Abstract:
Apparatus and method for rapid and automatic welding of joints which interconnect sections of pipe, and in particular oil or gas transmission pipe. The system includes at least one torch transport assembly which simultaneously moves one or more welding torches along a path parallel to the joint being welded. Selected operating parameters such as preheating power for the filler wire, of each welding torch are adjusted to accurately position each torch with respect to the joint, and to repeatably provide programmed welding parameters resulting in a uniform joint weld. The present system is disclosed in the context of hot-wire gas-tungsten arc welding torches.
Abstract:
An electrically heated soldering tool for gripping and heating joints that are to be soldered together, includes a pistol-grip case having a stationary upper jaw and a pivotable lower jaw extending from the front end thereof. The jaws have confronting portions shaped to closely grip the work and are each provided with an electric heating element for heating the confronting portions of the jaws. The jaws are detachably secured to the case by prong and socket connections. An air duct in each jaw communicates with air outlet openings in the confronting portion of the jaw and a motor-driven fan is provided in the case for selectively directing air through the ducts and outlet openings, whereby, dependent on whether or not the heating elements are energized, either heated air or cool air can be directed against the work to heat or cool the work.
Abstract:
Apparatus for rapid and automatic welding of joints which interconnect sections of pipe, and in particular oil or gas transmission pipe. The system includes at least one torch transport assembly which simultaneously moves a plural number of welding torches along a path parallel to the pipe joint being welded. The torch transport assembly includes track segments which surround circumferential portions of the pipe joint, with a welding torch carrier and multiple torches being independently movable along each track segment. The torch transport assembly is mounted on a support apparatus which is rigidly clamped to the pipe sections during welding, and which permits the torch transport assembly to be rapidly positioned in rough alignment with a pipe joint. The torch transport assembly and selected operating parameters of each welding torch are adjusted to accurately position each torch with respect to the pipe joint, and to repeatably provide programmed welding parameters resulting in a uniform pipe joint weld. The present system is disclosed in the context of hot-wire gas-tungsten arc welding torches, and in the operating environment of out-of-position joint welding.
Abstract:
A welding torch assembly including a torch base, and a torch body which can be rapidly removed from the torch base and replaced without the use of tools, and without separately disconnecting welding current, coolant, or shielding gas lines.
Abstract:
Welding apparatus featuring a right angle beam handling tube for directing a fixed laser beam from an entrance to the tube to a rotatably supported output reflector in a focus head mounted on an outlet of the tube. The tube has upstream and downstream duct sections which are independently extendible and retractable relative to their juncture, the juncture and a laser beam translating mirror mounted therein being movable only in a linear direction coincident with the incoming beam axis along the upstream duct section to ensure beam alignment with the entrance and outlet of the right angle beam handling tube while permitting the distances therebetween to vary to selectively position the focus head relative to a workpiece.
Abstract:
An apparatus for welding together substantially vertically extending pipe sections comprising at lease one weld metal depositing means mounted on a carriage, and a support ring fastened about one of the pipe sections. The weld metal depositing means is movable around the pipe sections on the ring. Each weld depositing means has a welding electrode which is movable in four different degrees in order to allow it to be accurately positioned with respect to the weld groove so that the characteristics of the weld metal being deposited thereby can accurately be controlled. Electrical power is supplied to the welding electrode and to the various drive motors through annular electrodes mounted on the support ring. A flux trough having a deformable side portion allows the electrode more freedom of movement. The flux trough can also be equipped with means for assisting in the alignment of the welding carriage support ring around the pipe sections.
Abstract:
A method for controlling grain size and weld puddle agitation in a tungsten electrode inert gas welding system to produce fine, even grain size and distribution is disclosed. In the method the frequency of DC welding voltage pulses supplied to the welding electrode is varied over a preselected frequency range and the arc gas voltage is monitored. At some frequency in the preselected range the arc gas voltage will pass through a maximum. By maintaining the operating frequency of the system at this value, maximum weld puddle agitation and fine grain structure are produced.
Abstract:
A duct of thermal insulation is jacketed with a gas impermeable sheet material with a longitudinal seam formed by turning the mating ends of the sheet material outwardly and thermally fusing those ends into a linear nodular bead. In the case of metal foils of a few thousandths of an inch in thickness the bead is of the order of a thirty-second of an inch and is turned into the foil jacket to present a smooth non-cutting surface. Semi-butt welds of foil are made by clamping the foil in face to face relationship along an essentially line contact and moving an arc welding electrode with associated gas jets for a nonoxidizing gas parallel to and in close spaced relation to the clamp line. Jacketing for preformed ducts of glass or other fiber type insulation is drawn from a supply of sheet stock to form a caternary loop in which a preformed duct is placed. Jaws forming unitary clamps and welding electrodes are closed to close the opposite sides of the loop of foil around the duct and upon each other. The foil is severed closely adjacent the clamps and the electrode with its jets for the gas is moved along the exposed edges of foil adjacent the electrode clamps while drawing an arc to fuse the opposed foil surfaces together. The clamps are then released, the jacketed duct removed from the welding apparatus and the radially extending, fused foil bead pressed parallel to the outer face of the duct.
Abstract:
A duct of thermal insulation is jacketed with a gas impermeable sheet material with a longitudinal seam formed by turning the mating ends of the sheet material outwardly and thermally fusing those ends into a linear nodular bead. In the case of metal foils of a few thousandths of an inch in thickness the bead is of the order of a thirty-second of an inch and is turned into the foil jacket to present a smooth non-cutting surface. Semi-butt welds of foil are made by clamping the foil in face to face relationship along an essentially line contact and moving an arc welding electrode with associated gas jets for a nonoxidizing gas parallel to and in close spaced relation to the clamp line. Jacketing for preformed ducts of glass or other fiber type insulation is drawn from a supply of sheet stock to form a catenary loop in which a preformed duct is placed. Jaws forming unitary clamps and welding electrodes are closed to close the opposite sides of the loop of foil around the duct and upon each other. The foil is severed closely adjacent the clamps and the electrode with its jets for the gas is moved along the exposed edges of foil adjacent the electrode clamps while drawing an arc to fuse the opposed foil surfaces together. The clamps are then released, the jacketed duct removed from the welding apparatus and the radially extending, fused foil bead pressed parallel to the outer face of the duct.
Abstract:
A method for controlling the flow of filler alloy used in the brazing of metals such as stainless steel. The method consists of applying on the surface of the metal a layer of metal which acts as a barrier to the filler alloy, thereby confining the alloy to the desired area to be brazed and thus preventing its flow over undesired areas of the surface of the metal. The flow control metal may, for example, be applied to the surface by scribing, plating or vapor-deposition depending on the type of flow control metal utilized.