General Electric Company

Other

Earl Claude Helder

Timothy Joseph Trapp

Pazhayannur Ramanathan Subramanian

Paul Stephen Manicke

Mark Lawrence Hunt

Bernard Patrick Bewlay

Timothy Hanlon

Wendy Howard Murphy

Timothy Riggs

Robert John Heeg

Daniel Jacob Goertzen

Thomas Joseph Kelly

John Robert Kelley

Timothy V Stotler

Courtney James Tudor

Eva Zielonka Lanman

Vicky Showalter Budinger

Samuel Frank Mastrorocco

Vallerie Althea McGee

A fiber-reinforced component is formed of a first composite member including a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers having a diameter and a length distributed therein in a selected orientation and a second composite member including a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers having a diameter and a length distributed therein in a selected orientation. The first composite member is bonded to the second composite member by a solid state bond along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers of the first composite member and the second composite member within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers of the first composite member and the second composite member within the remainder of the fiber-reinforced component.

Friction stir welding of fiber reinforced thermoplastics

A fiber-reinforced component is formed of a first composite member including a metal matrix with reinforcing fibers having a diameter and a length distributed therein in a selected orientation and a second composite member including a metal matrix with reinforcing fibers having a diameter and a length distributed therein in a selected orientation. The first composite member is bonded to the second composite member by a solid state bond along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers of the first composite member and the second composite member within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers of the first composite member and the second composite member within the remainder of the fiber-reinforced component.

Friction stir welding of metal matrix composites

A system, in certain embodiments, includes a backing plate, a tungsten-based member disposed along the backing plate, wherein the tungsten-based member defines a welding work surface, and the tungsten-based member comprises curved grooves configured to secure the tungsten-based member to the backing plate. The system also includes a drive. The system includes a pin tool movable by the drive to create friction along one or more workpieces disposed on the welding work surface, wherein the frictional heating and mechanical stirring is configured to create a stir weld along the one or more workpieces. The system, in some embodiments, also may include a backing plate comprising liquid passages and gas passages and a tungsten-based member disposed along the backing plate, wherein the tungsten-based member defines a welding work surface.

Friction stir welding system

The present invention provides a friction stir welding apparatus operable for welding one or more metals, metal alloys, or other materials, and a method for friction stir welding. The friction stir welding apparatus includes a pin tool holder, a shoulder having a surface coupled to the pin tool holder, and a pin tool coupled to the pin tool holder, the pin tool at least partially protruding from the surface of the shoulder, wherein the pin tool is made of a consumable pin tool material. The method includes introducing the pin tool into a workpiece; traversing the pin tool along a joint to be welded on the workpiece; and substantially continuously feeding the pin tool into the weld joint as it is traversed along the joint, thereby incorporating at least a portion of the consumable pin tool material into the volume of the joint to be welded.

Apparatus and method for friction stir welding using a consumable pin tool

A method of making a fiber-reinforced component includes: providing a first composite member having a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein; providing a second composite member having a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein; and joining the first member to the second member by friction stir welding along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction thereof in the composite members before joining. A fiber-reinforced component includes: first and second members each having a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein. The first member is bonded to the second member by a solid state bond along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction thereof in remainder of the members.

A method of making a fiber-reinforced component includes: providing a first composite member having a metal matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein; providing a second composite member having a metal matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein; and joining the first member to the second member by friction stir welding along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction thereof in the composite members before joining. A fiber-reinforced component includes: first and second members each having a metal matrix with reinforcing fibers distributed therein. The first member is bonded to the second member by a solid state bond along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction thereof in remainder of the members.

An apparatus for friction stir welding, a weld tool for friction stir welding, and a method for making a weld tool for friction stir welding are presented. The weld tool comprises doped tungsten. A method for manufacturing an article, where the method comprises providing the apparatus for friction stir welding, and the article produced by this method are also presented.

Apparatus and method for friction stir welding of high strength materials, and articles made therefrom

A hollow component for gas turbine engine, for example an outlet guide vane, is assembled from a body having at recessed pocket formed therein, and an aerodynamic cover bonded over the pocket. Both the cover and the body are constructed from materials which are not readily fusion weldable. The cover is attached to the body by a solid state bonding process, for example friction stir welding. The hollow component may also be built up from multiple individual components which are bonded to each other by a solid state bonding process such as friction stir welding.

Friction stir welded hollow airfoils and method therefor

The present invention provides a friction stir welding apparatus and associated thermal management systems and methods for joining one or more similar or dissimilar materials forming a workpiece along a joint to be welded. The friction stir welding apparatus includes a pin tool apparatus selectively disposed adjacent to and in direct contact with a first surface of the workpiece along the joint to be welded and a heating member disposed adjacent to a second surface of the workpiece along the joint to be welded, the heating member operable for controllably heating at least a portion of the workpiece adjacent to the joint to be welded. The friction stir welding apparatus also includes an annular spindle having an interior portion and an axis, the interior portion of the annular spindle at least partially defining one or more cooling channels, the one or more cooling channels operable for containing a cooling fluid. The friction stir welding apparatus further includes a shoulder disposed adjacent to the annular spindle and substantially aligned with the axis of the annular spindle and a pin tool disposed adjacent to the shoulder and substantially aligned with the axis of the annular spindle. The cooling fluid is operable for cooling at least one of the shoulder and the pin tool.

Friction stir welding apparatus and associated thermal management systems and methods

An apparatus for friction stir welding, a weld tool for friction stir welding, and a method for making a weld tool for friction stir welding are presented. The weld tool comprises a tungsten-based refractory material. A method for manufacturing an article, where the method comprises providing the apparatus for friction stir welding, and the article produced by this method are also presented.

A metering plate includes a body having a first end and a second end, at least one opening extending through the body, and at least one projection extending outwardly from the body. The body is configured to be resistance welded to at least one of a turbine engine blade and a turbine engine stator vane using the projection such that the body at least partially controls fluid flow into at least one of the turbine engine blade and the turbine engine stator vane.

Methods and apparatus for coupling a component to a turbine engine blade

A method for fabricating a turbine engine blade. The method includes providing a resistance welding system, and welding a metering plate to the turbine engine blade using the resistance welding system.

Methods and apparatus for fabricating a turbine engine blade

A method for welding iron-based or nickel-based superalloy assemblies into a unitary article. First, the assemblies are heated in an air atmosphere, at a rate suitable to minimize geometric distortion, to a temperature in the range of about 1400F (760C) to about 2000&#xb0; F. (1090&#xb0; C.) to form an oxide layer on the surface of the assemblies and optionally as a pre-weld solution heat treat. The temperature of the assemblies are then held in a range of about 1400F (760C) to about 2000&#xb0; F. (1090&#xb0; C.) for a time sufficient to form an oxide layer of sufficient thickness on the surface of the assemblies and optionally to solution the assemblies. The assemblies are then cooled to ambient temperature at a rate sufficient to avoid precipitation of unwanted metal phases at a rate sufficient to maintain dimensional stability. The oxide layer is then removed from at least the faying surfaces of the assemblies, but not from the face side of the assemblies. The faying surfaces of the assemblies are then cleaned. The assemblies are then welded using a GTA welding procedure to form a unitary article. The article is then resolutioned at an appropriate temperature for an appropriate period of time, both of which are dependent on the type of superalloy(s) that is present in the welded article and the desired properties. The article is then optionally age heat treated at an appropriate temperature for an appropriate period of time, both of which are dependent on the type of superalloy(s) that is present in the welded unitary article.

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Earl Claude Helder