FUSION-WELDING OF DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS TO PRECLUDE EXPULSION OF CONTAMINANTS THROUGH THE WELD

摘要

A component which has a surface crevice or crack and contaminants on at least one face of the opening is welded. The weld is effected by first plastically deforming the surface of the component to close the surface opening to a predetermined depth less than the depth of the opening and contaminated faces defining the opening to form a sealed ligament. The sealed ligament leaves unclosed a portion of the crack below the sealed ligament. The closed surface is hermetically sealed by fusion-welding to a depth of penetration equal to or less than the predetermined depth of the sealed ligament to minimize or eliminate expulsion of contaminants in the sealed ligament.