IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,528,133
Granted Patent B2
US 12,528,133 · App. 18/417,625 · Granted Jan 20, 2026

Metal coupon with braze reservoir for component, component with same and related method

Inventors: Jonathan Matthew Lomas (Simpsonville, SC); Jonathan Michael Hatch (Simpsonvile, SC)
Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology LLC
B23K3/08B23K1/0018B33Y80/00B23K2101/001
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,528,133
App. No.
18/417,625
Granted
Jan 20, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A metal coupon for inserting in a component includes an additively manufactured (AM) metal member including a braze reservoir. The braze reservoir includes: a first cavity in the AM metal member; a second conduit fluidly coupling the first cavity to a surface of the AM metal member; a first conduit fluidly coupling the first cavity to a braze region; a blocking member blocking fluid communication through the first conduit between the first cavity and the braze region; a braze material in the first cavity; and a seal member seals the second conduit from an exterior of the AM metal member. A component may include a body including a braze reservoir similar to that described. The braze region may take a variety of forms such as a porous region, an interface between the coupon and the component, or a crack in the component body.

Claims (44)

1 . A metal coupon for inserting in a component, the metal coupon comprising:

an additively manufactured (AM) metal member including a braze reservoir, the braze reservoir including:

a first cavity in the AM metal member;

a first conduit fluidly coupling the first cavity to a braze region; and

a blocking member blocking fluid communication through the first conduit between the first cavity and the braze region;

a first braze material in the first cavity; and

a seal member sealing the first cavity from an exterior of the AM metal member.

2 . The metal coupon of claim 1 , wherein the blocking member includes a eutectic mixture of a metal material of the AM metal member and at least one element of the first braze material.

3 . The metal coupon of claim 1 , further comprising a second cavity defined in the AM metal member and by an enlarged area of the first conduit between the first cavity and the braze region, the second cavity having a second braze material therein that is different than the first braze material.

4 . The metal coupon of claim 3 , wherein the second braze material has a higher melting temperature than the first braze material.

5 . The metal coupon of claim 1 , wherein the braze region includes at least one of: a porous region within the AM metal member, a contact interface between the AM metal member and a coupon opening in a body of the component in which the AM metal member is located, and a portion of the body of the component in which the AM metal member is located.

6 . The metal coupon of claim 5 , wherein the porous region has a variable porosity with two or more porous sub-regions having different porosities.

7 . The metal coupon of claim 1 , wherein the braze reservoir is removable from the AM metal member, leaving a remaining section of the AM metal member.

8 . A metal coupon for inserting in a component, the metal coupon comprising:

an additively manufactured (AM) metal member including a braze reservoir, the braze reservoir including:

a first cavity in the AM metal member;

a first conduit fluidly coupling the first cavity to a braze region; and

a blocking member blocking fluid communication through the first conduit between the first cavity and the braze region;

a first braze material in the first cavity;

a seal member sealing the first cavity from an exterior of the AM metal member; and

a second conduit fluidly coupling the first cavity to an exterior surface of the AM metal member, wherein the seal member seals the second conduit from the exterior surface of the AM metal member.

9 . An additively manufactured (AM) component, comprising:

a body including a braze reservoir, the braze reservoir including:

a first cavity defined in the body;

a first braze material in the first cavity;

a seal member sealing the first cavity from an exterior of the body;

a first conduit defined in the body and fluidly coupling the first cavity to a braze region;

a second conduit fluidly coupling the first cavity to the exterior surface of the body, wherein the seal member seals the second conduit from the exterior surface of the body; and

a blocking member extending across the first conduit to block fluid communication between the first cavity and the braze region prior to exposure of the blocking member to a predetermined temperature exceeding a melting temperature of the first braze material.

10 . The AM component of claim 9 , wherein the blocking member includes a eutectic mixture of a metal material of the body and the first braze material, wherein the predetermined temperature exceeds a melting temperature of first braze material.

11 . The AM component of claim 10 , wherein in response to the body exceeding the predetermined temperature, the first braze material and the blocking member liquefy, causing the liquefied first braze material to flow through the first conduit to infiltrate the braze region.

12 . The AM component of claim 11 , further comprising a second cavity defined in the body and the first conduit between the first cavity and the braze region, the second cavity having a second braze material therein that is different than the first braze material, wherein the liquefied first braze material flows through the first conduit and mixes with at least a portion of the second braze material, wherein the mixed liquefied first braze material and second braze material infiltrate the braze region.

13 . The AM component of claim 12 , wherein the second braze material has a higher melting temperature than the first braze material.

14 . The AM component of claim 9 , wherein the braze region includes at least one of:

a contact interface between a coupon opening in the body and a metal coupon in the coupon opening, a porous region at least partially in at least one of the body and the metal coupon, and at least one of a portion and an exterior surface of the body.

15 . The AM component of claim 14 , wherein the porous region has a variable porosity with two or more porous sub-regions having different porosities.

16 . The AM component of claim 9 , wherein the braze reservoir is removable from the body, leaving a remaining section of the body and the braze region.

17 . An additively manufactured (AM) component, comprising:

a body including a braze reservoir, the braze reservoir including:

a first cavity defined in the body;

a first braze material in the first cavity;

a seal member sealing the first cavity from an exterior of the body;

a first conduit defined in the body and fluidly coupling the first cavity to a braze region; and

a blocking member extending across the first conduit to block fluid communication between the first cavity and the braze region prior to exposure of the blocking member to a predetermined temperature exceeding a melting temperature of the first braze material, wherein in response to the body exceeding the predetermined temperature, the first cavity is an at least partially open space.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2024
From: LOMAS, JONATHAN MATTHEW; HATCH, JONATHAN MICHAEL
To: GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 066192/0883 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250235944A1 · Jul 24, 2025
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