Method and apparatus for building a workpiece by deposit welding
AssigneeThe Babcock & Wilcox Company
InventorsDavid P. Edmonds, Michael D. McAninch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for building an axially symmetrical workpiece of desired geometry by deposit welding which uses a translatable welding head for depositing molten weld material and a rotatable, reusable shoe which translates with the welding head. The rotatable, reusable shoe forms, supports and cools the deposited molten weld material puddle while the weld material is solidifying thereby eliminating the need for a conventional preform.
Claims16
An apparatus for building an axially symmetrical workpiece by deposit welding, comprising:
- a welding head translatable along the axis of the workpiece for depositing molten weld material;
- a rotatable, reusable shoe held in friction contact with the workpiece for forming, supporting and cooling the molten weld material deposited directly on the surface thereof;
- means for rotating the workpiece and, by friction, the shoe held in contact therewith, as the welding head deposits molten weld material on the surface of the shoe;
- and
- means for translating the shoe and the welding head together for continuously providing a new, fresh region of the shoe surface to consistently cool the molten weld material as it is deposited.
An apparatus for building an axially symmetrical workpiece by deposit welding, comprising:
- a welding head translatable along the axis of the workpiece for depositing molten weld material;
- a rotatable, reusable shoe held in friction contact with the workpiece for forming, supporting and cooling the molten weld material deposited directly on the surface thereof;
- means for rotating the workpiece and, by friction, the shoe held in contact therewith, as the welding head deposits molten weld material on the surface of the shoe;
- means for varying the tilt angle between the shoe surface and the axis of the workpiece so as to vary the geometry of the workpiece;
- and
- means for translating the shoe and the welding head together for continuously providing a new, fresh region of the shoe surface to consistently cool the molten weld material as it is deposited.
A method for building an axially symmetrical workpiece by deposit welding, comprising of steps of:
- depositing molten weld material using a welding head translatable along the axis of the workpiece onto a surface of a rotatable, reusable shoe held in friction contact with the workpiece;
- rotating the workpiece, and, by friction, the shoe held in contact therewith, during the deposition of the molten weld material to the surface of the shoe;
- and
- translating the shoe and the welding head together to continuously provide a new, fresh region of the shoe surface underneath the welding head to consistently cool the molten weld material as it is deposited.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.