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EP0176942A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for repairing metal in an article

Assignee: OFFERTA DI LICENZA AL PUBBLICO
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Filing: 1985-09-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-09-24
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Abstract

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 4 to 10 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 (40) including means (44) to introduce a gas under pressure, a mechanical means (50) to feed powder into a conduit (54), a conduit vibrating means (52), and a fluid-cooled powder delivery nozzle (56).

Inventors

  • 👤 Paul Pankaj Mehta
  • 👤 Robert Richard Otten
  • 👤 Ernest Brown Cooper, Jr.

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 07:07
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05B; B05B7/00; B05B7/14; B05B7/1404; B05B7/144; B05B7/1445; B05B7/1463; B05B7/16; B05B7/166; B05B7/22; B05B7/228; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/20; B23K26/32; B23K26/34; B23K35/00; B23K35/02; B23K35/0222; B23K35/0244; B23P; B23P6/00; B23P6/002; B23P6/007; F; F01; F01D; F01D5/00; F01D5/005; B23K2103/00; B23K2103/50

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 154 words
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 to 10 6 watts per square centimeter 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.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 154 words
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 to 10 6 watts per square centimeter 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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 45 words
The method of claim 1 in which relative lateral movement is provided between the laser beam spot and the article portion to cooperate with the power density in maintaining the interaction time and to enable progressive movement, cooling and resolidification of the molten interaction zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 1 in which the laser beam is of a continuous wave type.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: the powder is applied at a rate in the range of about 1-30 grams per minute; and the laser is applied with a bean spot size at the article portion in the range of about 0.005-0.2 inches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 46 words
The method of claim 1 for repairing an article having an article portion of a metallic material, the portion including an edge of the article, wherein the laser is applied with the central axis of the beam spot being away from the edge of the article.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 1 in which the powder is provided in a substantially moisture-free condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 6 in which the powder is heated to remove moisture prior to applying the powder to the article portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sequence of steps is repeated to provide a plurality of superimposed, bonded-together repair layers using the preceding repair layer as the article portion for the concurrent application of powder and laser beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 77 words
Apparatus for delivering a consistent, continuous flow of powder comprising, in combination: an enclosed powder reservoir; means to introduce a gas under pressure into the reservoir; a mechanical, volumetric powder feed means to move powder from the reservoir into a powder conduit; a conduit vibrating means to vibrate the powder conduit and the powder therein; and a fluid-cooled powder delivery nozzle connected with the powder conduit to receive powder from the conduit for delivery from the nozzle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 77 words
Apparatus for delivering a consistent, continuous flow of powder comprising, in combination: an enclosed powder reservoir; means to introduce a gas under pressure into the reservoir; a mechanical, volumetric powder feed means to move powder from the reservoir into a powder conduit; a conduit vibrating means to vibrate the powder conduit and the powder therein; and a fluid-cooled powder delivery nozzle connected with the powder conduit to receive powder from the conduit for delivery from the nozzle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which the reservoir is heated to maintain low moisture in powder within the reservoir.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 38 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which the powder delivery nozzle includes at least a tip portion made of a material which is highly reflective to the wave length of a laser used in combination with the apparatus.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4048459A Cited
US4243867A Cited
US4323756A Cited

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