Apparatus and method for performing welding at elevated temperature

摘要

A welding apparatus includes a workpiece housing having a window therethrough and having a welding access therethrough for a welder to an interior of the workpiece housing. The workpiece housing is metallic with a heat insulation on an internal surface thereof. A lamp heat source is directed through the window and at the workpiece in the interior of the workpiece housing. A gas source delivers a controllable flow of a shielding gas to the interior of the workpiece housing. A temperature sensor senses a temperature of the workpiece within the interior of the workpiece housing. A feedback controller controls the power to the lamp heat source responsive to the temperature of the workpiece. To perform welding, the workpiece is placed into the interior of the workpiece housing so as to have its temperature sensed by the temperature sensor, and the gas source is operated to envelope the workpiece in the shielding gas. The workpiece is heated by powering the lamp heat source responsive to a setpoint input and to the temperature of the workpiece. The workpiece is welded using a welder operating through the welding access.