Patent ID: 6124568
Filing Date: 2000-09-26
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
A method of welding a superalloy article, the method comprising the steps of:establishing a pre-weld heat treatment temperature profile, a welding temperature profile, and a post-weld heat treatment temperature profile for a superalloy article, wherein the welding temperature profile consists of temperatures below the pre-weld and post-weld heat treatment temperature profiles;placing the superalloy article in an enclosure having means for heating the article, means for sensing a temperature of the article, and means for controlling the heating means based on the temperature of the article and according to the pre-weld heat treatment temperature profile, the welding temperature profile, and the post-weld heat treatment temperature profile;operating the heating means, the sensing means and the controlling means to heat the superalloy article according to the pre-weld heat treatment temperature profile;without removing the article from the enclosure, operating the heating means, the sensing means and the controlling means to heat the superalloy article directly from the pre-weld heat treatment temperature profile to the welding temperature profile;welding the article while maintaining the temperature of the article according to the welding temperature profile; and thenwithout removing the article from the enclosure, operating the heating means, the sensing means and the controlling means to heat the superalloy article directly from the welding temperature profile to the post-weld heat treatment temperature profile;wherein at least one of the pre-weld and post-weld heat treatment temperature profiles is characterized by the absence of a constant temperature soak.