Turbine housing weld repair

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11920488-B2
Application number	US-201916450084-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2019
Priority date	Apr 8, 2016
Publication date	Mar 5, 2024
Grant date	Mar 5, 2024

Abstract

A repaired turbine housing for use in an air cycle machine including a journal bearing bore having an inlet, an outlet, and an inner diameter of about 2.580±0.001 inches (6.553±0.003 centimeters). The repaired turbine housing including a cylindrical insert secured within the journal bearing bore. The cylindrical insert having a first end, a second end, an inner surface, a step located at the first end, and an outer surface with an outer diameter that provides a diametric interference with the inner diameter of the journal bearing bore. The diametric interference being between about 0.000-0.003 inches (0.000-0.008 centimeters). The cylindrical insert being inserted into the inlet of the journal bearing bore up to the step. The step has an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the cylindrical insert. The inner surface of the cylindrical insert includes at least one selected inner diameter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air cycle machine, comprising:
a compressor housing a compressor rotor;
a turbine housing having a turbine rotor, a journal bearing bore and a journal bearing disposed in the journal bearing bore;
an air bearing shaft, wherein the air bearing shaft rotates in the journal bearing, wherein the turbine rotor and the compressor rotor are axially connected via the air bearing shaft, and
wherein the turbine housing is a repaired turbine housing, wherein:
the journal bearing bore has an inlet, an outlet, and an inner diameter of 2.580±0.001 inches (6.553±0.003 centimeters), and
a cylindrical insert is secured within the journal bearing bore and having a first end, a second end, an inner surface, a step located at the first end, and an outer surface with an outer diameter that provides a diametric interference with the inner diameter of the journal bearing bore, the diametric interference being between 0.000-0.003 inches (0.000-0.008 centimeters), the cylindrical insert being inserted into the inlet of the journal bearing bore up to the step so that the step is outside of the journal bearing bore,
wherein:
the step has an outer diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the cylindrical insert;
the inner surface of the cylindrical insert includes at least one selected inner diameter;
the repaired turbine housing has undergone a stress relief by heating the repaired turbine housing with the cylindrical insert secured within the journal bearing bore;
the inner surface of the cylindrical insert includes a first seal groove and a second seal groove, the first seal groove has a first seal groove diameter of 2.424±0.002 inches (6.157±0.005 centimeters) and the second seal groove has a second seal groove diameter of 2.424±0.002 inches (6.157±0.005 centimeters);
the first seal groove includes an inward edge and an outward edge, wherein the outward edge of the first seal groove is located at a distance of 3.23±0.005 inches (8.204±0.013 centimeters) away from the outlet; and
the second seal groove includes an inward edge and an outward edge, wherein the inward edge of the second seal groove is located at a distance of 1.5±0.005 inches (3.810±0.013 centimeters) away from the outlet.

2. The air cycle machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the cylindrical insert is secured within the journal bearing bore via a fillet weld at the step.

3. The air cycle machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the outer diameter of the step is at most 0.060 inches (0.152 centimeters) greater than the outer diameter of the cylindrical insert.

4. The air cycle machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one selected inner diameter includes a first selected inner diameter of 2.261±0.001 inches (5.743±0.003 centimeters).

5. The air cycle machine of claim 4 , wherein:
the first selected inner diameter includes a permissible step with a size of at most 0.010 inches (0.025 centimeters) located at a distance of 1.655 inches (4.204 centimeters) away from the outlet to a distance of 2.935 inches (7.455 centimeters) away.

6. The air cycle machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the first seal groove has a width of 0.134±0.005 inches (0.340±0.013 centimeters) and the second seal groove has a width of 0.134±0.005 inches (0.340±0.013 centimeters).

7. The air cycle machine of claim 6 , wherein:
the cylindrical insert has a wall thickness of at least 0.030 inches (0.076 centimeters) at the first seal groove; and
the cylindrical insert has a wall thickness of at least 0.030 inches (0.076 centimeters) at the second seal groove.

8. The air cycle machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the journal bearing bore has a length of 3.655±0.005 inches (9.284±0.13 centimeters).

9. The air cycle machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the cylindrical insert is composed of 6061-T6 aluminium.

10. The air cycle machine of claim 1 , comprising:
a bypass connected to the turbine housing.

11. The air cycle machine of claim 10 , comprising:
another bypass; and
another turbine housing having another turbine rotor, another journal bearing bore and another journal bearing disposed in the another journal bearing bore,
wherein:
the another bypass is connected to the another turbine housing;
the air bearing shaft also rotates in the another journal bearing, and wherein the another turbine rotor is axially connected to the compressor rotor via the air bearing shaft.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Beers Craig M
• Wytas Clarence J

Classifications

• F01D25/16 Primary

  Arrangement of bearings; Supporting or mounting bearings in casings (bearings per se F16C) · CPC title

• B23P6/04

  Repairing fractures or cracked metal parts or products, e.g. castings · CPC title

• B29C65/565

  involving interference fits, e.g. force-fits or press-fits (B29C65/66 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F05D2230/10

  by removing material · CPC title

• F05D2230/80

  Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods · CPC title