Abstract: A system includes an inspection robot having mounted sleds, and a number of sensors each mounted to a sled. A couplant chamber is disposed within at least two of the sleds, each couplant chamber between a transducer of the sensor and an inspection surface. Each couplant chamber includes a cone, the cone having a cone tip portion at an inspection surface end, and a sensor mounting end opposite the cone tip portion. A couplant entry for each couplant chamber is at a vertically upper side of the cone in the intended orientation of the inspection robot on the inspection surface.

Abstract: A welding system that, using a junction at which a standing plate and a bottom plate meet as a welding line, makes an electrode weave centered on the welding line and thereby welds along the welding line. In this welding system, control is performed such that the arc voltage at a standing-plate-side weaving edge is equal to or less than the arc voltage at a welding-line center position, such that the arc voltage at a bottom-plate-side weaving edge becomes equal to or greater than the arc voltage at the welding-line center position, and such that the arc voltage at the standing-plate-side weaving edge becomes lower than the arc voltage at the bottom-plate-side weaving edge. The system can suppress occurrence of inferior bead appearance and of welding defects in horizontal fillet welding.

Abstract: Embodiments of an automatic girth fitter system use a device or devices to automate the alignment of horizontal weld seams in both shop- and field-built tanks or vessels. The automated system device or devices may also be used to remove shims that are used to gap the horizontal weld seams and provide plate alignment prior to fitting or welding those seams.

Abstract: The invention described herein generally pertains to a system and method related to detecting a change in height during a welding operation and adjusting one or more welding parameters based on such detected change in height. In particular, a change in a height can be related to two or more revolutions on the workpiece in which the change is due to material being deposited onto the workpiece from the welding operation. Since the material deposited onto the workpiece changes the height of the electrode to the workpiece, one or more welding parameters can be adjusted for compensation. Specifically, an electrode speed can be adjusted to compensate for a change in the height, wherein the electrode speed is a rate that the electrode moves adjacent to the workpiece.

Abstract: A welding torch (1) includes a cylindrical nozzle (2) in which shielding gas is flown from an opening (3b), and an electrode (4) that is a bar-shaped body projecting from the opening (3b). The shielding gas includes upper shielding gas flowing in an upper region (3u) on an upper side of a central axis (C2) of the electrode (4), and lower shielding gas flowing in a lower region (3d) on a lower side of the central axis (C2) of the electrode (4). Atmospheric pressure of the lower shielding gas is higher than atmospheric pressure of the upper shielding gas. A method of horizontal welding with this kind of welding torch is also defined.

Abstract: In a powder supply method in cladding, an outlet pressure of a coaxial-nozzle side of a supply pipe connecting a feeder to a coaxial nozzle is set within a predetermined range, and powder is supplied from the feeder to the coaxial nozzle.

Abstract: A welding method wherein the root gap aperture displacement is measured before welding begins, and a welding material having a Mn/S ratio and a Mn/Si ratio compatible with the measured root gap aperture displacement is selected from gas-shielded arc welding materials. Gas-shielded arc welding is then performed using the selected welding material.

Abstract: Technologies related to electroslag welding are generally disclosed.

Abstract: A system for arc welding two sides of a joint simultaneously is disclosed. By customizing welding waveforms and the distance between two or more electrodes, weld currents can be designed to transfer current to and through one or more electrodes in addition to the current traditionally passed only to the common node.

Abstract: A welding device applies weld material between two work pieces such that the work pieces are connected mechanically with one another. The welding device includes a welding head and a central element. The welding head performs a welding action during transport thereof along an operating direction between the work pieces. Two primary sensor members are arranged on the central element upstream of the welding head relative to the operating direction. The sensor members register geometric properties of a spacing between the work pieces in which spacing the weld material is to be applied. Each sensor member is configured to maintain contact with a respective wall of the two work pieces adjoining the spacing while allowing variation of lateral distances between the central element and the adjoining wall. This is accomplished by the sensor members being pivotally attached to the central element via at least one pivoting axis oriented essentially perpendicular to the operating direction.

Abstract: A welding jig for ensuring concentricity of an interior surface of a pipe with a circular outer periphery of a bolting flange thereon, comprising (i) a frame member; (ii) two spaced-apart rollers positioned at one end of said frame member, each adapted to remain in contacting engagement during welding with said circular outer periphery of said bolting flange; and (iii) a chill block, having a convexly-curved outer surface of a curvature corresponding to a desired inner diameter of said pipe, adapted to be positioned proximate said interior surface of said pipe. The rollers permit translational movement of the chill block about a center point of said pipe flange when the welding jig is placed on the pipe flange, to permit uniform diametrical deposition of weld material on said inner diameter of said pipe flange. A method of making a pipe is further disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing structures having a continuous sidewall includes a stationary inner work station having at least one working level and a stationary outer work station having at least one working level. The outer work station surrounds the inner work station. A shaft is disposed between the inner work station and the outer work. A lift or hoist is provided for raising and lowering a work piece in the shaft as work progresses.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to prevent the occurrence of welding defects such as undercuts, overlaps and faulty angles of fusion, and to increase the efficiency of welding in the horizontal position. Auxiliary wires 5a and 5b are inserted into molten pool 12, and a unidirectional current is made to flow between them. A magnetic field 9 is induced which is approximately orthogonal to the surface of the parent material so as to generate an upward Lorentz force (opposite the pull of gravity) in molten pool 12. This force supports the molten metal and prevents it from dripping, resulting in a better-shaped bead.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to prevent a defect which occurs in overhead or vertical welding when gravity causes molten metal to drip downward so that the top of the gap has an undercut and the bead has a bulge along the weld line (i.e., a convex bead is created). During overhead or vertical welding, a unidirectional current is made to flow in the molten pool in the direction of the weld line. When the aforesaid current flows in conjunction with a magnetic field, a Lorentz force is exerted in the molten pool in an upward direction towards the upper top side of the groove. This prevents the molten metal from dripping downward and improves the shape of the bead.

Abstract: An improved fire-resistant above-ground storage tank for flammable and combustible materials is fabricated from steel plates of at least 10 gauge, the sheets being made from a ferrous alloy having a maximum of approximately 0.15% carbon and a maximum of approximately 0.8% manganese and the steel plates welded in a specific way resulting in a tank that can withstand a 2000.degree. F. environment for a minimum of two hours.

Abstract: A welding apparatus is provided which includes a rail member 5 installed along a side and a corner portion of a steel frame post, a pinion 46 mounted to a horizontally movable shifting member 50 such that even at the corner portion of the steel frame post 1 the pinion 46 is constantly held in mesh engagement with a rack 6 disposed on a side of the rail member 5, and a position holding roller 57 for guiding the shifting member 50 in a horizontal direction so that the distance between the rack 6 and the pinion 46 is kept constant. During the movement of the carriage, the distance between the rack and the pinion is kept constant to enable welding operations to be performed in succession with respect to side and corner portions of the steel frame post. Therefore, after a face-to-face welding operation at one side is completed, such a welding operation at the other side may be carried out without the necessity of removing the carriage from the rail member.

Abstract: A method of welding two plates together along a substantially vertical weld line between the two plates involves the use of a weld pool support device having internally formed channels through which flows a liquid coolant that is maintained considerably below ambient temperature.

Abstract: An automatic welding apparatus and an automatic milling apparatus for machining welding grooves in order to weld a three-dimensional surface such as a ball tank or the like are disclosed. A welding wire spool is accommodated within a case and a cover to prevent the welding wire from being oxidized and from being contaminated with foreign materials. The automatic milling apparatus is installed to form welding grooves on the both sides of the objects to be welded, in the case where a welding is performed on a three-dimensional curved surface. A guide roller having a handle is installed to control the machining depth of the grooves, and an idling type nylon guide roller is installed in closed contact with the shaft of a cutter, thereby adjusting the distance between the rail and the groove, and adjusting the deviations of the depth of the grooves, which are caused by the machining inaccuracies due to the deviations of the three-dimensional curvature.

Abstract: A portable electric power source for movable welding equipment used for constructing storage tanks and the like comprises a platform; an engine mounted on the platform; an AC electric generator mounted on the platform and driven by the engine; a welding machine, mounted on the platform, including electric current inverter and transformer means by which AC electric current from the generator is converted to DC welding current; and current transmission means for conveying the welding current from the welding machine to the welding head of the associated welding equipment. The welding equipment and the power source are mounted on carriages which are coupled together so as to move in unison as the welding operation progresses.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for vertical strip clad overlay welding. The method comprises matching the vertical travel of a special welding shoe to an appropriate amount of strip electrode melt-off necessary to maintain a preset molten pool level within a reservoir trough provided by the shoe. The welding shoe comprises a water cooled copper mold for forming the weld bead and a ceramic insert connected to the mold for providing the reservoir trough. Apparatus for correlating the vertical travel speed of the shoe with the strip electrode melt-off is disclosed. Apparatus for applying a plurality of successive weld beads to a vertical vessel wall is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gas-metal-arc welding process, utilizing a consumable, axially advanced, wire electrode and a four-gas shielding mixture, forms a weld bead along a vertically downwardly direction. As the bead is formed, the electrode is moved vertically downwardly in alignment with the central axis of the bead, with the tip of the electrode gapped from the weld material deposit which forms the bead. A relatively high electrical voltage and current density is applied to the electrode to produce a stable, conically-shaped hot plasma field. The field is concentric with the axis of the electrode and extends across the gap. The plasma field is positioned to transversely overlay, and to be substantially coextensive with, the full width of the bead. Molten metal globules transfer by free flight along the axis of the field, from the electrode tip across the gap to the weld deposit to laterally spread out and adhere to the deposit to form the bead.

Abstract: A portable machine for electric arc welding and air carbon arc gouging on vertical wall surfaces is disclosed. A table-mounted carriage arm carrying a vertical positioning assembly for welding nozzles or a gouging torch is driven horizontally around a vertical axis of rotation while guide wheels on the carriage arm traverse the wall surface or traverse a flexible guide secured to the machine table through a system of support arms when a rough wall surface is involved. The carriage arm is biased yieldingly toward the wall surface during its horizontal traverse and the vertical positioning assembly adjusts itself automatically on its vertical axis to maintain proper welding nozzle and gouging torch alignment with the wall surface undergoing repair. A constant speed of movement of welding nozzles or a gouging torch across the wall surface is maintained. The welding nozzles or gouging torch are motor-driven vertically on the positioning assembly.

Abstract: The parallel faces of thick-walled structures to be joined by arc welding are provided an electrically conductive metallic support along and up into the bottom of a gap between the parallel walls for the initial pass of the arc. The metallic support is subsequently gouged from the gap and the union of the parallel faces is completed by filling the gouged space with welding material.

Abstract: A method of hardfacing vertical walls comprises building up a layer of superimposed partly overlapping horizontally extending weld beads by depositing the beads in a submerged arc welding operation using relatively thin welding wires and welding powder which is fed over the weld wire. The welding powder is allowed to accumulate to provide a support for additional powder as welding progresses vertically.

Abstract: An automatic welding machine for arc-welding stator core laminations is disclosed. The machine carries singular or plural workpieces which are fixtured on a vertical slideway. A slide moves past relatively stationary welding guns which are independently adjusted and independently activated for the weld process. The workpieces may be indexed for desired weld spacing. In one embodiment the indexing may be manual or power actuated. In another embodiment the guns may be varied as to radial position as the workpiece is moved, to weld non-constant cross-sectioned parts.

Abstract: A multi-position method is provided for gas metal arc welding thick aluminum alloy plates in a single welding pass on each surface of the plates. A first plate edge is provided with a tongue portion having (1) a land surface abutting a portion of a second plate edge, and (2) two arcuate J-shaped side surfaces, each adjoining the land surface at opposite ends thereof and each adjoining its respective side surface of the first plate at an angle approximating 90.degree.. The J-shaped side surfaces and second plate edge surface cooperate to define a modified double-J welding groove. The plates are welded together in a single pass on each side thereof by first depositing a weld bead in the modified J groove on one side of the plates and then, after this bead has sufficiently solidified, a second weld bead is deposited in a single pass in the modified double-J groove on the other side of the plates.

Abstract: A vertical down welding process by gravity arc welding, in which a guide rail 5a is disposed aslant upwardly at an inclination angle .theta..sub.1 of 40.degree. to 60.degree. to a vertical weld line 3 and, while a holder 6 of a welding rod 4 is brought down along the guide rail 5a, the welding rod 4 is moved down along the vertical weld line 3 for welding.A welding machine for use with this vertical down welding process is constructed so that the upwardly inclined guide rail 5a is provided at the inclination angle .theta..sub.1 of 40.degree. to 60.degree.;, the guide rail 5a is comprised of a main rail 5c and a sub-rail 5b; and the holder 6 of the welding rod 4 is lowered from the sub-rail 5b to the mail rail 5c.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing electroslag T-joints where fillets are required is provided by utilizing a water-cooled copper shoe with a slag relief notch placed along the weld joints to provide a dam for the fillet material; the location of the slag relief notch in the shoes of various radii is determined according to a precise formula which provides the required results.

Abstract: An apparatus for safeguarding a welding pool in mechanized welding in a constrained position, for example a vertical position, comprises sliding blocks pressed against the surfaces of the work pieces to be welded and supplying the welding current and the welding electrode and moving at the welding rate. The sliding blocks comprise two segments which are closely adjacent in the perpendicular center plane of the welding gap between the work pieces and are mutually movable. The sliding block segments are pressed in a yielding manner against the surface of each work piece and are individually and independently movable.

Abstract: A dam, or barrier, structure is moved along the edge, or corner, of a workpiece to control the flow limits of molten material of arc welding. The dam structure provides a dimentionally stable groove at the edge of the workpiece surface into which is received granulated flux and positions the body of the flux along the edge, or corner, of the workpiece surface to function as a mold for the molten material, and, thereby, prevent the falling of the flowing material from the surface. The dam structure has the specific form of a continuous tread of segments which advances around parallel rollers to reform the retaining groove structure opposite the arc operation on the surface of the workpiece.

Abstract: A method is provided of vertical gas metal-arc two-sided welding of thick plate in a single welding pass on each surface of the plate. The method includes providing a first weld groove on one surface of the plate into which a weld bead is deposited in a single pass. Thereafter, a second weld groove is formed on the opposite surface of the plates by removing base plate material along the joining line to a depth extending at least to the first weld bead penetrating from the welding pass in the first weld groove. The plates are further joined together by depositing a weld bead in a single pass along the second welding groove. The welding is provided by impressing a direct electric current of from 290 to 420 amperes between an electrode and the plates shielded primarily by argon gas.A metal article and a welded joint are also provided.

Abstract: Relates to a flux dam for submerged arc vertical position welding. The dam comprises a sheet of high temperature stable non-metallic material, a permanent magnet aligned with a first pole thereof substantially at a first surface of the sheet for magnetically attaching the sheet to a vertical workpiece generally parallel to and spaced by the thickness of the workpiece from a generally horizontal weld area of the vertical workpiece to an abutting horizontal workpiece, the magnet extending generally towards a second surface of the sheet, the magnet being affixed in the aforementioned alignment thereof. Also relates to an improvement in a welding method using said dam.

Abstract: A method for regulating the parameters of thermal cycles in electroslag welding in which the entire area of the zone affected by heating is cooled. The area is limited by isotherms of maximum heating temperatures within an interval from temperatures close to the melting temperature point up to a temperature A.sub.1. The cooling is effected so that the cooling rate would increase in the direction of movement away from the area heated up to the melting point towards the area heated up to the temperature A.sub.1. The device for realizing the method of regulating the parameters of thermal cycles has jets secured on the side and bottom faces of the slide block, with outlet spraying nozzles for the jets located such that the cooling medium flowing out from those nozzles would cool the entire surface of the metal of the seam and the zone subject to heating effect the surface is limited by the isotherms of maximum heating temperatures within an interval from the melting point up to the temperature A.sub.1.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for strip cladding into a corner while magnetically agitating the weld deposit. The clad strip is angled away from the corner in the plane of the electrode strip, and means are provided for using the corner-forming obstruction as a pole piece for the electromagnet. The welding head can thereby be positioned to clad into the corner without interference from an obstructing pole piece or from the welding head itself.

Abstract: A method for butt welding a pair of vertically disposed tubular members having a wall thickness of more than 12 mm in end-to-end relationship by multi-pass shielded arc welding with a consumable electrode, comprising the steps of preparing the opposed edges of the tubular members by forming a root face the width of which being in the range of 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm and beveling the edges adjacent to the root face to a bevel angle in the range of 40.degree. to 50.degree., coaxially aligning said tubular members so that the gap between the root faces is not larger than 1.5 mm, performing a root pass by continuously feeding an electrode having a diameter not larger than about 1.

Abstract: Welding apparatus in which a self-propelled wheeled carriage releasably supports a welding gun or torch of the hand-held type having a welding tip and control for controlling feed of a welding wire to the welding tip, wherein the carriage is guided along a joint to be welded at a predetermined proper welding speed, the welding gun being adjustably supported on a pivotally mounted cradle which is power-actuated to provide controlled oscillations of the welding gun and associated tip transversely of the joint at a rate of speed proportional to the propelled speed of the carriage, the amplitude of the oscillations being selectively adjustable between zero and a predetermined maximum. Interchangeable driving wheel units provide for use in the welding of planar disposed surfaces and angularly disposed surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of vertically upward arc welding for vertical and inclined joints. More particularly, the invention relates to a vertically upward arc welding method which includes the step of feeding a strip electrode in a direction at which the plane including the width direction of the strip electrode crosses the weld line, generating an arc from the strip electrode to a molten pool and/or an upper base metal disposed above the surface of the molten pool, melting the upper base metal disposed above a sliding backing shoe on the front surface side of the groove, and performing welding by expanding the groove and simultaneously dropping the molten metal onto the lower molten pool and depositing the same therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of welding aluminum members substantially vertically is provided wherein a groove-defining surface is formed on each of the members and such members are positioned adjacent each other with the groove-defining surfaces cooperating to define a substantially vertically extending groove. A gas-metal arc torch having a consumable electrode and means for supplying a shielding gas therearound is placed with the electrode in the groove, whereupon a welding arc is generated and the torch is moved substantially vertically along the groove while holding the torch at a backhand torch angle. The consumable electrode and shielding gas are fed at predetermined rates therefor while moving the torch and welding arc substantially vertically along the groove to produce weld metal in the groove having an outside oxide support skin and the oxide support skin is the only support required for the weld metal during its solidification.

Abstract: Aluminum and aluminum alloys are welded in a horizontal welding position in which the base metals to be welded are vertically disposed in abutting relationship with the welding groove opened sidewise by oscillating the tip of the welding electrode in the widthwise direction of the abutted base metals and welding the base metals while maintaining the angle formed by the surface of the molten pool and the electrode on the advancing side thereof greater than 90.degree.. The surface of the molten pool as used herein is defined as one which is parallel to the crater surface of the weld which results upon termination of welding by extinction of the welding arc.

Abstract: The front and rear surfaces of plates to be butt-welded are slidably held by front and rear backing shoes, respectively, for defining a welding space in a narrow groove formed by the edges of the plates, and the edges are melted by a plasma arc generating torch, while a plurality of consumable electrodes are fed into the welding space are molten by arcs generated therebetween. The backing shoes, the torch, and the consumable electrodes are moved along the groove to obtain a butt-weld of high quality at high efficiency. In addition, the electrode of the torch has an elongated configuration in section at its end portion, and its restraining nozzle surrounding the electrode has a nozzle opening which also has an elongated configuration in correspondence to the end portion of the electrode. The longitudinal axes of these configurations are aligned with each other to effectively utilize the energy of a plasma arc generated by the torch.

Abstract: A method of vertical welding of aluminum and aluminum alloys comprising welding Al or an Al alloy while oscillating in a welding groove an electrode in a closed pattern corresponding substantially to the groove shape, wherein the welding is conducted by using a welding current higher by 10 to 150 A than the base welding current at least during the course of oscillation of the electrode along the groove face of one of the materials to be welded while the electrode is pursuing courses of oscillation along both groove faces of the materials to be welded.

Abstract: In flux-cored wire electrodes for vertical automatic welding, from bottom to top, there is an electric arc under gaseous protection, the wires having diameters of 1 to 4 mm and generally shaped internally in any configuration, such as tubular, heart-shaped and composite, characterized by a sheath of steel strip, and a powdered filling flux most preferably including the following ingredients in qualitative and quantitative composition by powder weight:______________________________________ Iron powder 73% Silicofluoride of potassium (K.sub.2 SiF.sub.6) 4% Cryolite (Na.sub.3 AlF.sub.6) 2% Nickel powder 3% Ferro-molybdenum (at 65 up to 75%) 0.8% Refined ferromanganese (85 up to 90%) 9.9% Ferrosilicon (45%) 1% Ferrotitanium (30%) 0.5% Micaceous iron oxide 1% Fine silica 4% Silicocalcium (SiCa) 0.8% 100.0% ______________________________________The flux-cored wires most preferably have a filling coefficient of 32 grams of powder weight per 100 grams of strip.

Abstract: An arc welding machine having a strap sliding to advance with advance of the welding position, wherein an electric conductor is disposed on the strap at a position not facing a welding groove with the electric conductor being insulated from the strap, and electric current being applied to the electric conductor while it is being cooled by water, to thereby control the arc direction.

Abstract: An improved vertical electroslag welding system wherein the driving motor which propels the molding shoes is controlled by varying its speed in response to electrode current thereby assuring a molten puddle which for any set speed will not rise over the cavity wall or become too fluid. The motor is remotely controlled so that the welding current is not directly coupled to the control circuit.

Abstract: In a vertical position welding method and an apparatus for practicing the method, front and rear water-cooling type backing shoes are slidably positioned on the front and rear surfaces of metal plates to be butt-welded, respectively, so as to form a welding space in a groove formed by the adjacent edges of the metal plates. A consumable electrode is continuously fed into the welding space, while a plasma arc generating torch fixedly provided on the backing shoe in contact with the front surface of the work generates a plasma arc to melt the adjacent edges of the metal plates to be welded, and the backing shoes and the torch are moved upward at the same speed to move the welding space in response to the melting rates of the work and the consumable electrode, thus achieving the welding of the metal plate in vertical position. Furthermore, the torch is tilted to facilitate the melting of the metal plates.

Abstract: A magnetic seam tracking device designed to orientate the feed or forward motion of a soldering tool along the edges of metal sheets disposed head against head and to be submitted to the soldering operaion. The device comprises a carriage or truck B capable of retaining the soldering tool A, said carriage or truck being provided with track-chains (30), the articulated elements whereof have permanent magnets (40-42) which co-operate with metal sheets (D1) and (D2) to be soldered.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for automatic fillet welding. The apparatus has a runnable motor-driven carriage which carries a multi-stage telescopic unit which mounts a lateral slide unit mounting in turn a longitudinal slide. A welding head having three welding torches mounted on tip end of the longitudinal slide through a complex type fine adjusting mechanism assembly. The telescopic unit is controlled by a hydraulic pump circuit which is controlled in turn by means of an automatic electric circuit.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a novel apparatus for carrying out automatic vertical, high speed fillet welding.Previously, the automatic vertical fillet welding was generally carried out in an upwardly advancing method without use of any protecting gas. In rare cases, however, the automatic vertical fillet welding was proposed, at least theoretically, relying upon the downwardly advancing method using carbon dioxide gas as a protecting or atmospheric gas.

Abstract: A consumable electrode guide tube is connected to a holder disposed at the top of a long vertical joint to be welded. Power is short circuited from the holder to a point midway along the tube until the lower half of the joint is welded, after which time the short is removed and the upper half of the joint is welded in the conventional manner.

Abstract: An improved fire-resistant above-ground storage tank for flammable and combustible materials is fabricated from steel plates of at least 10 gauge, the sheets being made from a ferrous alloy having a maximum of approximately 0.15% carbon and a maximum of approximately 0.8% manganese and the steel plates welded in a specific way resulting in a tank that can withstand a 2000° F. environment for a minimum of two hours.