Laser nitriding an element made of titanium alloy by blowing nitrogen and inert gas
US5413641A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 8, 1993 |
| Grant date | May 9, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 8, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S148/903
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of nitriding a piece made of titanium alloy, in which a laser beam is directed onto the piece to obtain a small amount of surface melting in the impact zone of the laser, nitrogen under high pressure is blown immediately behind the impact zone of the laser beam so that the nitrogen penetrates into the impact zone once it has become semi-solid, and an inert gas is blown around the nitrogen so as to cover and overlap the laser impact zone. The apparatus of the invention includes a central tube for conveying the nitrogen and a circularly symmetrical duct around the axis of the central tube having inside and outside walls that are conical and that serve to convey the inert gas. The invention serves to obtain a hard surface layer having a thickness of 1 mm to 2 mm.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.