Soft alloy layer forming apparatus and soft alloy layer forming method

Abstract

A soft alloy layer forming apparatus (10) includes a base metal support part (20) rotationally supporting a base metal (40) with a center axis (42) of an inner periphery of the base metal (40) being a rotation axis, and an arc generating unit (30) movable in a direction of the rotation axis of the inner periphery of the base metal (40), fixed at a predetermined distance from the inner peripheral face (41) of the base metal (40), and generating an arc (31) between itself and the base metal (40). While rotating the base metal (40) and maintaining the distance constant between the arc generating unit (30) and the inner peripheral face (41) of the base metal (40), a soft alloy member (50) is melted by the arc generating unit (30) to form a soft alloy layer (15) on the inner peripheral face (41) of the base metal (40). The invention also relates to a soft alloy layer forming method.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application is based upon and enjoys the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-137366 filed on May 27, 2008 and the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-099021 filed on April 15, 2009; The contents are incorporated herein by reference. technical field [0003] The present invention relates to a soft alloy layer forming device and a soft alloy layer forming method for forming a soft (mass) alloy layer. The soft alloy layer is related to a bearing for supporting a rotor etc. and is in slidable contact with the rotor. The soft alloy layer is also associated with a sealing member which is in contact with the rotor and seals off lubricating oil or steam, the aforementioned components being used in power (electricity) generating devices such as generators and (steam) turbines, the device and method being used in particular to form A soft alloy layer in slidable contact with the rot...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0014] However, if the fine wire mesh is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the base metal by the above-mentioned conventional technique, it is difficult to provide the fine wire mesh in the vicinity of the sliding surface of the bearing metal layer which becomes the source of thermal fatigue and damage.

Therefore, it is difficult to expect to achieve the effect of avoiding thermal fatigue and damage in the bearing metal

In addition, there arises a problem that the production cost increases because it requires the step of setting and fixing the thin mesh wire

[0015] In addition, if the above conventional technique is used to irradiate laser light on the surface of the bearing metal layer to quench and solidify it after melting it again, it is difficult to expect an improvement in the adhesion strength between the base metal and the bearing metal layer

Besides, this technique needs to have a laser irradiation step and a post-irradiation machining step, thus posing a problem of increasing production cost

[0016] In addition, the performance of the bearing metal manufactured by centrifugal casting depends largely on the casting conditions and cooling conditions after casting, so there is a large dispersion of tensile strength, thermal fatigue strength, adhesion strength, etc., and the lack of stability of journal bearings question of reliability

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