Method for removing refractory metal cores

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11325182-B2
Application number	US-202016816865-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2020
Priority date	Mar 12, 2020
Publication date	May 10, 2022
Grant date	May 10, 2022

Abstract

A furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core through sublimation comprising a retort furnace having an interior; a sublimation fixture insertable within the interior of the retort furnace, the sublimation fixture configured to receive at least one turbine blade having the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core; a flow passage thermally coupled to the retort furnace configured to heat a fluid flowing through the flow passage and deliver the fluid to the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core causing sublimation of the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core through sublimation comprising:
a retort furnace having an interior;
a sublimation fixture insertable within said interior of the retort furnace, said sublimation fixture configured to receive at least one turbine blade having the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core;
a flow passage thermally coupled to said retort furnace configured to heat a fluid flowing through said flow passage and deliver said fluid to said molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core causing sublimation of said molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core, wherein said flow passage is fluidly coupled to a coupling configured to receive air, and said flow passage is fluidly coupled to a junction at an end opposite said coupling, said junction being configured to fluidly couple to said sublimation fixture.

2. The furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core through sublimation according to claim 1 , wherein said flow passage is formed within a wall of the retort furnace.

3. The furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core through sublimation according to claim 1 , wherein said sublimation fixture comprises a blade receiver fluidly coupled to said flow passage, said blade receiver configured to receive a root of said turbine blade.

4. The furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core through sublimation according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a collector fluidly coupled to said interior of the retort furnace, wherein said collector is configured to collect waste discharged from the blade responsive to sublimation of said molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core.

5. The furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core through sublimation according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an inner furnace box within an outer furnace box of said retort furnace, said inner furnace box configured to receive said sublimation fixture.

6. The furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core through sublimation according to claim 1 , wherein said inner furnace box comprises an enclosure coupled to a base at a joint having a seal between a wall of said enclosure and said base.

7. A furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core from a blade through sublimation comprising:
a retort furnace comprising an outer furnace box having an interior;
an inner furnace box within said interior, said inner furnace box comprising an enclosure coupled to a base;
a sublimation fixture insertable within said inner furnace box, said sublimation fixture configured to receive at least one turbine blade having the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core;
a flow passage coupled to said sublimation fixture; said flow passage thermally coupled to said retort furnace configured to heat a fluid flowing through said flow passage and deliver said fluid to said molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core causing sublimation of said molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core, wherein said flow passage is fluidly coupled to a coupling configured to receive air, and said flow passage is fluidly coupled to a junction at an end opposite said coupling, said junction being configured to fluidly couple to said sublimation fixture; and
a collector fluidly coupled to said interior of the outer furnace box, wherein said collector is configured to collect waste discharged from the blade responsive to sublimation of said molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core.

8. The furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core through sublimation according to claim 7 , wherein said flow passage is formed within a wall of the inner furnace box.

9. The furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core through sublimation according to claim 7 , wherein said sublimation fixture comprises a blade receiver fluidly coupled to said flow passage, said blade receiver configured to receive a root of said turbine blade.

10. The furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core through sublimation according to claim 7 , wherein said enclosure is coupled to the base at a joint having a seal between a wall of said enclosure and said base.

11. The furnace for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core through sublimation according to claim 7 , wherein said sublimation fixture comprises a cavity formed between internal plenums opposite said blade receiver.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp
• Raytheon Tech Corp

Inventors

• Bales Daniel A
• Demichael Thomas

Classifications

• F27D7/02

  Supplying steam, vapour, gases or liquids · CPC title

• B22D29/003

  using heat · CPC title

• F27B5/02

  of multiple-chamber type · CPC title

• F27B5/00

  Muffle furnaces; Retort furnaces; Other furnaces in which the charge is held completely isolated (furnaces through which the charge is moved mechanically or in which the charge moves by gravity F27B9/00) · CPC title

• B22D29/002 Primary

  by leaching, washing or dissolving · CPC title