Title: Method of refurbishing turbine vane or blade components

Abstract: A method of refurbishing vane or blade components. Used turbine vanes or blades are cleaned, annealed and in some cases slotted adjacent their ends, after which any cooling passages (in the case of vanes) are welded closed and all cracks welded over, on both leading and trailing edges. The trailing edge, for a vane or blade component having a short chord, is built up by welding along its full length with an alloy wire, after which any slots that were cut adjacent the ends are closed, also by welding. Then the worn surfaces of the vane or blade are built-up by a plasma spray process, using a metal powder with added silica, to a thickness which can be as great as 30 to 40 thousandths of an inch. The built-up vane or blade is then sintered and thereafter surface finished to conform to the original contour of the component when new. Any cooling holes are finally recut, and the vane or blade polished as required and inspected.

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Inventors: Cretella, Salvatore J. (North Haven, CT, US)
Bernardo, Matthew (West Haven, CT, US)
De Musis, Ralph T. (North Branford, CT, US)

Application Number: 745166
Filing Date: 1976-11-26
Publication_date: 1979-02-27
Assignee:
Primary Class(es): 29/889.1 29/402.18, 228/119, 416/213R, 416/241R, 427/142, 427/331, 427/455
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

1755321	Apr, 1930	Hendrickson	29/156.
2120525	Jun, 1938	McKerihan	29/157.
2494970	Jan, 1950	Shea	29/401.
3015880	Jan, 1962	Stephenson	427/423.
3564689	Feb, 1971	Hirtenlechner	416/213.
3576065	Apr, 1971	Frazier	416/213.

Other Refs: 140341800414

Feb, 1951	AU
Aug, 1958	GB

Primary Examiner: Lanham, C.W.
Assistant Examiner: Crane, Daniel C.
Attorney: Lehmann; H. Gibner, Lehmann; K. Gibner