Abstract: A traveling carriage is adapted to support and guide a welding head, a propelling apparatus, a wire feed mechanism and a reel for winding a continuous length of welding wire thereon. The welding unit is adapted to travel about an upstanding circumferential workpiece and is further adapted to be hingedly adjustable so as to permit adapting said welding unit to workpieces of varying diameters from a minimum practical dimension to an infinite diameter, that is, the welding machine can be adjusted to travel along a seam of two flat plates being joined. The welding unit has two spaced guide rollers on a side adjacent the work area with a hinge point spaced intermediate therebetween for changing from a working radius of the welder determined by the diameter of the workpiece to straight line configuration for performing a welding operation on a flat workpiece.

Abstract: Improved extrusion-fusion-type intercell connectors and process involving: casting the plate strap lugs to be welded from a hypoeutectic lead-antimony alloy containing at least about 2 percent by weight antimony; initially extruding the lugs into contact through an aperture in a battery intercell partition, the contact area being between 15 and 75 percent of the area of the aperture; and gradually heating the lug extrusions through a softening stage, an antimony-rich-phase melting stage, and an antimony-lean-phase melting stage. Force applied by rapid-response, declining-force welding electrodes causes (1) the softened extrusions to reshape somewhat prior to melting, and (2) the antimony-rich-phase of the alloy to exude out of the welding zone filling voids in the aperture before any substantial melting of the antimony-lean-phase occurs.

Abstract: An arc heater system as a high energy heat source characterized by a housing forming a plenum chamber, a plurality of arc heaters mounted on the housing circumferentially and extending substantially radially thereon, each arc heater comprising a downstream electode adjacent to the housing and an upstream electrode remote therefrom and an intermediate gap therebetween, a polyphase wye-connected power system comprising one conductor for each phase and a neutral conductor, the upstream electrodes of each arc heater being connected to the phase conductors, the downstream electrodes being connected to the neutral conductor, whereby arc heated jet streams from the arc heaters merge and project into the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically connecting battery plate units of adjacent cells through apertures in partitions between adjacent cell chambers of battery cases with said connection being effected by pressing lead projections of adjacent battery plate units together within each partition aperture and electrically fusing said projections together to form an electrical connection therebetween and completely fill said aperture and seal said chambers: comprising a work station in said apparatus where said plate units are connected, a conveyor for moving battery cases assembled with plate units into and from said work station, an electrode assembly comprising a pair of opposed electrodes adapted to fit into adjacent cell chambers and over said projections and apertures, indexing means for effecting relative movement of the battery case and electrode assembly at said work station for bringing the battery case into exact registry with the electrode assembly for effecting the connection, means for forcing said electro

Abstract: Welding apparatus for making metal honeycomb core panels by welding together preformed corrugated metal strips is disclosed. The assembled portion of the core panel is positioned by vertical finger electrodes on a horizontal base with the core panel workpiece end located along the line of a welding station extending across the base. The finger electrodes are arranged in two rows extending parallel to the welding station line, one row being insertable into the honeycomb core from above and the other being insertable into the core from below, each row also being movable from a first workpiece engaging position to a second welding position with one edge thereof along a welding station line. Welding heads, each including a welding element, are movable to and from the welding station. A corrugated metal strip is detachably held onto and carried to the welding station by the welding heads.

Abstract: For the successive welding of the joints of consecutive links forming a link chain, the chain is advanced in a chain welding machine to bring a link to be welded directly below a welding position; the two links flanking the link to be welded are aligned in a common plane of alignment while a tensioning force is applied to the chain parallel to the direction of chain advance. Thereafter, the link to be welded is raised into a welding position in a plane disposed at 90.degree. to the plane of alignment. Subsequently, the link is immobilized in the welding position and its joint is welded. Upon completion of the welding step, the just-welded link is lowered from the welding position.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining the relative position between the point of impingement of an electron beam on a work surface and the seam between parts to be welded. The seam is scanned by oscillating a low power electron beam along a path transverse to the scan. The variation in secondary electrons generated as the beam traverses the seam is detected and amplified. The amplified signal is then acted upon by an electronic converter which converts the wave form by instantaneously taking the Nth root at each point of the curve representing the wave form of the amplified secondary electron current wave form so as to improve the resolution of the signal and make possible an improved definition at the point of impingement of the beam with respect to the seam.

Abstract: In the method of initiating the scarfing process for removing the surface defects of a steel material as the material to be scarfed is moving relative to the movement of the scarfing machine having a scarfing nozzle, the improvement, which comprises the use of a consumable electrode having a steel sheath filled with an oxygen source material and a combustible material being fed to a scarfing position on said material to be scarfed until the tip of the consumable electrode contacts said position, thereby rapidly heating contact point of the steel material with electrical energy and the heat of oxidation up to the scarfing initiation temperature, and instantaneously starting the scarfing operation with oxygen jetted from said scarfing nozzle at the position of the steel material heated to such temperature.

Abstract: The machine disclosed is provided with a manipulator which aligns and moves pipes in course of welding and incorporates a hollow rod for the movement of the manipulator relatively to the pipe joints. The rod is immovably attached to the body of the manipulator and is provided with a partition subdividing the rod bore into two spaces. One of the spaces is intended to be filled with a working fluid and the other accommodates on the partition a hydraulic system for feeding and controlling both actuators of pipeholding clamps and a means for moving the pipes in the course of welding, the means comprising hydraulic cylinders whose bodies are immovably attached to the body of a movable aligning unit between hydraulic cylinders which are mounted on the unit to actuate the clamps holding fast one of the pipes being welded whereas piston rods of the hydraulic cylinders that move the pipes are immovably attached to the body of the manipulator insulated electrically from an immovable aligning unit.

Abstract: Stretch-wrap forming of titanium parts or the like by resistance heating the part and a steel forming element which is cast into a fused silica die insert. Heating is accomplished by an electrical circuit in which both the part and the element are connected in parallel. The part is stretch wrapped over the element while a low voltage, high amperage current is allowed to flow through both the part and the element.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved coated filled-tubular hard-surfacing electrodes and methods for manufacturing same. In the manufacture of electrodes of this invention, the ends of electrodes are sealed by dip coating in a liquid or slurry, similar to the flux coating composition.

Abstract: Apparatus for joining a first workpiece from a supply station to a second workpiece at a work station which accurately positions the first workpiece in engagement with the second workpiece at a predetermined location spaced from the periphery of the second workpiece. Positioning means are provided for transferring the first workpiece from the supply station to the work station in a manner such that the first workpiece is spaced from the second workpiece during such transfer until it is moved to the predetermined location in engagement with the second workpiece. The positioning means includes a transfer guide and a transfer device for transferring the first workpiece along the transfer guide to the work station.

Abstract: Orbital welding apparatus in which wire is fed to the welding zone by wire feed mechanism operable by differential rotation of two drive members operable at different speeds, one member carrying a welding electrode and the wire feed mechanism. Both drive members have openings allowing entry of tube to be welded. The drive members cooperate with auxiliary drive members which fit into the respective openings in the main drive members. The auxiliary drive members are guided across an opening in a housing enclosing the drive members by means of a bridge piece securable to the housing across the opening. The apparatus permits orbital welding of very closely spaced tubes without using a wire feed drive motor mounted on the rotatable assembly. Both TIG or MIG arc welding methods may be performed by the invention, or any method involving the feeding of wire into the weld zone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing endless steel belts or steel bands of improved characteristics on machines of the type having a large roll and an endless steel belt extending around the roll and held under tension against the roll surface as the roll is turned. This type of equipment is used for producing a continuous sheet of a product by feeding a layer of the feed products in between the belt and the roll to thereby compress the products while subjecting them to a heat treatment. The belts must be replaced from time to time and must be repaired upon occasion, and the present invention permits such replacement and repair with belts having very high tensile strength.

Abstract: A fabricated electrode is disclosed in the form of an elongated or continuous metallic sheath, composed for example of cold-rolled mild steel, and containing specific components somewhat uniformly distributed along its length, and for use in shielded-arc welding. Specifically, the composite provides a stainless steel and includes: a major percentage of iron; a limited amount, however, at least about 09.00 percent by weight of alloying metal, e.g. chromium; from about 0.01 to about 0.08 percent by weight of carbon and further including titanium in an unconventionally large amount of at least about six times the percentage by weight of the carbon in the composite. Advantages are disclosed for the provision of the titanium in the form of ferrotitanium, and the chromium in the form of ferrochromium, a major portion of which has a small particle size. Also as disclosed, the composite further includes deoxidizing agents, e.g. manganese and silicon.

Abstract: A self-propelled arc welding device, which uses an inert gas within a primary zone to protect superheated metal from contact with atmospheric elements, is shielded with an outer compartment to protect against external air currents in the form of a portable shroud which closes off air currents along the work surface, at least partially. Particularly, for protecting girth welds in pipelines welded by a track-guided machine moving orbitally about the pipe, the compartment includes elements which make a substantially line contact with the pipe surface. The carriage which supports the welding device preferably carries the arc-enclosing shield. An observation window or opening for watching the arc is provided and free access to controls and adjustment means is permitted so that normal control operations are not hampered.

Abstract: An improved electrode and electrode working tip for a gas tungsten arc welding apparatus. The face of the working tip of the electrode is formed as a narrow ring coaxial with the electrode and having an area less than the area of electron emission for the operating currents of the electrode. The reduced area of the narrow annular ring forces the area of electron emission to spread to the immediately adjacent walls. The improved electrode working tip provides a more stable and uniform plasma of reduced diameter for improved precision and repeatability in welds which is the ability to consistently reproduce welding parameters. The electrode tip also has a significantly increased working life.

Abstract: A welding tool is set forth for end welding studs to workpieces. The tool is primarily designed to end weld small studs having precisely-formed tips. The stud is held by a chuck connected to a chuck leg with an electrical coil holding the chuck leg in a retracted position prior to welding. When the coil is deenergized, a plunge spring plunges the chuck leg, the chuck, and the stud back toward the workpiece. With a high voltage imposed between the stud and the workpiece, the stud tip vaporizes when reaching the workpiece and adjacent portions of the stud and workpiece melt to securely weld the stud. To initially move the chuck and chuck leg to the retracted position, a retraction mechanism is provided. This includes a lever pivotally mounted at the front of the tool and engagable with a portion of the chuck leg to retract the chuck leg when the lever is manipulated by an operator. This reduces the retraction effort to increase the rate of welding and to reduce operator fatigue.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for fabricating an orificed wall for a feeder for flowing streams of filament forming material such as molten glass by punching an aperture through a plate from one side to the other and then permanently depressing the plate immediately adjacent the aperture at the other side to such an extent that any tendency to bow from the aperture forming operation is essentially negated.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrode for overlay welding made up of laminations. All of the laminations are composited to be hot workable; and they may be austenitic stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, duplex structures that are hot workable, or pure metals such as chromium. The combined composition of all laminations, when they are melted and resolidified, will contain at least 2%w of delta ferrite.