Abstract: 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 workpiece housing to have its temperature sensed by the temperature sensor, and the gas source is operated to envelope the workpiece in the shielding gas.

Abstract: A method for repairing a stationary turbine nozzle segment having at least one vane disposed between outer and inner structural bands includes providing an engine-run turbine nozzle segment having at least one vane disposed between outer and inner bands, wherein the outer band and the vanes are previously replaced components of the segment and the inner band is an original component of the segment; separating the inner band from the nozzle segment; repairing damage in the outer band and/or the vane; and joining the outer band and the vane to a newly manufactured replacement inner band segment. The replacement inner band segment includes: a structural inner band; and an integral structural collar adapted to receive an inner end of the at least one vane.