Williams International

Williams International Co., L.l.c.

William P Schimmel

Sam B Williams

Timothy A Nielsen

Lawrence T Halstead

James S Prosser

Dana P Jones

Irvin J Pollock

Clifford S Barker

Methods for semisolid manufacturing of precision parts, turbine rotors for example, comprised of high melting point alloys are given. Generally, a semisolid/thixotropic process is operated under vacuum utilizing a removable mold. The process preferably comprises a vacuum chamber, an inductive heater to bring a high melting point alloy to a thixotropic phase, a supercooled mold comprised of a low melting point alloy or metal, and a plunger that accelerates and injects the high melting point alloy into the low melting point mold. As the formed part cools, the supercooled low melting point mold heats up to its melting point upon which separation from the formed part occurs. Supercooling of the removable mold permits the use of thixotropic methods for high melting point alloys.

Metal forming process

A drum compressor rotor (10) for use in a gas turbine engine comprises a plurality of high strength, low density filaments (18a-d) which are covered with a high temperature adhesive resin and tightly wound around the hub (12) between rows of fan blades (14). The filaments allow an increase in the maximum compressor rotor operating speed thereby increasing the potential performance of the turbine engine. The filament windings (18a-d) are significantly lighter and less expensive than conventional welded metal support disks (106a-c).

Filament wound drum compressor rotor

The disclosure relates to a method of manufacturing a turbine wheel using an elastomeric mold for the acceptance of powdered metal. The powdered metal is cold isostatically pressed and thereafter heated to effect metallurgical bonding thereof.

Process for fabricating parts such as gas turbine compressors

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Milford, MI, United States of America

William P Schimmel