Repairing, Restoring, Or Renewing Product For Reuse Patents (Class 228/119)
  • Patent number: 7150091
    Abstract: A method of sealing a generator stator bar and a stator bar end fitting receiving the end including the steps of: brazing the fitting to the end of the stator bar with a braze material; applying a powder coating material to the end of the stator bar in the fitting; and curing the powder coating material to form a barrier coating on the end of the stator bar and the adjoining interior surfaces of the fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Waheed Tony Mall, Roderick Mark Lusted, Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 7145976
    Abstract: In a nuclear reactor, cooled by pressurized water, an apparatus is employed for replacing a section of a primary circuit primary pipe that interconnects first and second components of a primary circuit. The apparatus cuts out and removes a section of the primary pipe. Supports are provided for the end parts of a new replacement section in a position held by the removed pipe. The apparatus bevel welds the end parts of the new replacement section of the primary pipe to confronting corresponding ends of the remaining primary pipe. Means are provided to work within the pipe along the entire length of the interior surface of the primary pipe and is introduced through one of first and second components of the primary circuit to a location within the welded replacement pipe section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Framatome ANP
    Inventors: Pascal Latreille, Jean-Michel Channussot
  • Patent number: 7141754
    Abstract: A method for repairing defects in a substrate including the steps of placing a consumable filler slug in contact with the substrate in the vicinity of the defect; placing at least one electrically conductive cover sheet in contact with a portion of the consumable filler slug; bringing a first electrode and a second electrode in contact with the at least one cover sheet and applying a force; and transmitting electrical current between the electrodes, thereby resistively heating the at least one cover sheet and conductively heating the consumable slug and a portion of the substrate resulting in coalescence in a substantially liquid pool that fills the defect. The pool is then cooled to solidification under pressure. Alternative embodiments eliminate the need for the conductive cover sheet(s) by utilizing electrodes having increased electrical and thermal resistance. The consumable slug may be formed as a single unit or multiple sections, and may incorporate sacrificial retainers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Edison Welding Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: David Page Workman, Timothy Joseph Trapp, Jerry Ellison Gould
  • Patent number: 7126076
    Abstract: A method for repairing defects in a metallic substrate including the steps of placing a consumable filler slug in contact with the substrate in the vicinity of the defect; bringing a first electrode and a second electrode in contact with the consumable slug and applying a pressure to the consumable slug; and transmitting electrical current between the electrodes for a period, thereby resistively heating the consumable slug and the metallic substrate resulting in coalescence in a substantially liquid pool that fills the defect. The pool is then cooled to solidification under the pressure of the electrodes. The electrodes are then removed from contact with the consumable slug and excess material may be removed. The consumable slug may be formed as a single unit or multiple sections, and may incorporate sacrificial retainers to add additional defect filling material, retain the pool, and seal the pool from atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Edison Welding Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: David P. Workman, James L. Reynolds, Jr., Timothy J. Trapp, Jerry E. Gould
  • Patent number: 7125227
    Abstract: A monobloc bladed disc and a process for manufacturing or repairing a monobloc bladed disc, where the process includes forming, on a protruding projection belonging to a disc and extending from an upstream end to a downstream end along a protruding projection chord, a welded joint surface intended to allow a subsequent stage of fitting a blade by linear friction welding onto the protruding projection of the disc. The forming the welded joint surface is carried out in such a way that it includes at least two butt-jointed plane portions arranged in sequence along the protruding projection chord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Snecma Moteurs
    Inventors: Danielle Adde, Marie-France Bourgeois, Patrick Lestoille, Jean-Pierre Ferte, Francis Soniak, GĂ©rard Miraucourt
  • Patent number: 7126079
    Abstract: A workpiece structure having a hole therein is repaired by preparing a stack having a first confinement sheet, a first donor sheet, a workpiece structure having a hole therein, a plug of a plug material in the hole, optionally a second donor sheet, and a second confinement sheet. The first confinement sheet, the first donor sheet, the second donor sheet, and the second confinement sheet each overlie the hole. The first confinement sheet and the second confinement sheet each melt at a temperature greater than do the first donor sheet, the plug, and the second donor sheet. The stack is locally heated at the hole using an electrical current source to a temperature sufficiently high to locally melt the first donor sheet, the plug, the second donor sheet, and the workpiece structure. The stack is thereafter cooled to solidify all melted material and form a weldment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gary Edward Trewiler, John Michael Muldoon
  • Patent number: 7100815
    Abstract: A titanium alloy strip has a reduced cross section in the central region of the strip. By concentrating heat in this central region the process of bonding laser devices to a substrate is greatly improved. Furthermore, the present invention allows for the possibility of removing the laser device from the substrate without destroying the laser device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Avago Technologies Fiber IP (Singapore) Ptd. Ltd.
    Inventors: Maheshchandra Mistry, Christopher Main
  • Patent number: 7020942
    Abstract: A portable boring and welding machine includes a tool shaft adapted to mount tools for boring and welding workpieces. The shaft extends along an axis and is driven by an electric motor. The motor and the shaft are connected by a helical gearwheel and worm pair, the helical gearwheel being connectable to the tool shaft, and the worm being connected to a drive shaft of the motor itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Sir Meccanica S.r.L.
    Inventor: Massimo Siracusa
  • Patent number: 7017793
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a process for repairing metal workpieces, such as turbine engine components, is provided. The process comprises the steps of forming a braze paste containing a first nickel base alloy material containing boron and chromium and a second nickel base alloy material containing chromium and cobalt, applying the brazing paste to an area of the metal workpiece containing at least one crack, and subjecting the workpiece and the brazing paste to a brazing cycle by heating the brazing paste and the workpiece, preferably to a temperature in the range of from 2000 to 2200 degrees Fahrenheit. During the brazing cycle, the brazing paste flows into and fills the at least one crack and thus repairs the metal workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Monika D. Kinstler
  • Patent number: 7004371
    Abstract: A gripper for detaching a packaged chip from a PCB. The gripper comprises a plurality of hooks, elastic slices, and a heating device. These hooks are used for gripping and hooking the packaged chip. Each hook includes a chip-upholding part and a chip-gripping part, wherein the chip-gripping part is used for gripping the packaged chip, and the chip-upholding part is used for hooking the packaged chip in the gap. These elastic slices are used for providing the elasticity. Each elastic slice comprises a fastened end and a flexible end, wherein the flexible end connects the chip-gripping part and results the hook gripping the packaged chip. The heating device is used for heating the packaged chip to melt the solder balls. Wherein all the bonded fastened ends are exerted an upward force, and the gripper detaches the packaged chip from the PCB when the solder balls of the packaged chip are melted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Hou-Ging Chin
  • Patent number: 6996906
    Abstract: A method of repairing a turbine blade and the blade repaired thereby. The blade comprises a platform that has become bowed as a result of high temperature creep, with the result that the platform has a concave surface and an oppositely-disposed convex surface. The method generally comprises welding the concave surface to build up a weldment on the concave surface, cooling the weldment during which the weldment shrinks, the convex surface becomes flatter, and the concave surface beneath the weldment becomes flatter, and then removing a surface portion of the weldment so as to create a substantially flat weldment surface overlying the substantially straightened concave surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Howell Bowden, Jr., Timothy Lee Arney, Warren Davis Grossklaus, Jr., Lawrence Joseph Roedl
  • Patent number: 6994920
    Abstract: A fusion welding method is provided for fusion welding at juxtaposed interface surfaces a first member, for example made of a first metal based on at least one of Ru, Rh, Pd, and Pt, with a second member made of a second metal, for example a high temperature alloy based on at least one of Fe, Co, and Ni, including at least one identified element, for example Al, that can form a continuous layer of a brittle intermetallic compound with the first metal that is free of such element. With the interface surfaces disposed in contact, energy is generated at the interface surfaces in a combination of an amount and for a first time selected to be sufficient to heat the interface surfaces to a fusion welding temperature. However, the first time is less than a second time that enables formation at the fusion welding temperature of the continuous layer of the brittle intermetallic compound at the interface surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gary Edward Trewiler
  • Patent number: 6991150
    Abstract: A recess formed in close contact with a thin-walled portion 3a of a workpiece to store molten metal at a surfaced portion, a jig 4 manufactured from a material with a higher heat-resisting temperature than that of the molten metal and a satisfactorily large heat capacity, a step (A) wherein the jig is installed on the workpiece, a preheating step (B) in which the workpiece and the jig are preheated to a predetermined temperature under the condition that jig 4 is installed, a build up welding step (C) for build up welding the thin-walled portion of the workpiece and forming weld beads at surfaced portion, and a jig-removing step (D) for removing the jig after weld beads solidify completely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignees: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., Ishikawajima Inspection & Instrumentation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Sato, Kiyofumi Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Miyazawa, Hiroto Yamaoka, Yasuhiro Aoki
  • Patent number: 6982123
    Abstract: A nickel-base superalloy article, such as a gas turbine stationary flowpath shroud that has previously been in service, is repaired by applying a restoration coating to a surface of the article. The restoration coating is applied by providing a precursor mixture, wherein the precursor mixture has no more than about 15 weight percent chromium and no more than about 0.01 percent yttrium, and wherein the precursor mixture includes a higher-melting-point alloy component and a lower-melting-point alloy component. The precursor mixture is applied to the surface of the article, in a form such as a preform of the alloy components. The article with the precursor mixture applied to the surface thereof is heated to a sufficiently high temperature to melt the lower-melting-point alloy component, thereby forming the restoration coating on the surface of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Edwin Budinger, Brent Ross Tholke, Matthew Nicklus Miller, Warren Davis Grossklaus, Jr., Joshua Leigh Miller, Melvin Robert Jackson
  • Patent number: 6955982
    Abstract: An electrical structure, and associated method of fabrication, for reducing thermally induced strain in a structure that couples a first conductive body of a first substrate to a second conductive body of a second substrate (e.g., a chip to a chip carrier; a chip carrier to a circuit card). The melting point of the first conductive body exceeds the melting point of the second conductive body. The second conductive body may include eutectic lead-tin alloy, while the first conductive body may include non-eutectic lead-tin alloy. A portion of the first conductive body is coated with, or volumetrically surrounded by, a material that is nonsolderable and nonconductive. The first and second conductive bodies are coupled mechanically and electrically by surface adhesion at an uncoated portion of the first conductive body, by application of a temperature that lies between the melting points of the first and second conductive bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Miguel A. Jimarez, Cynthia S. Milkovich, Mark V. Pierson
  • Patent number: 6944925
    Abstract: A method for reconditioning an articulated connector while it is still mounted to the end structure of a rail car is disclosed. The connector is measured to find areas and amounts of wear on portions of the connector. The measurements are taken relative to a reference portion of the connector. Weld metal is then applied to the worn portion of the connector. The excess weld metal is manually or automatically machined away so that the connector falls within the required dimensions. A measurement of the weld area is again taken to ensure that the specified dimensions have been achieved. Apparatuses for measuring wear and specified dimensions and aiding in the method of reconditioning the connectors are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: TTX Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Brueckert, William A. Guess, Donald F. Kroesch
  • Patent number: 6910615
    Abstract: In a solder reflow type building of modular electrical apparatus involving integrated circuit and discrete components, fabrication operations are arranged to include the providing of a general type series of steps for each component element involving a reflow or joining step at the highest joining temperature, immediately followed by a solder flux cleaning step and immediately followed by a testing of the entire module constructed thus far. There is provided a further specific type operation for each different type of component element that includes the providing of a loop for the introduction of a replacement for any broken discrete component with joining being achieved with use of a lower fusion temperature solder, flux cleaning and testing at each joining followed by reinsertion into the module. There is further provided an operation at the encapsulation stage of the module building for introducing underfill between the component and supporting carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Peter A. Gruber, Minkailu A Jalloh, Chon Cheong Lei
  • Patent number: 6908025
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for preparing an MCM for hat removal where the hat includes a piston thermally coupled to a corresponding chip. The apparatus includes a heater positioned to reflow a joint between the piston and a base of the hat; and a retractor for biasing the piston away from the corresponding chip. Implementation of the apparatus and process prevent a piston, as it moves across the top of a corresponding chip during mechanical shear to remove the hat, to impact chip(s) and surrounding components. In addition, since piston(s) are retracted, the likelihood of piston impact with or cracking of a chip is reduced. In addition, cutting into a corresponding chip having a tilted back surface is prevented. The need to replace chips and other electronic components when making other repairs may, therefore, be greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Internatioanl Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick A. Coico, Steven P. Ostrander, Sudipta K. Ray
  • Patent number: 6902096
    Abstract: A method of repairing a part, such as a rotating disk/drum rotor of a gas turbine engine. The method includes: heating a contact area of a wrought material and a contact area of a wrought part; and pressing the contact area of the material against the contact area of the part to bond the parts. A method of making a rotating part of a gas turbine engine, comprising: heating a contact area of a wrought material and a contact area of a wrought part; and pressing the contact area of the material against the contact area of the part to bond the parts. The methods may include a subsequent heat treatment to provide the desired strength properties to the joint between the material and the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Robertson, Thomas DeMichael, Raymond M. Walker
  • Patent number: 6892931
    Abstract: A method facilitates replacing a portion of a gas turbine engine turbine support. The turbine support includes a body including a forward leg, an aft leg, and a mounting flange that each extend radially outwardly from the body. The forward leg is axially upstream from the aft leg and the mounting flange. The mounting flange is substantially axially aligned with respect to the aft leg. The method comprises cutting through at least one of the body, the aft leg, and the mounting flange, removing the forward leg and at least a portion of the body that is upstream from the cut from the engine, and coupling a replacement spad to the portion of the turbine support that is downstream from the cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Marek Steplewski, Bhupendra K. Gupta
  • Patent number: 6892930
    Abstract: A process for reconditioning worn or out-of-spec components, in particular titanium components and components which in partial areas are designed to receive further components in a positively locking and dimensionally accurate manner, e.g., as grooves, for which purpose the relevant partial areas are machined until a predetermined dimension is reached, spare parts which correspond to the machined partial areas and have the same geometry minus a predetermined soldering gap are produced from a material which is of the same type as the material of the component, and a soldering medium is introduced between machined walls of the partial area and spare part, which are fixedly joined to the component by a soldering process, after which, if necessary, the partial area(s) in question is/are dimensionally accurately machined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Eberlein, Albert Schneider
  • Patent number: 6889889
    Abstract: A component which has a surface crevice or crack and contaminants on at least one face of the opening is welded. The weld is effected by first plastically deforming the surface of the component to close the surface opening to a predetermined depth less than the depth of the opening and contaminated faces defining the opening to form a sealed ligament. The sealed ligament leaves unclosed a portion of the crack below the sealed ligament. The closed surface is hermetically sealed by fusion-welding to a depth of penetration equal to or less than the predetermined depth of the sealed ligament to minimize or eliminate expulsion of contaminants in the sealed ligament.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Henry P. Offer, Siamak Bourbour
  • Patent number: 6883700
    Abstract: A turbine blade closure system composed of a closure member capable of being friction welded in an aperture in a hollow-cast turbine blade to prevent the escape of cooling fluids from an internal cavity in the turbine blade. In one embodiment, the aperture is formed in the turbine blade during the manufacturing process as a result of one or more support projections used to position a core block in a turbine blade mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam, Peter J. Ditzel
  • Patent number: 6884964
    Abstract: The method of repairing a metal alloy component, and the resulting repaired component. The method involves machining the component surface to remove a defect, and then placing in the resulting surface cavity a filler insert whose size and shape are predetermined so that the welding operation can be carried out to completely melt the insert while minimizing the melting of the component immediately surrounding the insert. As such, minimum mixing occurs between the materials of the insert and the component, thereby reducing the risk of cracking following the welding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John Thomas Murphy
  • Patent number: 6840428
    Abstract: A self-adhesive flexible circuit for printed circuit assembly repair is provided. The flexible circuit comprises a carrier film, a circuit trace and an adhesive. The flexible circuit is placeable on a printed circuit board having a circuit assembly and allows simple repair of boards not designed or manufactured correctly and which contain undesirable short or open circuits or misrouted traces. The flexible circuit allows for placement in a desired location, adherence to the circuit board using its own adhesive. The flexible circuit can then be electrically attached, i.e. solder or conductively adhered, to the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin G Wong, Albert A Yeh, Barry Welsh
  • Patent number: 6837417
    Abstract: A method of sealing an opening in a cast member that employs a green seal cap formed from the consolidation of a mixture of powdered metal and a binder under sufficient pressure to impart enough strength to the cap to maintain its shape during the blade manufacturing process. The green seal plate cap is inserted into the opening in the cast member and the cast member is subjected to iso-static pressing, which bonds the seal plate cap to the cast member and sinters the cap to form a solid seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventor: Vasudevan Srinivasan
  • Publication number: 20040262366
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a process for repairing metal workpieces, such as turbine engine components, is provided. The process comprises the steps of forming a braze paste containing a first nickel base alloy material containing boron and chromium and a second nickel base alloy material containing chromium and cobalt, applying the brazing paste to an area of the metal workpiece containing at least one crack, and subjecting the workpiece and the brazing paste to a brazing cycle by heating the brazing paste and the workpiece, preferably to a temperature in the range of from 2000 to 2200 degrees Fahrenheit. During the brazing cycle, the brazing paste flows into and fills the at least one crack and thus repairs the metal workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventor: Monika D. Kinstler
  • Patent number: 6830176
    Abstract: A new system and method for repairing flexible circuits is disclosed. The flexible circuits conduct electrical signals to and from electronic devices. The system generally includes a flexible circuit substrate, at least one electrical conductor, and a repair patch. The flexible circuit substrate has a cut zone and a repair zone. The at least one electrical conductor is supported by the flexible circuit substrate. The electrical conductors are configured to carry electrical signals. The repair patch is used to electrically interconnect at least two repair zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Joseph Sinkunas, Zhong-You Shi, Jay D. Baker, Robert Edward Belke, Charles Frederick Schweitzer, Raymond Eric Foster, Stephen Edward Fuks
  • Patent number: 6818086
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a method for removing adhesive in a short time without requiring any solvent, a repair of which has conventionally been required for a long time, and there is provided a method for repairing a circuit connection part where circuit members having a large number of opposed circuits are connected electrically through an adhesive, wherein mutual joints at a circuit connection part requiring repair are separated, a basic material for transfer is bonded through a transfer adhesive for transfer to at least one circuit member where the adhesive remains and then the adhesive remaining on the circuit member and the transfer adhesive are removed from the circuit member along with the basic material for transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motohiro Arifuku, Hiroshi Yasuda, Itsuo Watanabe, Kouji Kobayashi, Isao Tsukagoshi
  • Patent number: 6811072
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating a chip from substrate where the chip is attached to the substrate by solder connections to form an assembly involve applying a loading force to drive a coil spring biased shearing element comprising a slide block with carrying a shearing blade into a loading position. Load the assembly of the substrate and the chip into a fixture with a window therethrough for the chip with the shearing blade in contact with the chip. Remove the loading force to arm the shearing blade to apply a shearing force from the shearing blade to the chip. Heat the solder connections of the assembly in the fixture to a predetermined temperature, preferably below the melting temperature of the solder at which shearing of the solder connections occurs. The shearing blade comprises a slidable plastic blade backed up by a metal blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Lannie R. Bolde
  • Publication number: 20040188497
    Abstract: In a solder reflow type building of modular electrical apparatus involving integrated circuit and discrete components, fabrication operations are arranged to include the providing of a general type series of steps for each component element involving a reflow or joining step at the highest joining temperature, immediately followed by a solder flux cleaning step and immediately followed by a testing of the entire module constructed thus far. There is provided a further specific type operation for each different type of component element that includes the providing of a loop for the introduction of a replacement for any broken discrete component with joining being achieved with use of a lower fusion temperature solder, flux cleaning and testing at each joining followed by reinsertion into the module. There is further provided an operation at the encapsulation stage of the module building for introducing underfill between the component and supporting carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Peter A. Gruber, Minkailu A. Jalloh, Chon Cheong Lei
  • Patent number: 6793119
    Abstract: Process for welding duplex steel in the presence of a shielding gas without use being made of welding aids and with nitrogen being added to the shielding gas and with an austenitic-ferritic duplex steel with a chromium content of between 28 and 35 wt. % and a nickel content of between 3 and 10 wt. % being used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: DSM IP Assets B.V.
    Inventors: Joseph Maria Gerardus Eijkenboom, Jozef Hubert Meessen, Hendrikus Catharina Guillaume Maria Schrijen
  • Patent number: 6772936
    Abstract: A method for creating an electroconductive joint in connection with conductor rails made of copper or copper alloy, in which method in between the conductor rail elements to be joined, there is applied soldering/brazing agent, whereafter at least the junction area is heated, so that a joint is created. According to the method, the employed soldering/brazing agent is a layered soldering/brazing agent foil (3) comprising surface layers (4, 6) and an intermediate layer (5) therebetween, and the junction area is thermally treated, so that a diffusion joint is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Outokumpu Oyj
    Inventor: Veikko Polvi
  • Patent number: 6769596
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reworking a Ball Grid Array (BGA) package is provided. The apparatus includes a housing with a solder ball compartment that includes solder balls; a sliding base plate positioned to slide under the solder ball compartment; and a BGA nest for supporting the BGA package and a stencil with a hole. The sliding base plate has a BGA nest holder adapted to receive the BGA nest with the BGA package and the stencil. The sliding base plate with the BGA nest, BGA package and the stencil moves underneath the solder ball compartment such that solder balls are placed on the BGA package through the stencil hole pattern. After the solder balls are placed on the BGA package, the sliding plate with the BGA package and the solder balls move in a second direction away from the solder ball compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Qlogic Corporation
    Inventor: Muwaffaq Alghouli
  • Patent number: 6766939
    Abstract: The method comprises introducing a tip of a solid phase welding tool between adjacent surfaces of a crack formed in an aircraft skin. The tool is then operated to produce a friction stir weld so as to weld the adjacent surfaces together and thereby repair the crack. Apparatus for performing the method comprises a base having carriage thereon, the arm being pivotally mounted on the carriage and supporting the friction stir welding tool. The position of an arm can be adjusted by a screw which drives the rotating tip of friction stir welding tool into the crack to be repaired. The carriage is then moved along the base to draw the tip along the crack. The apparatus is portable and is particularly useful for repairing a cracked skin on an aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventor: Gerald E Shepherd
  • Publication number: 20040134969
    Abstract: A method for welding a pair of metal sheets together along an edge of each metal sheet is provided that includes the steps of: 1) determining a line for each of the edges to be welded using one or more sensors; 2) selecting one of the edges to be welded as a dominant edge and the other edge to be welded as a non-dominant edge; and 3) welding the metal sheets together along the dominant edge and the non-dominant edge. The present invention further includes an apparatus capable of performing the present method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: Elpatronic AG
    Inventors: Romeo Bucher, Bruno Kaegi
  • Publication number: 20040124229
    Abstract: A method facilitates replacing a portion of a gas turbine engine turbine support. The turbine support includes a body including a forward leg, an aft leg, and a mounting flange that each extend radially outwardly from the body. The forward leg is axially upstream from the aft leg and the mounting flange. The mounting flange is substantially axially aligned with respect to the aft leg. The method comprises cutting through at least one of the body, the aft leg, and the mounting flange, removing the forward leg and at least a portion of the body that is upstream from the cut from the engine, and coupling a replacement spad to the portion of the turbine support that is downstream from the cut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Marek Steplewski, Bhupendra K. Gupta
  • Patent number: 6755339
    Abstract: A fluxer applies powdered flux to an object. The fluxer includes an enclosure that defines a chamber where the object is fluxed. The enclosure includes an inlet for receiving the object into the chamber prior to application of the flux and an outlet for discharging the object from the chamber after the flux has been applied. A conveyor extends through the enclosure for traversing the object into and out of the chamber. The fluxer also includes a hopper for storing the flux and an applicator in fluid communication with the hopper for applying the flux to the object. A flux recovery system is in fluid communication with the chamber to introduce and maintain a negative pressure within the chamber. As a result, excess flux is retained within the enclosure. This excess flux can then be recovered and recycled to the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Lamothe, Gary Allan Kemble, John Stanley Rosen, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040118901
    Abstract: An ultrasonic rotary horn is repaired by removal of deteriorated metal condition from the horn energy transfer surface, and application and consolidation of metal powder to the horn radial surface. An ultrasonic rotary horn having a repaired radial energy transfer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventor: Norman R. Stegelmann
  • Publication number: 20040112935
    Abstract: An upgrade site is formed into a flatwire for upgrade or repair of the flatwire. Generally, the upgrade site comprises a substrate, a plurality of conductive elements, a solder element, a heating element, and an adhesive layer. The plurality of conductive elements are positioned on and extend along the substrate. The solder element is positioned on an exposed surface of each conductive element. The heating element is positioned adjacent the substrate and the plurality of conductive elements for heating the solder elements. The adhesive layer is positioned on the substrate for sealing the upgrade site after upgrade or repair of the flatwire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Peter J. Sinkunas, Myron Lemecha, Andrew Z. Glovatsky, Zhong-You Shi, William Zhang, Kevin You
  • Patent number: 6742698
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for repairing components such as blades used in turbine engines. The method comprises the steps of placing a piece of refractory metal material over an area of the component to be repaired and depositing a repair filler metal material over the piece of refractory material in an amount sufficient to repair the component and welding the repair filler metal material in place. The refractory metal material may be selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, molybdenum, tungsten, a metal having a melting point higher than the melting point of nickel, and alloys thereof and may be uncoated or coated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Dilip M. Shah, James T. Beals, Norman Pietruska, Edward R. Szela
  • Publication number: 20040099713
    Abstract: A line-up clamp unit is powered by a diesel engine which drives a hydraulic pump for operating hydraulic equipment in the unit. The unit includes a line-up clamp which has front shoes, rear shoes and expanding copper back-up tiles. Drive wheels are deployed by a hydraulic cylinder and operated by a hydraulic drive motor. Brakes are also operated hydraulically. A group of aligning assemblies are electrically operated and function to extend L-shaped members to beyond the diameter of the pipe being welded so that the unit can be retracted and automatically positioned at the end of a pipe section. A control box is mounted to the line-up unit and includes a radio receiver for receiving control signals and producing corresponding electric control commands for operating the hydraulic and electric components of the line-up unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: CRC-Evans Pipeline International, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Scott Laing
  • Patent number: 6726086
    Abstract: A method for the manufacturing or repair of a superalloy gas turbine component including a liquid phase diffusion bonding process wherein the brazing heat treatment used for the diffusion bonding of a powder material to the component is accomplished by a heat cycle that is performed on the component for another purpose. A manufacturing solution heat treatment, a pre-weld heat treatment, a post-weld heat treatment, or a rejuvenating heat treatment may be used as the brazing heat treatment. The composition of the powder material is selected so that a desired set of material properties is achieved when the powder material is subjected to the dual-purpose heat cycle. In one embodiment, a 50/50 mixture of AM775 and IN939 powder is diffusion brazed to an IN939 superalloy component using a heat treatment which also functions as the post-casting solution heat treatment for the IN939 component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventor: Vinod Mohan Philip
  • Publication number: 20040056079
    Abstract: A method of sealing an opening in a cast member that employs a green seal cap formed from the consolidation of a mixture of powdered metal and a binder under sufficient pressure to impart enough strength to the cap to maintain its shape during the blade manufacturing process. The green seal plate cap is inserted into the opening in the cast member and the cast member is subjected to iso-static pressing, which bonds the seal plate cap to the cast member and sinters the cap to form a solid seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventor: Vasudevan Srinivasan
  • Publication number: 20040050909
    Abstract: A diffusion bond mixture paint and method for repairing a single-crystal superalloy article that minimizes the amount of braze alloy applied to the article. The amount of boron and eutectic brittle borides of the wide gap brazing processes is minimized, resulting in a more robust repair. The braze paint includes an alloy powder mixture, a binder, and a carrier to thin the paint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Federico Renteria, William F. Hehmann
  • Publication number: 20040050910
    Abstract: A system and method for reworking, repairing and upgrading flatwire is disclosed. A repair tool for reworking and/or repairing the flatwire is disclosed for creating subsequent electrical and mechanical joints of equal or greater quality as compared to the original system. The repair tool includes a heating blade, a power controller, a tool assembly, an inerting system, a cooling system, a flatwire cassette, a tool material, a flatwire material, an upgrade/repair procedure and various other aspects for rapidly heating flatwire two join two separate portions of the flatwire. The system and method of the present invention addresses the challenges of working with substrate materials which typically degrade at temperatures commonly used to form solder joints. Further, the soldering tool of the present invention may be a portable, lightweight unit that can be used in the field, for automotive and aerospace applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Anne Marie Sullivan, Lakhi N. Goenka, Xu Song, Yutaka Kawase, Cuong-Van Pham, Bhavani Shankar Tata, Peter Joseph Sinkunas
  • Patent number: 6705509
    Abstract: Discarded printed circuit boards are sorted according to the alloying elements in solder used on the printed circuit boards. After sorting, the printed circuit boards are heated to melt the solder, and the molten solder is collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Senju Metal Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sakari Tada, Eietsu Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 6698649
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for removing solder ball connections from electrical circuits are disclosed. The apparatus and methods comprise a solder ball removing tool 20 having a multiplicity of raised ribs 22 defining a contact surface 24 and made up of heat conductive material having a melting point above the melting point of solder. There is also included a heating source 30 for heating at least a portion of the multiplicity of raised ribs 22 to a temperature sufficient to melt the solder and yet below the melting temperature of the conductive material. The tool 20 is preferably supported or constructed such that the contact surface is tilted so that the melted solder will run down the raised ribs into a collecting pan 46.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Emory M Mercado, Eric P. Velasquez, Arthur Allan Bayot, Emmanuel A. Evangelista
  • Patent number: 6675454
    Abstract: A method of recycling used printed boards includes the steps of removing components from the used printed boards or parts of them and joining the resulting used printed boards to form a composite board. The method further provides for separating outer conductor paths from the used printed boards, combining several boards in layers, aligning the fibres, and/or forming the boards into uniform sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Tobias Marschner
  • Patent number: 6673169
    Abstract: A method of repairing a metallic component, such as a superalloy turbine blade or turbine nozzle, includes the step of preparing the component by stripping the protective coatings from the component. The component is then pre-conditioned for welding by a first hot isostatic process. Once the conditioning sequence is complete, the component is welded using any of a number of welding techniques and by adding weld fillers to the weld area. After the welding step, the component is sealed by a second hot isostatic process treatment performed at conditions similar to the first hot isostatic process. The component is finally prepared for re-entry into service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Artie Gene Peterson, Jr., David Wayne Gandy, Gregory J. Frederick, Jan T. Stover, Ramaswamy Viswanathan