Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Ronald P Cupo

David B Berrong

Gerald I Marron

John J McGettigan

Freddie G King

Lawrence J Coyle

Cletus L Schartner

Philip W Ketterer

Clifford T Parker

Stephen J Tencza

John L Morris

John F Daniels

Craig J Zurat

The method of the present invention uses a combination of gap measurement methods to map the gap in a joint in a high pressure vessel such as a steam turbine or steam valve. An exposed and supported surface is hydraulically balanced allowing any twisting of the surface to be removed. The map is then created using a blue contact method, feeler gages, deformable gap measuring medium and laser profiling for both surfaces of the joint. A restoration plan is produced using the map which minimizes the restoration work and produces matching joint surfaces. The joint surfaces are welded and/or machined and finally finished in accordance with the plan. A laser can be used to guide or reference the machine tool. Matching joint surfaces, especially if relatively flat, provide a better high pressure seal than relatively flat surfaces that do not match while relatively flat surfaces that do match produce an even better seal.

Method of measuring joint gaps and restoring same

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Ridley Park, PA, United States of America

Ronald P Cupo