Systems and methods for solid state metal repair

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015190889-A1
Application number	US-201414576653-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 19, 2014
Priority date	Jan 7, 2014
Publication date	Jul 9, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and method for solid state metal plate repair is provided. A solid state metal plate repair system may comprise a drill, a cutter and a plug. The plug may be configured to fill a void created by the cutter. The plug may also be configured to create a metallurgical bond with the metal plate during a repair operation. The plug may also be configured to shear from the drill (e.g., drive motor) when an expected rise in torque indicates a sufficient bond has been achieved in the repair. The systems and methods described herein may be used on specialty alloys wherein other repair methods are undesirable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
removing a portion of a damaged portion of a plate, wherein the damaged portion is removed by a cutter operatively coupled to a drill to form a tapered hole; and advancing a rotating plug comprising a plug body and shaft into the tapered hole created by the cutter, wherein friction between the plug and an interior surface defining the tapered bond the pug and the interior surface.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutter comprises a blade that is capable of cutting the tapered hole in the plate.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutter comprises a shaft and a blade.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plug is the same material as the plate.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plug body is brazed to the interior surface.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the friction between the plug body and the interior surface creates a bond between the plug body and the tapered hole.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plug seam is metallurgical similar to the plate.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plate is Pandalloy® aluminum alloy.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plate is armor plate for a vehicle.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plate is cold rolled steel.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising finishing the outer surface of the plate.

12 . A solid state metal repair system comprising:
a drill; a cutter capable of being operatively coupled to the drill, wherein the cutter is configured to rotatably remove a damaged portion of a plate in response to being driven by the drill, creating a void in the plate; and a plug capable of being operatively coupled to the drill, wherein the plug is configured to fill the void in the plate, and wherein the plug is deposited in the void.

13 . The solid state repair system of claim 12 , wherein the void is a tapered hole in the plate.

14 . The solid state repair system of claim 13 , wherein sides of the tapered hole bond with the plug in response to the drill rotating the plug against the sides of the tapered hole.

15 . The solid state repair system of claim 14 , wherein the plug comprising a plug shaft coupled to a plug body.

16 . The solid state repair system of claim 15 , wherein the plug body is configured to be advanced into the tapered hole.

17 . The solid state repair system of claim 15 , wherein the plug shaft is capable of being ratably coupled to the drill.

18 . A method comprising:
removing a first portion of a projectile from an armor plate, wherein the first portion protrudes above an outer surface of the armor plate, and wherein the damaged portion is removed by a cutter; advancing the cutter into the armor plate to remove the projectile from the armor plate to create a void in the armor plate; and advancing a rotating plug into the void, wherein the plug bonds to a surface defining the void in the armor plate.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the cutter comprises a blade capable of cutting a tapered void.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein a seam of the plug is loaded in compression in response to a second projectile striking the plug.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Hobbs Douglas

Classifications

• Y10T29/5191

  Assembly · CPC title

• F41H5/00

  Armour; Armour plates (processes for manufacturing or treating B21, C21, {heat treatment C21D9/42; wall or panel structure for safes E05G1/024}) · CPC title

• Y10T408/893

  Hollow milling Tool · CPC title

• B23P6/00 Primary

  Restoring or reconditioning objects (straightening or restoring form of sheet metal, metal rods, metal tubes, metal profiles, or specific articles made therefrom B21D1/00, B21D3/00; repairing defective or damaged objects by casting techniques B22D19/10) · CPC title

• F41A15/22

  Tools for extracting cartridges · CPC title