Bond and repair method using a bonding fixture

Abstract

A tooling for affecting the repair of turbine blade tips which generates bond line loads as a result of differential thermal expansion between the work piece and the fixture. The fixture accommodates multiple work pieces of different sizes to facilitate a batch repair process and compressive load limits are established by insertion of deformable compression rings.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . A transient liquid phase bonding method, comprising: 
 selecting a component for transient liquid phase bonding, the component having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion and a bond line;    selecting a fixture comprising: 
 a first arm having a coefficient of thermal expansion relatively of the same order of magnitude as the predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion, and structured to capture a portion of the component on a first side of the bond line,  
 a second arm having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than the predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion, the first and second arms individually or collectively extending to a second side of the bond line;  
   fixing the component to the fixture;    applying a compressive preload across the bond line of the component via the first and second fixture arms; and    applying a transient liquid phase bond line load at a desired location on the component during transient liquid phase bonding of the component, the transient liquid phase bond line load generated at least in part by a difference in thermal expansion between the fixture and component.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the turbine component is a gas turbine engine blade, and the fixture is configured to accommodate placement of the bond line at any location along the blade.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a plurality of components are simultaneously bonded within the fixture.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the transient liquid phase bond line load is at least 100 pounds per square inch, and the transient liquid phase bonding is performed at a temperature above 2000° F.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the preload or transient liquid phase bond line load is at least partially adjusted by a deformable compression ring of the fixture.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second arms are formed in unity.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second arms collectively extend to a second side of the bond line.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first or second arm singularly extends to a second side of the bond line.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the transient liquid phase bond line load is maintained during the entire transient liquid phase bonding of the component.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the transient liquid phase bond line load is modified during the transient liquid phase bonding of the component.  
   
   
       30 . A diffusion weld repair method, comprising: 
 selecting a component for diffusion weld repair, the component having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion and a weld line;    selecting a fixture comprising: 
 a first arm having a coefficient of thermal expansion relatively of the same order of magnitude as the predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion, and structured to capture a portion of the component on a first side of the weld line,  
 a second arm having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than the predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion, the first and second arms individually or collectively extending to a second side of the weld line;  
   fixing the component to the fixture;    applying a compressive preload across the weld line of the component via the first and second fixture arms; and    applying a diffusion weld line load at a desired location on the component during diffusion welding of the component, the diffusion weld line load generated at least in part by a difference in thermal expansion between the fixture and component.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the turbine component is a gas turbine engine blade, and the fixture is configured to accommodate placement of the weld line at any location along the blade.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein a plurality of components are simultaneously bonded within the fixture.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the diffusion weld line load is at least 1,000 pounds per square inch, and the diffusion welding is performed at a temperature above 2000° F.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the preload or diffusion weld line load is at least partially adjusted by a deformable compression ring of the fixture.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first and second arms are formed in unity.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first and second arms collectively extend to a second side of the weld line.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first or second arm singularly extends to a second side of the weld line.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the diffusion weld line load is maintained during the entire diffusion welding of the component.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the diffusion weld line load is modified during the diffusion welding of the component.