Data Reduction And Error Analysis For The Physical Sciences

A laser beam machining apparatus including a laser beam irradiation unit, the laser beam irradiation unit including: a laser beam oscillator for oscillating a laser beam; a beam splitter by which the laser beam oscillated by the laser beam oscillator is split into a first laser beam and a second laser beam; a rotary half-wave plate disposed between the laser beam oscillator and the beam splitter; a condenser lens disposed in a first optical path for guiding the first laser beam split by the beam splitter; a first reflecting mirror disposed in a second optical path for guiding the second laser beam split by the beam splitter; a first quarter-wave plate disposed between the beam splitter and the first reflecting mirror; a second reflecting mirror disposed in a third optical path for splitting thereinto the second laser beam returned to the beam splitter through the second optical path; a second quarter-wave plate disposed between the beam splitter and the second reflecting mirror; and a cylindrical lens disposed between the beam splitter and the second quarter-wave plate.

Laser beam machining apparatus

The present invention harvests and utilizes fluidized bed drying technology and waste heat streams augmented by other available heat sources to dry feedstock or fuel. This method is useful in many industries, including coal-fired power plants. Coal is dried using the present invention before it goes to coal pulverizers and on to the furnace/boiler arrangement to improve boiler efficiency and reduce emissions. This is all completed in a low-temperature, open-air system. Also included is an apparatus for segregating particulate by density and/or size including a fluidizing bed having a particulate receiving inlet for receiving particulate to be fluidized. This is useful for segregating contaminants like sulfur and mercury from the product stream.

Apparatus and method of enhancing the quality of high-moisture materials and separating and concentrating organic and/or non-organic material contained therein

A method is provided for repairing degraded and/or eroded areas on gas turbine blades and vanes. The method is directed to turbine blades and vanes made of advanced superalloy materials with high elevated-temperature properties. The method uses multiple laser beams to perform steps of preheating the repair area, welding the repair area, and post-welding heating of the repaired area. The method uses an array of two or more lasers to perform the steps of heating, welding, and post-weld heat treatment in nearly simultaneous operation thereby dramatically reducing or eliminating the hot cracking associated with other welding methods used with superalloy materials. The method is further directed to cladding or material buildup of degraded turbine blades where the weld material is the same as the matrix or better superalloy materials.

Multi-laser beam welding high strength superalloys

A laser maintenance apparatus including a laser system which includes an optical system for emitting, in a first irradiation condition, a generation laser beam for generating an ultrasonic wave in a portion of an object on which maintenance is to be performed, and including a laser source configured to generate and detect a detection laser beam which interacts with the ultrasonic wave generated by the laser light beam in the first condition The laser maintenance apparatus also includes a light transmitting device for transmitting laser light emitted from the laser system, a laser irradiation device for irradiating laser light transmitted by the light transmitting device to the object portion, and a transporting/scanning mechanism for transporting the light transmitting device and the laser irradiation device to a portion near the object portion, and scanning over an arbitrary range at the object portion

Laser-based maintenance apparatus

A laser welding apparatus (320) for clad welding the interior surface of a tube (20) is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotating sleeve (324) positionable within the tube. Located within the rotating sleeve is a fiber optic cable (340) and a filler passage (386). The fiber optic cable receives laser energy from a laser (344). The filler passage receives filler material from a fillermetal delivery system (330) that synchronously moves with the rotating sleeve. Positioned at the end of the rotating sleeve is a welding head (322) which includes a head aperture (394) and a laser energy directional modification assembly (392). The laser energy from the fiber optic cable is transferred through the laser energy directional modification assembly and through the head aperture to a selected weld location on the interior surface of the tube. The filler metal from the filler metal delivery system is also conveyed through the head aperture and intersects with the laser energy at the selected weld location. The filler metal fuses with the interior surface of the tube to produce a clad weld.

Method and Apparatus for Repairing Damaged Tubes

A method of repairing a metallic component, such as a superalloy turbine blade or turbine nozzle, includes the step of preparing the component by stripping the protective coatings from the component. The component is then pre-conditioned for welding by a first hot isostatic process. Once the conditioning sequence is complete, the component is welded using any of a number of welding techniques and by adding weld fillers to the weld area. After the welding step, the component is sealed by a second hot isostatic process treatment performed at conditions similar to the first hot isostatic process. The component is finally prepared for re-entry into service.

Method and apparatus for repairing superalloy components

A method of repairing a metallic member, such as a superalloy turbine blade, includes the step of preparing the blade by stripping the protective coatings from the blade. The blade is then pre-conditioned for welding by a first hot isostatic process. Once the blade conditioning sequence is complete, the blade is welded using a laser welding technique and by adding weld fillers to the weld area. After the welding step, the blade is sealed by a second hot isostatic process treatment performed at conditions similar to the first hot isostatic process. The blade is finally prepared for re-entry into service.

Apparatus and method of repairing turbine blades

A laser welding apparatus for clad welding the interior surface of a tube is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotating sleeve positionable within the tube. Located within the rotating sleeve is a fiber optic cable and a filler passage. The fiber optic cable receives laser energy from a laser. The filler passage receives filler material from a filler metal delivery system that synchronously moves with the rotating sleeve. Positioned at the end of the rotating sleeve is a welding head which includes a head aperture and a laser energy directional modification assembly. The laser energy from the fiber optic cable is transferred through the laser energy directional modification assembly and through the head aperture to a selected weld location on the interior surface of the tube. The filler metal from the filler metal delivery system is also conveyed through the head aperture and intersects with the laser energy at the selected weld location. The filler metal fuses with the interior surface of the tube to produce a clad weld.

Rotating apparatus for repairing damaged tubes

A laser welding apparatus for clad welding the interior surface of a tube includes a rotating sleeve that encloses a fiber optic cable. A stationary laser (100) generates light energy for the welding operations performed by the rotating sleeve (324). An optical coupler (342) is positioned between the laser and the rotating sleeve (324). A rotating cable interface assembly (320) receives the collimated and focused light energy from the fixed optical assembly and applies it to the fiber optic cable (340), which delivers the light energy to the interior surface of a tube (20) to produce a clad weld. The rotating cable interface assembly includes concentric alignment device (480) and a monitoring cavity (502) to provide optical feedback regarding the alignment between the fixed optical assembly and the rotating cable interface assembly. The rotating cable interface assembly (454) may be constructed to include a safety fiber optic (520) with an accompanying safety fiber optic photocell (522) which is used to assess whether excessive light energy from the laser is being used.

Artie G. Peterson

Papers

Method and Apparatus for Repairing Damaged Tubes

Method and apparatus for repairing superalloy components

Apparatus and method of repairing turbine blades

Rotating apparatus for repairing damaged tubes

Rotating fiber optic coupler for high power laser welding applications