Method and apparatus for repairing turbine rotor

Abstract

A method for repairing a rotor of a turbine includes providing a rotor having a groove portion defined by a circumferential portion of the rotor. The circumferential portion of the rotor is removed to create an opening to provide access to the groove such that the opening, immediately adjacent the groove, is narrower than the groove. A guide block may be extended into a receiving slot separating a first protruding surface from a second protruding surface of the rotor such that a weld area slot of the guide block extends over at least a portion of the opening. The opening may be welded adjacent the guide block to close at least a portion of the opening.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method for use in closing an opening in an object having a plurality of protruding surfaces forming an intermittent geometry, the method comprising:
 extending a guide block into a receiving slot separating a first protruding surface from a second protruding surface of the object such that a weld area slot of the guide block extends over at least a portion of the opening; and   welding the opening adjacent the guide block to close at least a portion of the opening.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising coupling the guide block to at least one retaining member to form a rigid welding support structure. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the at least one retaining member comprises a retaining ring. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the guide block comprises one of a plurality of guide blocks, the weld area slot comprises one of a plurality of weld area slots of the plurality of guide blocks, the opening comprising a plurality of openings, and further comprising extending the plurality of guide blocks into the plurality of slots such that the plurality of weld area slots form a circumferential groove extending around the object over at least a portion of the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising welding the circumferential groove to close the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         25 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising supporting a backing band by the guide block to cover at least a portion of the opening between the receiving slot and a second receiving slot. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising inserting the band at an inner diameter of the plurality of protruding surfaces. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising welding the backing band to the guide block. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising machining the guide block to remove at least one core of the guide block to release at least one outer portion of the guide block from a central portion of the guide block at a breakaway cut of the guide block. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising machining the receiving slot to match an original geometry of the receiving slot prior to the opening being created. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the object comprises a rotor of a turbine. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the protruding surfaces comprise a plurality of bridge rails of the rotor and further comprising machining a portion of at least one bridge rail of the plurality of bridge rails to an original geometry prior to the opening being created. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising machining the rotor such that a geometry of an outer circumferential surface of the rotor has a substantially same geometrical configuration after the welding as prior to the opening being created. 
     
     
         36 - 56 . (canceled)