The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 25, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 31, 1998
Jeffrey A Conner, Hamilton, OH (US);
William R Stowell, Rising Sun, IN (US);
John F Ackerman, Laramie, WY (US);
John M Powers, Independence, KY (US);
Thomas F Broderick, Springboro, OH (US);
General Electric Company, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
A heating apparatus and method for welding a superalloy article. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus and method entail welding a superalloy article within an enclosure equipped with a thermal radiation-generating device that preheats the article to a temperature of at least 1500.degree. F. prior to welding. The invention more particularly provides a thermally-reflective coating on a reflector member positioned adjacent the thermal radiation-generating device for the purpose of reflecting thermal radiation emitted by the device into the enclosure. The device is then operated to heat the superalloy article to a suitable temperature, e.g., 1500.degree. F. or more, after which a welding operation is performed on the superalloy article.