Granted Patent B2

US 7,342,195 · App. 11/494,361 · Granted Mar 11, 2008

Abstract

Claims (33)

1. A customizable ion fusion formation system for three-dimensional repair of a workpiece with successive layers of feedstock material comprising:

a deposition head operable to emit a plasma stream in a plasma path by energizing a flowing gas and to feed feedstock into the plasma path of the plasma torch, the feedstock melting at a deposition point when introduced into the plasma path;

a positioning arm, the deposition head mounted to the positioning arm;

a moveable positioning platform, the positioning arm mounted to the moveable positioning platform; and

a control platform, the control platform positioned separate and apart from the moveable positioning platform and including a plurality of control components for controlling the position of the positioning arm and operation of the deposition head,

whereby the moveable positioning platform is moveable to position the positioning arm along an X, Y, and Z axis, thereby aligning the deposition head with the workpiece to repair the workpiece by transferring the feedstock from the feedstock feeder in a controlled manner by melting the feedstock at the deposition point and allowing it to re-solidify on the workpiece or on previously-deposited feedstock material.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the deposition head is fixably mounted to the positioning arm.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the deposition head includes a plasma torch positioned to emit the plasma stream in a plasma path and a feedstock feeder operable to feed the feedstock into the plasma path of the plasma torch.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of customizable control parameters are input into the control components to provide positioning and repositioning of the positioning arm.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of control components include a gas controller, a power source, an electric drive and a computer.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of control components are housed within a single housing.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of control components are housed separately within a plurality of housings.

8. The system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of customizable control parameters are input into the computer for manual control of the positioning arm.

9. The system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of customizable control parameters are input into the computer for automated control of the positioning arm.

10. A customizable ion fusion formation system for three dimensional repair of a workpiece with successive layers of feedstock material comprising:

a plasma torch positioned to emit a plasma stream in a plasma path by energizing a flowing gas;

a feedstock feeder operable to feed feedstock into the plasma path of the plasma torch, the feedstock melting at a deposition point when introduced into the plasma path;

a positioning arm, the plasma torch and the feedstock feeder mounted to the positioning arm to form a deposition head, whereby the positioning arm is positionable along an X, Y, and Z axis to align the deposition head with the workpiece to repair the workpiece by transferring the feedstock from the feedstock feeder to the workpiece in a controlled manner by melting the feedstock at the deposition point and allowing it to re-solidify on the workpiece or on previously-deposited feedstock material;

a moveable positioning platform, the positioning arm mounted to the moveable positioning platform; and

a control platform, the control platform positioned separate and apart from the moveable positioning platform and including a plurality of control components, whereby a plurality of customizable control parameters are input into the control components and provide positioning and repositioning of the positioning arm and operation of the deposition head.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the deposition head is fixably mounted to the positioning arm.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of control components include a gas controller, a power source, an electric drive and a computer.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of control components are housed within a single housing.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the positioning arm further includes at least one extendable component.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of customizable control parameters are input into the computer and provide one of manual control or automated control of the positioning arm.

16. A customizable ion fusion formation method for three-dimensional repair of a workpiece with successive layers of feedstock material comprising:

providing a positioning arm mounted to a moveable positioning platform, the positioning arm having a deposition head mounted thereto, the deposition head creating a plasma stream in a plasma path by energizing a flowing gas feeding a feedstock into the plasma path of the plasma torch, the feedstock melting at a deposition point when introduced into the plasma path;

providing a plurality of control components positioned on a control platform, whereby the moveable positioning platform is positioned separate and apart from the control platform, the control components programmable to control the positioning arm whereby a plurality of customizable control parameters are input into the control components; and

positioning the moveable positioning platform and the positioning arm along an X, Y, and Z axis to align the deposition head relative to a predetermined targeted repair region to repair the workpiece in the predetermined targeted region.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the deposition head includes a plasma torch positioned to emit the plasma stream in a plasma path and a feedstock feeder operable to feed the feedstock into the plasma path of the plasma torch.

18. The method of claim 16 , further including the step of adjusting the rate at which the feedstock material is introduced into the plasma stream to produce an optimal feedstock deposition rate.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of control components include a gas controller, a power source, an electric drive and a computer.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of customizable control parameters are input into the computer to provide one of manual control or automated control of the positioning arm.

Assignments (9)