Gerald R Crawmer

US Patent:

6494683, Dec 17, 2002

Filed:

Dec 10, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/457718

Inventors:

John Francis Nolan - Latham NY
Gerald Richard Crawmer - Clifton Park NY
Eloy Vincent Emeterio - Amsterdam NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B63H 120

US Classification:

416219R, 298891

Abstract:

A method of repairing a turbine rotor wheel having a damaged dovetail includes removing the damaged dovetail from the turbine wheel, leaving a turbine wheel body and welding a ring about the turbine wheel body in place of the removed damaged dovetail. During the welding process, including during preheating, welding or stress relieving, the temperature of the wheel body and ring is differentially controlled to introduce residual stresses in the ring. After welding a dovetail is formed in the ring for receiving turbine bucket dovetails. As a result, the ring has residual compressive stresses in a cold condition of the turbine whereby reduced net stresses in the ring in the location of the new dovetail during hot turbine operating conditions are reduced.

US Patent:

20100059572, Mar 11, 2010

Filed:

Sep 9, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/206886

Inventors:

John M. Sassatelli - Valley Falls NY, US
John F. Nolan - Scotia NY, US
Nicholas D. Porteous - Atlanta GA, US
Gerald R. Crawmer - Clifton Park NY, US
Carter S. Cook - Westford NY, US

International Classification:

B23K 31/02

US Classification:

228119

Abstract:

A method for repairing a steel alloy article, and an article repaired thereby, is provided and comprises the steps of depositing at least a first weld repair layer on a surface of the article so as to form a heat affected zone in the article beneath the surface. Locally heat treating the first weld repair layer and at least a portion of the heat affected zone adjacent the first weld repair layer at a temperature above the critical Atemperature of the steel alloy article. Depositing at least one additional weld repair layer on the first weld repair layer without forming additional heat affected zone in the surface of the article. The first weld repair layer and the at least one additional weld repair layer are comprised of a material chosen from the group consisting of nickel chromium—iron alloys, cobalt base alloys, ERNiCr-3, ENiCrFe-3, ERNiCrMo-3, ERNiFeCr-2, ERCoCr-A, ERCoCr-E, CrMo alloys and CrMoV alloys. The article can be placed in service without a post-weld heat treatment of the additional weld repair layer following the step of depositing the additional weld repair layer.

US Patent:

57627274, Jun 9, 1998

Filed:

Apr 14, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/843175

Inventors:

Gerald Richard Crawmer - Clifton Park NY
John Francis Nolan - Latham NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B23K 3102

US Classification:

148524

Abstract:

A method for weld repairing an article formed of a low-alloy steel, such as a steam turbine component. The method generally includes the step of depositing a first weld repair (14) on a surface of the article, during which a hard heat-affected zone (HAZ) (18) having a fine grain size is formed in the article beneath the surface on which the weld repair (14) is deposited. The first weld repair (14) and at least a portion of the HAZ (18) adjacent the first weld repair (14) are then locally heat treated at a temperature above a critical temperature A. sub. 1 of the alloy from which the article is formed. As a result of this localized heat treatment, the original grain structures of the first weld repair (14) and the HAZ (18) are entirely replaced with a fine-grain structure with acceptable hardness. Thereafter, at least one additional weld repair layer (16) is deposited on the first weld repair (14). The first weld repair (14) is intentionally formed to have a sufficient thickness to avoid formation of additional HAZ in the surface of the article as the additional weld repair layer (16) is deposited.

US Patent:

60499796, Apr 18, 2000

Filed:

Nov 27, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/200723

Inventors:

John Francis Nolan - Latham NY
Lawrence Michael Grycko - Lockport IL
David Roy Parker - Worcester NY
Gerald Richard Crawmer - Clifton Park NY

Assignee:

General Electric Co. - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B23P 1500

US Classification:

298891

Abstract:

The welding method for repairing a turbine rotor dovetail includes removal of buckets from damaged dovetails, removing a damaged dovetail from a turbine wheel, leaving a rotor wheel body having a rim. A plurality of ring sections are disposed about the wheel body rim, leaving axially opening annular grooves along opposite sides of the wheel. Welding apparatus including an electrode, welding wire and gas-carrying tube are inserted into the groove through an axial face of the wheel. One or more cover plates are disposed to overlie the groove at the location of its opening through the axial face of the wheel to at least partially seal the groove at its opening and maintain welding gas in the groove, enveloping the electrode and weld wire.

US Patent:

53513959, Oct 4, 1994

Filed:

Dec 30, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/999518

Inventors:

Gerald R. Crawmer - Clifton Park NY
Paul F. Murley - Albany NY
James R. Pedersen - Schenectady NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B23P 1500

US Classification:

298897

Abstract:

A process of manufacturing a steam turbine bucket having water droplet erosion resistance including the steps of: a) forming a bucket (10) of a first steel alloy having a blade portion (12), the blade portion having a leading edge (14) and a trailing edge (16); b) welding an insert (18) of a second steel alloy to the leading edge (14) of the bucket; c) heat treating the bucket (10) and insert (18); d) finish machining the bucket (10) and insert (18); and d) hardening the insert (18) to impart water droplet erosion resistance to the insert.

US Patent:

60854170, Jul 11, 2000

Filed:

Jun 29, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/106498

Inventors:

Karl Rudolph Anderson - Naperville IL
Gerald Richard Crawmer - Clifton Park NY
Edward Kenneth Ellis - Bangor ME
John Francis Nolan - Latham NY
Louis Patrick Earvolino - Holliston MA
Robert Ellis Seeley - Broadalbin NY
Joseph John Pepe - Ballston Lake NY
Robert Joseph Christoffel - Schenectady NY
Joseph Louis Van Ullen - Loudonville NY

Assignee:

General Electric Co. - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B23P 1500

US Classification:

298891

Abstract:

A method for repairing the rim of a steam turbine rotor, and a weld material for repairing such rotors. The method generally includes the steps of removing a damaged rim and its associated dovetail region, so as to form a surface at the perimeter of the rim portion. A weld repair region is then formed on the surface, which is machined to reconstruct the rim portion and the dovetail region exclusively with the weld repair region. Thereafter, an appropriately configured blade is secured to the rim portion with the dovetail region. The method is particularly intended for the repair of a steel alloy rotor, such as a NiCrMoV, NiMoV and CrMoV alloy, while the weld repair is formed with a nickel-base superalloy whose mechanical and thermal properties are compatible with the repair method and the steel alloy over a broad temperature range.

US Patent:

61288209, Oct 10, 2000

Filed:

Nov 27, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/200725

Inventors:

John Francis Nolan - Latham NY
Gerald Richard Crawmer - Clifton Park NY
Eloy Vincent Emeterio - Amsterdam NY

Assignee:

General Electric Co. - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B23P 1500

US Classification:

298891

Abstract:

A method of repairing a turbine rotor wheel having a damaged dovetail includes removing the damaged dovetail from the turbine wheel, leaving a turbine wheel body and welding a ring about the turbine wheel body in place of the removed damaged dovetail. During the welding process, including during preheating, welding or stress relieving, the temperature of the wheel body and ring is differentially controlled to introduce residual stresses in the ring. After welding a dovetail is formed in the ring for receiving turbine bucket dovetails. As a result, the ring has residual compressive stresses in a cold condition of the turbine whereby reduced net stresses in the ring in the location of the new dovetail during hot turbine operating conditions are reduced.

US Patent:

58237453, Oct 20, 1998

Filed:

Aug 1, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/691276

Inventors:

Karl Rudolph Anderson - Naperville IL
Gerald Richard Crawmer - Clifton Park NY
Edward Kenneth Ellis - Bangor ME
John Francis Nolan - Latham NY
Louis Patrick Earvolino - Holliston MA
Robert Ellis Seeley - Broadalbin NY
Joseph John Pepe - Ballston Lake NY
Robert Joseph Christoffel - Schenectady NY
Joseph Louis Van Ullen - Loudonville NY

Assignee:

General Electric Co. - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

F04D 2934

US Classification:

416213R

Abstract:

A turbine rotor comprising a radially-inward portion of a steel alloy and a radially-outward rim portion circumscribing the radially-inward portion, the rim portion being formed by a weldment that includes a nickel-base superalloy region joining the rim portion to the inward portion of the turbine rotor, the nickel-base superalloy having a room temperature ultimate tensile strength of at least about 690 MPa.