Local heat treatment of ibr blade using infrared heating

Abstract

A device and method for locally heat treating at least one airfoil in an integrally bladed rotor device. A pair of IR heat sources are positioned to direct IR heat rays in the direction where local heat treatment is required. A pair of parabolic mirrors are positioned to direct the IR heat rays on to the metal component. The heat treating is useful after welding the airfoil on to the rotor device.

1 . A device for heat treating a metal component, comprising:
 at least one parabolic mirror formed in the axially extending cavity; and   at least one IR heat source for providing IR heat rays in a direction toward the at least one parabolic mirror;   such that the at least one parabolic mirror is positioned to focus a band of the IR heat rays onto the metal component.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the metal part is at least one airfoil in an integrally bladed rotor. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the IR heat source and parabolic mirror are sized to direct the IR heat rays along the junction between the airfoil and the integrally bladed rotor device. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , which includes a pair of housings on opposite sides of the entire area of contact between the airfoil and the integrally bladed rotor device, with each housing having an IR heat source and a parabolic minor formed in the housing for each IR heat source. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein each of the pair of IR heat sources are mounted to its respective housing with a clip. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the parabolic mirror directs the IR heat rays to a region of the airfoil where it is joined to the integrally bladed rotor device. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the IR heat rays are focused into an elongated band having a band width of from about 6 mm to about 18 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 2 , which further includes a cooling element for each IR heat source for maintaining a desired temperature for the IR heat source. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the cooling element is part of the housing having an axial passage adapted to transfer cooling liquid through the passage, and the housing extends along the airfoil. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the housing includes a cavity forming a parabolic minor and the IR heat source is mounted in the cavity to focus the IR heat rays on the junction of the airfoil where it is joined to the integrally bladed rotor device. 
     
     
         11 . A system for heat treating at least one airfoil in an integrally bladed rotor device, the system comprising:
 at least one IR heat source means mounted in a position for directing IR heat rays in a direction; and   at least one parabolic mirror means for reflecting the IR rays on to the at least one portion of an airfoil.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , which includes a pair of housings each having an axially extending cavity, the cavity forming the parabolic minor, the housings further each positioning an IR heat source, wherein the pair of IR heat sources are facing in opposite directions and each IR heat source is aligned with the parabolic minor. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the parabolic minor directs the IR heat rays radially inward to the airfoil where it is joined to the integrally bladed rotor device. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , which further includes a cooling element for each IR heat source for maintaining a desired temperature for the IR heat source. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the cooling element is part of a housing having an axial passage adapted to transfer cooling liquid through the passage, and the housing extends along the width of the airfoil.