Pratt and Whitney Tool Support Services

411 Silver Lane - Mail Stop 129-20

East Hartford

CT 06118 USA

Tel: 1-860-610-2675

Tel: 1-800-565-0140

Tel: 1-800-792-8665

Fax: 1-860-610-2670

www.pratt-whitney.com

Preliminary Requirements

Safety Requirements

WARNING

REFER TO THE SPM TASK 70-11-48-110-501 FOR SPECIFIC PRECAUTIONS.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OPERATOR TO OBTAIN AND OBSERVE THE MANUFACTURER'S MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS FOR CONSUMABLE MATERIALS. THESE CONTAIN INFORMATION SUCH AS, HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS, PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS, FIRE, EXPLOSION, REACTIVITY, HEALTH HAZARD DATA, PRECAUTIONS FOR SAFE HANDLING, USE AND CONTROL MEASURES AND ALSO TO TAKE LOCAL REGULATIONS INTO CONSIDERATION.

CAUTION

INCORRECT ULTRASONIC CLEANING CAN CAUSE INTERNAL AND ALSO EXTERNAL CRACKING IN BOTH NEW AND ENGINE-OPERATED PARTS UNDER SOME CONDITIONS. TO MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL OF DAMAGE TO AIRFOILS AND DUCT SEGMENTS, USE THE EQUIPMENT BELOW.

CAUTION

DEVIATIONS FROM THE PROCESS THAT FOLLOWS WILL CAUSE CHANGES IN THE PART-TO-TANK INTERACTION, WHICH CAN RESULT IN CRACKS IN THE PARTS.

CAUTION

THE ULTRASONIC UNIT MUST HAVE A TIMER THAT AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS OFF THE MACHINE.

CAUTION

THE ULTRASONIC TANK MUST HAVE A SOLUTION LEVEL MARKER AND A LOW SOLUTION LEVEL SHUT-OFF.

CAUTION

AN AUTOFILL DEVICE IS OPTIONAL

Procedure

1. SUBTASK 70-13-02-300-001 Ultrasonic Cleaning in Alkaline Cleaner Solutions

   1. 
      CAUTION
      KEEP THE SOLUTION LEVEL TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED LEVEL WITH PARTS FULLY IN THE SOLUTION.
      
      CAUTION
      IF YOU OPERATE THE TANK BELOW THE RECOMMENDED LEVEL, YOU WILL INCREASE THE INTENSITY OF THE ULTRASONIC ACTION AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE PARTS.
      
      CAUTION
      AT INTERVALS, REMOVE UNWANTED MATERIAL FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. IF THIS UNWANTED MATERIAL IS PERMITTED TO COLLECT, IT WILL ABSORB THE ULTRASONIC ENERGY AND WILL REDUCE THE EFFECT OF THE ULTRASONIC CLEANING ACTION.

      Fill the tank with an alkaline cleaning solution from the SPM TASK 70-11-13-300-503 or SPM TASK 70-11-03-300-503.

      1. Operate the SPM TASK 70-11-13-300-503 solutions at 160-170 degrees F (71-77 degrees C. Operate the SPM TASK 70-11-03-300-503 solutions at the temperature range specified in SPM TASK 70-11-03-300-503 but do not exceed 170 degrees F (77 degrees C). Refer to SPM TASK 70-11-13-300-503 or SPM TASK 70-11-03-300-503.

         NOTE

         Do not exceed 170 degrees F (77 degrees C). Higher temperatures reduce the effect of the ultrasonic cleaning action. The ultrasonic energy will increase the temperature of the cleaning solution.

         NOTE

         SPM TASK 70-11-13-300-503 solutions are used in SPM TASK 70-13-02-300-503 for the removal of grit after blasting, for the removal of carbon and scale from the surfaces of the part, and for the loosening of any unwanted material from internal cavities.

         NOTE

         SPM TASK 70-11-03-300-503 solutions are used in SPM TASK 70-13-02-300-503 for degreasing and for the removal of any grit remaining after blasting.

   2. NOTE

      Degassing is only necessary when a new cleaning solution is added to the tank or when the equipment has been shut down for an extended period of time and the temperature of the solution has decreased to the ambient temperature.

      Start the ultrasonic generator with no parts in the tank and operate the generator for approximately 30 minutes until the gas in the cleaning solution is fully removed (or "degassed") from the solution.

      1. Initial degassing will occur in a few seconds to a few minutes. The temperature of the solution and the depth of the tank will have an effect on the amount of time that will be necessary to degas the solution. The colder the solution and the deeper the tank, the longer the degas time.

      2. If the solution has been previously degassed but the equipment has been shut off for an extended period of time and the temperature of the solution has decreased to the ambient temperature, operate the unit for a minimum of 10 minutes to make sure the solution is degassed.

   3. 

      CAUTION

      BE SURE TO SUPPORT AIRFOILS OR DUCT SEGMENTS IN THE TANK. THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE BLADES AND VANES SHOULD BE DOWN AND SEATED ON THE RACK FOR THE MOST EFFECTIVE CLEANING.

      

      CAUTION

      IF MORE THAN ONE PART IS CLEANED AT A TIME, THE PARTS MUST NOT TOUCH EACH OTHER.

      

      CAUTION

      ALL THE PARTS IN THE RACK MUST BE FULLY SUBMERGED UNDER THE SURFACE OF THE CLEANING SOLUTION BY ONE INCH (APPROXIMATELY 25 MM) MINIMUM.

      

      CAUTION

      DO NOT STACK THE PARTS ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER.

      

      CAUTION

      ALL PARTS IN THE RACK MUST BE SEPARATED FROM THE SIDES AND BOTTOM OF THE TANK BY TWO INCHES (APPROXIMATELY 51 MM) MINIMUM.

      

      CAUTION

      IF THE PART HAS HOLES AND/OR CAVITIES, BE SURE TO ROTATE THE FIXTURE/PART TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PART IS FILLED WITH CLEANING SOLUTION AND THAT ALL THE AIR IS REMOVED.

      

      CAUTION

      DO NOT OVERLOAD THE TANK WITH TOO MANY PARTS BECAUSE THEY ABSORB ULTRASONIC ENERGY, WHICH DECREASES THE EFFECT OF THE CLEANING ACTION AND INCREASES THE CLEANING TIME.

      

      CAUTION

      DO NOT PERMIT PARTS OR RACK TO TOUCH THE BOTTOM OR SIDES OF THE TANK.

      

      CAUTION

      DO NOT PERMIT PARTS TO HANG FROM THE SIDE OF THE TANK.

      

      CAUTION

      THE ULTRASONIC GENERATOR SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN WHEN PARTS ARE PUT IN, OR TAKEN OUT OF, THE TANK.

      Put the parts in a rack.

   4. Put the rack into a cleaning solution a from the SPM TASK 70-11-13-300-503 or SPM TASK 70-11-03-300-503. Rack must be at the applicable depth.

      1. 

         CAUTION

         EXCESSIVE IMMERSION TIME WITH THE ULTRASONIC TURNED ON WILL CAUSE CRACKS AND CAVITATION EROSION OF THE PARTS.

         NOTE

         The solutions in the SPM TASK 70-11-13-300-503 operate at 160 to 170 deg F (71 to 77 deg C) for this process. These solutions are used in this procedure to remove grit after blasting, to remove carbon and scale from the surface of the part, and to loosen all unwanted material from internal cavities.

         NOTE

         The solutions in the SPM TASK 70-11-03-300-503 operate at the temperature range specified in that task for this process. Do not exceed 170 deg F (77 deg C) because temperatures higher than 170 deg F (77 deg C) reduce the effect of the ultrasonic cleaning action.

         NOTE

         Ultrasonic energy will increase the temperature of the cleaning solution. These solutions are used in this procedure to degrease parts and remove all grit remaining after blasting.

         NOTE

         The cycle time must be controlled by a timer that automatically shuts off the ultrasonic generator at the end of the cycle.

         Clean the parts for a 5-15 minute cycle. Do not let the solution temperature exceed 170 deg F (77 deg C).

      2. NOTE

         An additional 15 minute cycle can be run. Maximum ultrasonic time is 60 minutes total, one time for a repair.

         After the cleaning cycle, raise the rack from the solution. Make sure that the parts are secured in the rack.

   5. Put parts fully in ambient temperature water.

   6. Fully pressure flush with ambient temperature water.

      1. Fully flush the internal empty space of the part.

      2. Make sure that all the cooling holes flow water.

   7. Put the parts fully into hot water, at 150 to 200 deg F (66 to 93 deg C) for as long as necessary to increase the temperature of the part to flash dry.

   8. Inspection.

      1. Examine the parts for cracks. Refer to the Engine Manual inspection section for fluorescent penetrant inspection requirements. If fluorescent penetrant inspection has been done, do a visual inspection with white light and 10X magnification for cracks after ultrasonic cleaning.