Method for manufacturing a braze joint gap and method for brazing or soldering

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016303674-A1
Application number	US-201415101187-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 23, 2014
Priority date	Dec 4, 2013
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Method for manufacturing a braze joint gap for connecting a first part to a second part via brazing or soldering, comprising the steps of: adding microstructural elements to a first connecting surface of the first part to be connected to the second part via brazing or soldering; aligning the second part and the first part or an electrode part having a tool contour, which is identical to the contour of the first connecting surface; electro-chemically machining or precise electro-chemically machining a second connecting surface of the second part by polarizing the first part or the electrode part as a cathode and the second part as an anode.

First claim

1 . Method for manufacturing a braze joint gap for connecting a first part to a second part via brazing or soldering, comprising:
adding microstructural elements to a first connecting surface of the first part to be connected to the second part via brazing or soldering; aligning the second part and the first part or an electrode part having a tool contour, which is identical to the contour of the first connecting surface; and electro-chemically machining or precise electro-chemically machining a second connecting surface of the second part by polarizing the first part or the electrode part as a cathode and the second part as an anode.

2 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein selective laser melting is used to add the microstructural elements to the first part and/or to manufacture the first part.

3 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein protrusions or recesses are formed on the first connecting surface as microstructural elements.

4 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the microstructural elements are provided as rails, ribs, zigzag or staggered lines, continuous, discontinuous or dashed lines.

5 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein electrolyte channels are incorporated into the first part.

6 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein a top frame, in the form of a ridge, made of plastic or a non-conductive material is adapted to the form of the first part such that electrolyte can be directed to the gap between the first connecting surface and the second connecting surface.

7 . Method according to claim 6 , wherein the top frame is manufactured via a generative manufacturing process.

8 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the alignment is achieved by using geometrical, optical or numerical tools.

9 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein mechanical fastening devices, preferably configured as clamps, grippers or chucks, are used to fasten the first and second part.

10 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein the electro-chemical machining process or the precise electro-chemical machining process is carried out as a pulsed process, wherein the electric source is operated in a pulsed mode.

11 . Method according to claim 10 , wherein a mechanical oscillation is superimposed on the electric source pulsation.

12 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein a masking material is applied to sections of the second connecting surface prior to performing the ECM or PECM process.

13 . Method for brazing or soldering together a first part and a second part comprising:
manufacturing a braze joint gap by
using the method according to claim 1 ; and
filling or wetting the braze joint gap with braze alloy.

14 . Method for brazing or soldering according to claim 13 , wherein the first part and second part are parallel aligned with a gap of 120 μm±30 μm, or with a gap of 70 μm±20 μm, before the filling or wetting process.

15 . Method for brazing or soldering according to claim 13 , wherein a braze paste and/or a braze foil is used to fill the braze joint gap.

16 . Method for brazing or soldering according to claim 13 , wherein a bead of wide gap braze paste, particularly a wide gap braze paste having a high viscosity, is applied to the outside split line of the braze joint gap.

17 . Method for brazing or soldering according to claim 13 , wherein ventilation holes are designed in the first and second part before the alignment.

18 . Method for brazing or soldering according to claim 13 , wherein mechanical fastening devices, configured as clamps, grippers or chucks, are used to align the first and second part.

19 . Work piece consisting of at least two parts connected by brazing or soldering using a method according to claim 13 .

Assignees

• General Electric Technology Gmbh

Inventors

• Stankowski Alexander
• Hoevel Simone

Classifications

• B23K1/20 Primary

  Preliminary treatment of work or areas to be soldered, e.g. in respect of a galvanic coating · CPC title

• B23H2300/10

  Pulsed electrochemical machining · CPC title

• B23K2201/001

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B23P6/002

  Repairing turbine components, e.g. moving or stationary blades, rotors, (B23P6/045 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23H9/10

  Working turbine blades or nozzles · CPC title