The Paton Welding Journal, 2023, №08



2023 №08 (10)

DOI of Article 10.37434/tpwj2023.08.11

2023 №08 (01)

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The Paton Welding Journal, 2023, #8, 78-84 pages

Evolution of electron beam hardware for welding in space

S.O. Hlushak

E.O. Paton Electric Welding Institute of the NAS of Ukraine 11 Kazymyr Malevych Str., 03150, Kyiv, Ukraine. E-mail: office@paton.kiev.ua

Abstract
The paper deals with application of welding and conducting repair-restoration operations in space, as well as evolution of the design of electron beam tool over several decades. Technical characteristics and technological capabilities of all the generations of hardware and requirements to it at different operation stages are described. Substantiation is provided for electron beam welding being the most suitable process for application under lower gravity conditions. Specification of “Vulcan” automatic unit is given, in which welding experiments were conducted for the first time in space. Specification of the versatile hand tool (VHT) is provided, and its capabilities are described during performance of operations of welding and other related technological processes, namely cutting, brazing, coating deposition and heat treatment, if required. Samples are shown, which were made when conducting the world’s first experiment in open space, when the cosmonaut-welders used VHT to perform the technological operations of welding, cutting, brazing and coating deposition. It is proved that generalization of investigation results and incorporating the experience of operation of all the previous samples of the hardware allowed development of the next “Universal” tool, which passed comprehensive testing at NASA, including in the KC-135 flying laboratory and in the space simulation test chamber. The paper presents new generation electron beam tool, which was developed and is manufactured at PWI. 12 Ref., 8 Fig.
Keywords: space; hardware, electron beam welding, power source, automatic and manual welding

Received: 13.06.2023
Accepted: 07.08.2023

References

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