Luther A Marsh

US Patent:

48662364, Sep 12, 1989

Filed:

Apr 20, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/183949

Inventors:

Robert DeNale - Arnold MD
William E. Lukens - Annapolis MD
Luther A. Marsh - Fairfax Station VA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

B23K 916

US Classification:

219 74

Abstract:

A flexible extendable backing shield for use with the welding of reactive metals such as titanium. The backing shield provides a means for selectively distributing the inert gas along the length of the shield and then diffusing the inert gas to the root side of the weld to prevent oxidation and embrittlement of the weld root. The backing shield is of modular configuration so that a plurality of the devices can be readily connected together to shield a variety of complex shapes.