Method and apparatus for building a workpiece by deposit welding
AssigneeThe Babock & Wilcox Company
InventorsThomas E. Doyle, David P. Edmonds, Michael D. McAninch, Patrick M. Ryan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for building a workpiece of a desired geometry by deposit welding with a reusable preform. The reusable preform forms, supports, and cools the deposited molten weld material puddle while the weld material is solidifying thereby eliminating the need for a conventional preform. The reusable preform may be mobile or stationary in any shape, e.g., a block, a cylinder, or a belt. It is manufactured from either a combination of or exclusively of, a ceramic material or a material with high thermal conductivity.
Claims24
An apparatus for building a workpiece by deposit welding, comprising:
- a welding head for depositing molten weld material;
- a reusable preform for forming, supporting and cooling the molten weld material deposited directly on the surface thereof, said reusable preform having an internal passage;
- means for cooling the hollow reusable preform by circulating a cooling fluid therethrough;
- and
- means for moving the workpiece which continuously provides a new region of the reusable preform surface underneath the welding head to cool the molten weld material as it is deposited.
An apparatus for building a workpiece by deposit welding comprising:
- a welding head for depositing molten weld material;
- a rotatable reusable preform for forming, supporting, and cooling the molten weld material deposited directly on the surface thereof, said reusable preform having an internal passage;
- means for cooling the hollow rotatable reusable preform by circulating a cooling fluid therethrough;
- and
- means for moving the workpiece which continuously provides a new region of the reusable preform surface underneath the welding head to cool the molten weld material as it is deposited.
An apparatus for building a workpiece by deposit welding, comprising:
- a welding head for depositing molten weld material;
- a rotatable reusable preform belt for forming, supporting, and cooling the molten weld material deposited directly on the surface thereof;
- means for cooling the rotatable reusable preform belt;
- means for varying the tilt angle between the reusable preform and the workpiece so as to vary the geometry of the workpiece;
- and
- means for moving the workpiece which continuously provides a new region of the rotatable reusable preform belt surface underneath the welding head to cool the molten weld material as it is deposited.
A method for building a workpiece by deposit welding, comprising the steps of:
- depositing molten weld material onto a surface of a reusable preform;
- cooling the reusable preform by circulating a cooling fluid therethrough so as to consistently cool the deposited molten weld material and to prevent melting of the reusable preform;
- moving the workpiece during the deposition of the molten weld material on the surface of the reusable preform;
- and
- providing a new region of the reusable preform underneath the molten weld material to consistently cool and form the molten weld material as it is deposited.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.