The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 25, 2006
Filed:
Mar. 23, 2004
Todd Joseph Fischer, Ballston Spa, NY (US);
John Francis Nolan, Cobleskill, NY (US);
Andrew John Tomko, Glenville, NY (US);
Dennis William Roberts, Schenectady, NY (US);
Carter Steven Cook, Westford, NY (US);
David Roy Parker, Worcester, NY (US);
Todd Joseph Fischer, Ballston Spa, NY (US);
John Francis Nolan, Cobleskill, NY (US);
Andrew John Tomko, Glenville, NY (US);
Dennis William Roberts, Schenectady, NY (US);
Carter Steven Cook, Westford, NY (US);
David Roy Parker, Worcester, NY (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
Bucket tip tenons requiring refurbishment are removed from the bucket tips by grinding. Groups of buckets are clamped on a rotatable table in positions adjacent an induction heating coil and a robotic welding arm, respectively. While one group is preheated, the other group of buckets is in a welding location, enabling the welding head on the robotic arm to sequentially apply weld buildup material to the bucket tips. After applying weld buildup material in multiple passes and sequentially to the bucket tips, the buckets are removed, stress-relieved and the weld buildup material machined to provide refurbished tenons. Upon removal of the buckets from the table, the table is rotated to locate the preheated buckets in welding locations and additional buckets are clamped to the table for preheating.