of alloy pressure pads to exert spring forces on the plurality of alloy pressure pads; heating the component to between about 2000° F. and about 2300° F. to braze or diffusion bond a first part of the component to a second part of the component; and cooling the component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of springs comprises a plurality of silicon nitride springs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein assembling the component in the fixture comprises temporarily constraining the component in a cold build fixture and assembling the plurality of springs sequentially. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein heating the component comprises heating the component in a vacuum. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising simultaneously solving a respective spring constant of each of the plurality of springs, a respective pre-load of each of the plurality of springs, and a respective load vector for each of the plurality of springs to produce force equilibrium and moment equilibrium at the component. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein a spring of the plurality of springs and an alloy pressure pad of the plurality of alloy pressure pads are provided in a pair, the method further comprising selecting a length of the spring and a length of the alloy pressure pad such that the load on the component remains substantially constant as the temperature of the fixture increases. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein a spring of the plurality of springs and an alloy pressure pad of the plurality of alloy pressure pads are provided in a pair, the method further comprising selecting a length of the spring and a length of the alloy pressure pad such that the load on the component increases as the temperature of the fixture increases. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein a spring of the plurality of springs and an alloy pressure pad of the plurality of alloy pressure pads are provided in a pair, the method further comprising selecting a length of the spring and a length of the alloy pressure pad such that the load on the component decreases as the temperature of the fixture increases.