Abstract: A method of repairing a turbine blade in which damaged material around a lacing wire hole is removed by machining or chemical etching. New metal is then added by welding such that the lacing wire hole is much smaller or completely eliminated and prior to reforming the lacing wire hole, flats may be formed either by the addition or removal of metal in the region of the lacing wire hole so that a lacing wire hole forming drill or machine bit can enter the turbine blade at a surface substantially normal to its direction of travel, thereby minimizing any tendency of the lacing wire hole forming drill or machine bit to snatch or for the blade to vibrate.

Abstract: A method of repairing a turbine blade which includes performing a heating operation on the blade in which the blade is heated to achieve a predetermined temperature distribution, sensing the temperature of the blade at least at one position by temperature sensing means and controlling the application of heat in accordance with the temperature determined by said at least one sensing means and monitoring the temperature of the blade at a location adjacent said at least one position with a monitoring means.

Abstract: Heating apparatus specifically adapted for the heat treatment of turbine blades comprises two support parts (10, 11) which may be pivotally connected by a hinge (17), the support parts (10, 11) carrying heating elements (14, 15) and a slot (20) the provision of the slot (20) enabling the heating apparatus to be slid over the trailing edge of the turbine blade into position on the blade and subsequently closed by a closure member (24) which enables the rapid application of heating apparatus for heat treatment processes which has hitherto been a complicated and time consuming operation. The heating apparatus may incorporate thermocouples (27) and heat sinks.

Abstract: A method of repairing a turbine blade comprising the steps of ascertaining a normal vibration characteristic of the blade, separating an outer end part of the blade from a residual inner part of the blade and subsequently securing a new end part to the residual part so that a joint between the new end part and the residual part is positioned in a predetermined relationship to said vibration characteristic.

Abstract: A method of repairing stator blades in a turbine comprises the steps of making a pre-shaped insert of a material the same as or compatible with the material of the stator blade, the size of the insert is such that it forms a substantial part of the stator blade, the method including the step of removing a piece of material from the stator blade including the damaged part or part that it is required to modify and welding in the new insert.

Abstract: A method of repairing rotor blades on a turbine comprises the steps of removal of a rotor from the turbine, selecting predetermined desired position of the blades and, after removing any inter blade ties necessary to enable any required repair processes to be carried out, aligning all the blades to said predetermined aligned position prior to the carrying out of any repair step which may incorporate cutting, welding, machining etc., such alignment considerably facilitates semi-automated repair of each blade and has further benefits in facilitating reinsertion of inter blade ties and ensuring that the blades are not only in an aligned position but in a stress free condition when returned to the turbine.