An Apparatus and a Method of Welding

摘要

Apparatus 101 for welding thermocouple wires 201 together, comprising; i) an electrode 102; ii) a first container 103 containing the electrode, the first container comprising a first wall formed of a material configured to enable viewing of the electrode, through the first wall, and the first container having an opening to enable thermocouple wires to be extended through the opening into the first container and to the electrode; iii) a gas passage 106 having an outlet positioned to enable a gas (preferably an inert gas) to flow from the gas passage into the first container and over the electrode; iv) an electrical terminal configured to connect to thermocouple wires to be welded; v) an electric power supply configured to provide a potential difference between the electrode and the electrical terminal and vi) a second container 202 containing the first container, the second container comprising an opaque wall defining a second opening; with an optical filter 205 extending across the second opening 204 to enable observation of the electrode and safe observation of welding in the first container. The apparatus may comprise a control means configured to cause connection of the electric power supply to the electric terminal based on an input. A second aspect is directed towards a method of welding thermocouple wires.