The following relates to a repaired ring and to a method for repairing such rings that are used for sealing, in particular in steam turbines for sealing a steam chamber with respect to the surroundings or steam chambers with different pressures.
SLM-compatible design/redesign of steam turbine parts.
Nowadays, U-, I- and L-rings are manufactured conventionally or by means of SLM and have long delivery times. They are used in various components (e.g. valves, H-turbines) for sealing the steam chamber with respect to the surroundings or steam chambers with different pressures.
The intention is to solve the following problems by means of embodiments of the invention:
Nowadays, only forged parts having long procurement times are used. The suppliers must be qualified. For maintenance operations, the rings must be procured in advance with an oversize. For the large rings, special processing machines are required.
An aspect relates to a repaired ring for sealing, in particular an I-, L- or U-ring, having opposite contact surfaces, wherein the repaired ring was previously in use as new ring and material was removed by means of processing the contact surfaces, and in which a thickening is present on only one contact surface after the material removal.
Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:
The figures and the description present merely exemplary embodiments of the invention.
The new sealing ring 1′ has, on both sides, contact surfaces 4, 7 that are formed on the inner edge 20 and are elevated from the surrounding surface 5.
During operation, wear occurs by means of friction, oxidation and/or erosion of the contact surfaces 4, 7 of the sealing ring 1′, or on the opposite contact surfaces 4 and 7.
In the case of maintenance, these opposite contact surfaces 4, 7 are reworked, whereby the old ring 1′ no longer has the sealing action and the ring cannot therefore be used further.
The sealing surface of the ring can be refurbished by means of a new repair concept. The contacting action of the sealing ring is thus restored.
According to embodiments of the invention, the contact surfaces 4, 7 have been processed, but material is applied only to one contact surface 7.
The application of the material may be performed by means of various application methods, such that a thickening 10 is performed.
These can be additive methods in which the ring is embedded in a powder bed and the region is built up step by step by means of selective laser sintering or laser melting or the sealing function is restored by means of build-up welding, in particular powder build-up welding.
The thickening 10 is performed by means of selective laser melting (SLM) or laser metal deposition (LMD) to give a near-net shape.
In the case of the ring 1, not only is worn material removed as per
The insert ring 13 may be connected in the groove 16 in various ways: soldering, welding, mechanical clamping.
No new rings need to be procured or stocked. The old rings are treated only if this is diagnosed as being required.
The thickening 10 on only one side 7 compensates the removal on both sides 4, 7 or on the contact surface opposite the sealing ring surface.
Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.
For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2017 209 364.1 | Jun 2017 | DE | national |
This application claims priority to PCT Application No. PCT/EP2018/060139, having a filing date of Apr. 20, 2018, which is based off of DE Application No. 10 2017 209 364.1, having a filing date of Jun. 2, 2017, the entire contents both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2018/060139 | 4/20/2018 | WO | 00 |