Brazing components and techniques

• Main Authors: Jason A Ryon, Lev A Prociw
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 14.03.2018
• Subjects: CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; TRANSPORTING; WELDING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM

A method of making a braze joint between two components 102 and 104, comprising the steps of; i) applying a braze 112 to a braze reservoir 110 located on the first component 102; ii) engaging a second component 104 to the first component 102 to define a joint location (Fig. 1, 106), wherein a wicking structure 108 provides flow communication from the braze reservoir to the joint location; iii) heating the braze; iv) flowing the braze from the reservoir 110 to the joint location, thereby joining the first and second components together. The first and second components may be radially nested such that the joint location and the braze reservoir are axially spaced apart. The first component may include a radial vane (Fig. 1, 114), wherein the wicking structure extends radially through the radial vane and the joint location is at the end of the radial vane. The wicking structure and the joint location may be on the same side of the braze reservoir, thus leaving the gap opposite the wicking structure substantially devoid of braze following step iv. The first and second components may be nozzle components which together form a nozzle. The wicking structure (which may be a repeating pattern and include a semi-sintered material or a woven material) may be integral to the first nozzle component, and furthermore may be additively manufactured as part of the first component.