초록 ▼

The wall of a pressure vessel tube having cracks or other discontinuities is repaired by localized melting with the addition of an alloying material. The melting reforms or eliminates the discontinuity while the alloying material improves the physical and chemical properties of the reformed tube wal

The wall of a pressure vessel tube having cracks or other discontinuities is repaired by localized melting with the addition of an alloying material. The melting reforms or eliminates the discontinuity while the alloying material improves the physical and chemical properties of the reformed tube wall. The alloying material may be added as an insert or as a weld wire. The insert may be melted in only its center section to ensure that the entire weld is properly alloyed. Sections of the insert which are not melted may be expanded to be in intimate contact with the tube. The weld wire feed means may be integral with the welding head. A post-weld stress relief process may be applied to the welded area to reduce residual stress generated by the welding operation.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A method for expanding the operating life of a tube having a discontinuity extending at least part way through its wall thickness comprising the steps of:melting at least about 40% of the wall thickness of a portion of said tube while in a vessel in the area of said discontinuity t

[ We claim:] [1.] A method for expanding the operating life of a tube having a discontinuity extending at least part way through its wall thickness comprising the steps of:melting at least about 40% of the wall thickness of a portion of said tube while in a vessel in the area of said discontinuity to create a weld pool which comes in contact with said discontinuity and which reforms at least a portion of said discontinuity;adding an alloying material to said weld pool; andallowing said weld pool to cool and solidify.