Abstract: Steel is subjected to multiple-electrode submerged arc welding with three or more electrodes in which a direct-current power source is used to supply current to a first electrode, the welding by the first electrode is carried out at a current density of 250 A/mm2 or more, preferably with a wire diameter of 3.2 mm or less and a weld current of 1,000 A or more, the welding by the second electrode is carried out at a current density of 150 A/mm2 or more, preferably with a weld current of 600 A or more, one of the interelectrode spacings is 23 mm or more on a surface of the steel, and the remaining interelectrode spacings are 20 mm or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides high strength welded steel pipe for line pipe inexpensive in cost and superior in low temperature toughness, and a method of production of the same, produced by forming a base material steel plate containing, by mass %, C: 0.010 to 0.050%, Si: 0.01 to 0.50%, Mn: 0.50 to 2.00%, S: 0.0001 to 0.0050%, and Ti: 0.003 to 0.030%, limiting Al to 0.020% or less and Mo to less than 0.10%, having a carbon equivalent Ceq of 0.30 to 0.53 and a crack susceptibility parameter Pcm of 0.10 to 0.20, comprised of polygonal ferrite and residual bainite of an area rate of 20% or less, and having an effective crystal grain size of 20 ?m or less, into a pipe shape, then seam welding it and making the effective crystal grain size of the heat affected zone 150 ?m or less.

Abstract: A new method of process control for fusion welding maintains a controlled weld pool size or volume, for example in some applications a substantially constant weld pool size or volume. The invention comprises a method of linking machine and process variables to the weld pool size or volume in real time, thereby enabling constant weld pool volume control. The invention further comprises a method of using thermal inverse models to rapidly process real-time data and enable models-based control of welding processes so as to implement constant weld pool volume control.

Abstract: The hybrid wire of the present invention comprises approximately 1% Wt to 30% Wt of non-metallic ingredients, with the preferred concentrations selected from the range from about 5% Wt to about 15% Wt. Non-metallic compounds and metallic oxides, which were added to the tubular wires and found to perform well in the SAW process, are CaO, MgO, MgAl, K2O, CaF2, MnO, NaAlF6, and K2AlF6. Adding one or more of the listed compounds to the core composition of the tubular wires leads to an improvement of the welding performance in a SAW process due to the properties of core of the wire, while reducing the importance of the granular flux.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to create a plurality of parallel joints by providing a carriage which traverses along the joints. The carriage has two or more welding tips for each joint. Alignment of the welding tips with the joints is maintained by rollers secured to the carriage. These rollers traverse along the surfaces of the work piece. The work pieces are secured on a pair of turntables having a common access of rotation which is parallel with the joints. The joints in both the top and bottom of the header can be created by rotating the work pieces in to the bottom side once the welds in the topside have been completed.

Abstract: A method for welding a pipe section and a connector, where each of the pipe and connector have inner and outer beveled surfaces forming only a single angular alignment land when mated. The pipe and connector are welded together with only a single interior welding pass and with more than one exterior welding pass to fill the weld joints at the outer beveled surface, so as to weld the connector to the pipe.

Abstract: There is described a method for submerged-arc narrow-gap welding, in which the wire electrode is set in oscillating motion in the gap in order to produce a first bead, the arc moving backwards and forwards between one of the workpiece edges and a middle section of the gap so that the first bead does not extend from the first to the second workpiece edge.

Abstract: The present invention provides high strength thick welded steel pipe for line pipe superior in low temperature toughness, and a method of production of the same. A base material steel plate containing C: 0.010 to 0.050%, Si: 0.01 to 0.50%, Mn: 0.50 to 2.00%, Al: 0.020% or less, Ti: 0.003 to 0.030%, and Mo: 0.10 to 1.50%, having a carbon equivalent Ceq of 0.30 to 0.53, having a crack susceptability parameter Pcm of 0.10 to 0.20, satisfying formula 3, comprised an area ratio of 20% or less of polygonal ferrite and an area ratio of 80% or more of bainite, and having an effective crystal grain size of 20 ?m or less is formed into a pipe shape, then seam welded to make the effective crystal grain size of the heat affected zone 150 ?m or less: 10C+100Al+5Mo+5Ni<3.

Abstract: A system and methods for overlaying metal in an arc welding operation to achieve a resultant weld metal chemistry of the resultant weld metal. Various combinations of DC+/DC? balance settings and DC offset settings for an AC Waveform of an arc welding overlaying process may be correlated to resultant chemistries of resultant weld metals. The correlations may be subsequently used to select a combination of a balance setting and an offset setting for an AC waveform that results in a desired weld metal chemistry for an arc welding overlaying process using an overlay metal and a base substrate metal.

Abstract: The present invention provides steel plate for high strength line pipe suppressing the rise in yield strength in the longitudinal direction of expanded steel pipe due to the heating at the time of coating to prevent corrosion and superior in strain aging resistance and steel pipe for the material for the same, that is, high strength steel pipe for line pipe superior in strain aging resistance characterized in that a base material having a composition of chemical elements containing, by mass %, Mo: over 0% to less than 0.15% and Mn: 1.7 to 2.5%, satisfying Mo/Mn: over 0 to 0.08, containing C, Si, P, S, Al, Ti, N, and B, furthermore containing one or more of Ni, Cu, and Cr, having a balance of iron and unavoidable impurities, having a P value of 2.5 to 4.0 in range, and having a metallurgical structure comprised of bainite and martensite: P value=2.7C+0.4Si+Mn+0.8Cr+0.45(Ni+Cu)+2Mo. Furthermore, it may contain one or more of Nb, V, Ca, REM, and Mg.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a rotor shaft using a welding process. The method includes positioning a first rotor shaft section adjacent a second rotor shaft section, and using a submerged arc welding process with an included weld preparation angle of between about 0° and about 30° to join the first and second rotor shaft sections together.

Abstract: The invention relates to a storage packet for welding flux, in the form of a bag (1) containing welding flux (5) and with at least one layer of thermo-welded polymer (3a, 3b) and at least one metal film (2), superimposed one on the other and a structure with flexible deformable walls forming said bag (1), characterized in that said bag (1) is hermetically sealed and pressured within the bag is less than atmospheric pressure. The invention further relates to a method for storage of welding flux in such packet.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for characterizing a welding consumable, such as flux or an electrode, and/or for comparing two or more welding consumables for use in narrow gap deep groove welding operations, including creating test welds on fixtures having joint grooves of various angles for a given groove depth, followed by controlled standardized non-aggressive slag removal operations, and quantification of the amount of slag remaining in the groove, wherein the welding consumables are each characterized using the same fixtures, welding conditions, workpiece groove depths, groove angles, and removal operations, to construct a set of results, such as a table or rating, by which the individual welding consumables can be rated and/or a determination can be made as to which of two consumables provides superior performance with respect to ease of removal in deep groove welding operations.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the composition of a weld. More particularly it relates to welding using an electric circuit, thereby creating a weld puddle, and adding at least one filler that is electrically independent from the electric circuit to the weld puddle at a controllable rate to obtain a target weld composition. The filler can be added to the extent limited by practical weld puddle geometry and, thus, the method and apparatus also facilitate increased weld deposition rates.

Abstract: A welding gun comprising a welding handle and at least one interchangeable assembly. A plurality of interchangeable assemblies are securable to the welding handle to enable the welding gun to be configured for operation in a plurality of welding applications. A first interchangeable assembly enables the welding gun to receive gas and wire. A second interchangeable assembly enables the welding gun to receive flux and wire. The welding gun is coupled to a power source. The welding gun may be coupled to a flux reservoir or a source of gas. The welding gun may be coupled to the system by a cable operable to convey wire, gas, and flux to the welding handle.

Abstract: A method for forming a cylindrical body utilizing a continuous weld is provided. The method includes feeding a source material including a first edge and a second edge from a coil and offsetting at least one of the first edge and the second edge. The method further includes spiraling the material to form a cylinder, welding the first edge and the second edge together forming a continuous weld, and cutting the cylinder to a selected length. To fabricate a jacket, a longitudinal cut is made in the cylindrical body, at least one cutout is cut, and the continuous weld is an outer fillet weld.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high deposition submerged arc welding system, comprising a gantry fixture, a weldhead, an operator control module and a modular control system. The gantry fixture is configured to receive a first plate and a second plate. The weldhead is operatively coupled to the gantry fixture and welds the first plate and second plate together with a metal powder, a welding wire and a flux. The operator control module is configured to receive a program for welding the first plate and the second plate together. The modular control system has a common bus which communicates the program to a plurality of control modules.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the use of a pre-alloyed atomised powder in combination with at least one melting electrode wire in the SAW method. The electrode wire is an unalloyed or low-alloy metal wire and the metal powder is a metal powder containing a higher percentage of alloying elements than the electrode wire.

Abstract: A welding system and method of use which allows a single welding operator to perform quick, easy and high quality vertical welds. The welding system comprises a welding fixture with a pair opposing, positionally adjustable welding shoes, and lock screws for attaching to a workpiece such as an I-beam. The welding fixture is located adjacent the end of an articulating boom, and a welding torch and oscillator are included on the welding fixture. A rotary straight wire feeder removes the cant and helix from welding wire as it is fed to the welding torch. The welding torch prevents welding wire from fusing to a guide tube in a manner which would interrupt a welding operation. The invention includes a distributed welding control system comprising a plurality of controller modules interfaced with a common bus. The control system allows a welding operator to program automated welding cycles for various welding operations.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a weld material which contains 8 to 13% Cr, and can be used with the GMA welding method, a GMA welding method which has superior arc stability and can provide a welded material having superior properties, and a welded structure; in order to attain this object, a weld material is provided, which contains in weight, 0.01 to 0.15% C, 0.1 to 0.6% Si, 0.1 to 2.0% Mn, 8 to 13% Cr, 0.1 to 1.5% Ni, 0.3 to 2.0% Mo, 0.05 to 0.5% V, 0.08 to 0.5% W, 0.5 to 5.0% Co, 0.1 to 0.5% Ta, ≦0.08 N, 0.01 to 0.1% REMs, and consisting of the balance Fe with inevitable impurities.

Abstract: A method or apparatus for sub arc/tubular wire arc welding includes providing a first wire to a first welding arc and a first ac power signal to the first welding arc. The first ac power signal is a substantially constant voltage signal. A second wire may be provided to a second welding arc near the first welding arc, and a second ac power signal is then provided to the second arc. A phase relationship between the first and second ac power signals is selected from a plurality of at least three possible phase relationships. Preferably, the frequency and/or balance of at least one of the signals is selectable. Also, the output frequency is preferably controllable such that it can be more or less than the input frequency.

Abstract: A process, called Covered Trailing Edge of Weld (CTEW) that can be applied during fusion welding that produces a weld without cracks and porosity and reduced residual stress level, is described. The process eliminates or reduces the need of non-destructive testing, re-work and post weld heat treatments in weld manufacturing. It is known that in a normal unassisted solidification of a weld, numerous cooling gradients from solid-liquid interfaces come into effect, because of numerous and multi-directions of solid crystal faces that promote crystal growth in solidifying metal in different direction. Such micro cooling gradients in molten metal are in various directions also because of varying inclinations of the surface of the cup at each point where solid base of microstructure is exposed for crystal growth.

Abstract: A method of welding together two steel plates with a thickness greater than about 3/8 inches from one side of the plates, the method comprising the steps of: tapering a generally straight edge of the plates to form an included angle in the range of about 40-60.degree. with a nose at the protruding portion of each edge; positioning the plates with the edges spaced from each other to define an elongated channel with the nose of each edge at the bottom of the channel and spaced from each other to define an elongated generally straight gap with a width g; moving an electrode having a diameter of less than approximately 0.

Abstract: Utilizing a low-oxygen welding flux, and a low carbon welding wire, seam welding is conducted by submerged arc welding so that the resulting weld metal has a chemical composition, in which P.sub.WM value defined as below is in a range of from 0.18 to 0.33, and a micro-structure containing acicular ferrite not less than 55% by area ratio:P.sub.WM =P.sub.cm +3.19Ti-1.020where,P.sub.cm =C+Si/30+(Mn+Cu+Cr)/20+Ni/60+Mo/15+V/10+5BFurthermore, when cracking resistance is required, submerged arc welding is conducted such that the chemical composition of the weld metal satisfies P.sub.rh value of less than 2.8, in addition to fulfilling the above conditions:P.sub.cm =C+Si/30+(Mn+Cu+Cr)/20+Ni/60+Mo/15+V/10+5B.

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: Apparatus for making a circular weld using the submerged-arc welding process, the apparatus comprising a generally horizontal, extendible and contractible boom having inner and outer ends, the boom being supported adjacent the inner end for rotation about a vertical axis, a mounting member mounted on the outer end of the boom for vertical movement relative thereto, a swing arm mounted on the mounting member for pivotal movement relative thereto about generally vertical axis, a support member mounted on the swing arm for pivotal movement relative thereto about a generally horizontal axis, a welding torch fixed to the support member for movement therewith, a spool supported by the boom for rotation relative thereto about a generally horizontal spool axis, and an electrode wire wound around the spool and extending between the spool and the torch.

Abstract: In a process and an apparatus for the longitudinal-side welding of tubes (1) to flat steel bars (2), in which the welding in each case is carried out on the top side and on the underside of the flat steel bars (2), the welding torches (4) are arranged in a fixed position, the parts (1, 2) to be joined are pressed against one another before the welding and are moved in the longitudinal direction by means of a conventional transport device (10) during the welding operation, and the welding is carried out on the top side in a known manner by means of a SAW process, combined pulse oscillation GMAW is carried out on the underside at the same time as the SAW carried out on the top side, during which pulse oscillation GMAW the torches (11) are set in very rapid lateral motion by means of an oscillation device (15), the oscillating speed for guiding the welding torches (11) being coordinated with the feed rate of the parts (1, 2) to be welded.

Abstract: A method of joining metal parts by fusion arc welding in a weld of small volume includes the steps of providing the metal parts to be joined having a first side which accessible to a welding operation and a second side opposite the first side. The metal parts have welding surfaces shaped to have a first flank adjacent the first side and a second flank adjacent the second side, a step joining the flanks. Each part has a relief bulge formed in the second side adjacent the second flank, and a centering offset at the second flank to position the metal parts relative to one another for welding. The relief bulge is provided to ensure that the centering offsets melt during welding, and is shaped to have a sufficient size so that a predetermined melt-through point develops for melting of the centering offset during welding.

Abstract: A submerged arc welding method for a high strength (2.25%-3%)Cr-3% Mo-V steel, to obtain a weld metal excellent in strength at room temperature and high temperature, toughness, and creep strength, after SR, temper brittleness resistance, cold crack resistance and SR crack resistance. The Cr-Mo steel contains: 2.00 to 3.25% of Cr, 0.90 to 1.20% of Mo, and V as essential components, and Nb, Ti, B and Ca as needed. A welding heat input is in the range of from 20 to 50 kJ/cm. The solid wire contains 0.09 to 0.19% of C, 0.30% or less of Si, 0.50 to 1.40% of Mn, 2.00 to 3.80% of Cr and 0.90 to 1.20% of Mo. The bonded flux contains 5 to 20% of SiO.sub.2, 20 to 40% of MgO, 2.4 to 12% of a metal fluoride (F-converted value) and 3 to 12% of a metal carbonate (CO.sub.2 -converted value). A weld metal contains 0.08 to 0.15% of C, 0.05 to 0.30% of Si, 0.50 to 1.20% of Mn, 0.030 to 0.060% of O, 0.10 to 0.50% of V and 0.005 to 0.035% of Nb. P and Ti in the weld metal are restricted to 0.010% or less and 0.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for submerged arc welding with four electrodes positioned along a line from front to rear. The first of the electrodes is supplied with direct current, and the remaining three electrodes are supplied with alternating current. The direct current electrode generate an arc that penetrates the base metal and initiates a weld. The other electrodes are supplied with alternating current having a 90.degree..+-.15.degree. current separation between the leading and trailing AC electrodes, and the trailing and middle AC electrodes. Alternating current is supplied between electrodes the trailing and middle AC electrode, having a 180.degree..+-.30.degree. current separation. The AC electrodes combine to generate an arc that deposits a filler and shapes the weld.

Abstract: A high-efficiency fillet welding method for conducting, without edge preparation, T-shape fillet welding of thick steel webs having a C content not more than 0.21 wt %. The welding is conducted by using a leading electrode (L) and a trailing electrode (T) composed of wires of about 4.8 to 6.4 mm diameter and containing C in an amount which meets the condition of formula (1), as well as 1.50 to 2.50 wt % of Mn. The welding is executed in such a manner that the ratio I.sub.T /I.sub.L of the current I.sub.T supplied to the trailing electrode (T) to the current I.sub.L supplied to the leading electrode (L) ranges from 0.75 to 1.00. The flux used in the welding is a bonded flux containing 60 to 91 wt % in total of SiO.sub.2, MgO and CaO, 5 to 30 wt % in total of TiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and CaF.sub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for submerged arc welding using five-electrodes having direct current (DC) connected to one electrode and alternating current (AC) connected to the other four electrodes. The electrodes are aligned in a row with predetermined angles to the direction of the weld. Alternating current is supplied to the electrodes so that a 90.degree. phase difference is applied to adjacent electrodes and a 180.degree. phase difference is applied between alternating electrodes. With such power application and the electrical connections of the electrodes, the welding process has a more stable weld puddle that suppresses welding defects at higher speeds than previously achievable.

Abstract: The invention relates to technology and equipment for arc welding.A method of overhead submerged arc welding consists in that flux at the wing site is pressure-fed to the joint being welded from below at different pressures along the joint being welded, a consumable electrode (3) is fed through the flux (3) from below and an arc is struck. A weldpool is formed thereat with a layer of liquid slag.

Abstract: A method of submerged arc welding of thick steel plates with a large heat input and flux for submerged arc welding which comprises: forming a groove having a multi-angle shape which has at least two different angular inclination when a single side submerged arc welding for perfect penetration is conducted under a condition of an welding heat input of 100 to 1000 kJ/cm; using submerged arc welding flux SiO.sub.2 : 5 to 28% by weight, MgO: 15 to 35% by weight, CaO: 5 to 15% by weight, CaF.sub.2 : 2 to 20% by weight, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 : 5 to 15% by weight, and TiO.sub.

Abstract: A method according to the invention comprises fixing a consumable electrode (1) with respect to a current carrying device (2), positioning it over a surface (4) of a part (5) to be fused, firing a welding arc (8) between the end face (3) of the electrode (1) and the surface (4) of the part (5). The electrode (1) is then fed to a fusion space (9) by swiftly bringing the current carrying device (2) close to the surface (4) of the part (5) at a speed exceeding the rate of fusion of the electrode (1).

Abstract: A process for automatic fusion welding of rails by a combination of submerged arc welding and electroslag welding, comprising a root run for welding a rail base by submerged arc welding and, without interruption of the welding, subsequent runs for welding the rail base and welding a region from a rail web to a rail head by electroslag welding; wherein, during all of the runs, a metal mold is mounted on an upper surface of the rail base and a metal shoe is mounted on the metal mold to prevent an outflow of molten slag and molten metal and, during all of the runs, welding is performed by using a DC welding transformer having constant potential characterisitcs, a filler-wire having a diameter of from 1.2 to 2.0 mm, and a fused-type flux. The inventive process avoids the use of different fluxes and an alteration of welding machine conditions during the whole sequence of welding from the rail base through to the rail head.

Abstract: An improved feeder for feeding particulate materials to a weld zone wherein the particles of different materials fed are in desired proportions to each other at any cross-section of the outlet device, the feeder converting an intermittent feed to a continuous homogeneous flow and having dispersal apparatus positioned within the feeder so that welding material to be fed to the weld zone must pass through the dispersal apparatus.

Abstract: A rotary compressor of the type having an outer metal cylinder casing, a metal cylinder with a vane slot and a vane and the method of assembling the compressor by forming the cylinder with a circular chamber, the center of which is in alignment with the central axis of the cylinder and having a circular outer wall slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the casing. A vane slot is cut in the cylinder which slot is open at one end into the chamber. A vane is placed in the slot to divide the chamber into a high pressure side and a low pressure side. The cylinder has formed therein three curved elongated ports spaced from each other in the cylinder between the chamber and outer wall. The length of each port and thickness of the metal between the port and outer wall of the cylinder cooperate to provide adequate strength for welding and sufficiently flexible to absorb any significant distortion forces caused by welding without transmitting the distortion forces to the vane slot.

Abstract: A device for arc welding having one or more fusible electrodes (15) which are in each case supplied from an alternating-current source (14) having a falling characteristic. The feed rate of the electrode (15) is regulated for constant arc length as a function of the arc voltage. Via a further regulator (37), the deposition efficiency is regulated by supplying the regulator (37) with the feed rate as actual value and changing the welding-current intensity as a function of this value. The change in welding-current intensity leads to an increase or decrease in arc length which, in turn, is compensated via the first regulator by changing the feed rate.

Abstract: A method of electroslag welding consists in mounting parts to be welded with a required gap, assembling a forming device, introducing an electrode into the gap between the parts to be welded, filling the gap with a flux, setting a slag pool with subsequent melting of the electrode and the edges to be welded, and formation of the weld.A flux for electroslag welding contains calcium fluoride, calcium oxide. According to the invention, the flux further contains calcium chloride, the ratio between calcium fluoride and calcium oxide being of 3:1.

Abstract: In a submerged arc multiple wire welding system, only one or two of the welding wires used are over or microalloyed wires. The other wires are commercially available unalloyed or low-alloyed solid wires. The process produces a weld metal which has unexpectedly high toughness values, and can be performed more economically. This multiple wire welding system is used in single or multiple-pass welding operations.

Abstract: A welding machine includes a main housing with head stock and tail stock sections at its opposite ends having respective chucks for supporting a rotating work piece. A carriage movable endwise between the head stock and tail stock sections includes a head overlying the work area and a flux collection tray and associated circulation components underlying the carriage head and the work area. A welding torch assembly is supported in suspended adjustable relation from the carriage head and includes a welding tip through which weld wire is fed and a dispensing nozzle surrounding and concentric with the welding tip for dispensing granulated flux. Granulated flux is supplied by gravity from a hopper in the carriage head; and the flux is circulated from the hopper box under the collection tray to the overhead flux hopper by a pneumatic circulating system.

Abstract: A device for feeding welding wire in a submerged arc welding operation in which there is a narrow gap between workpieces which are to be welded together comprises a guide support having a plurality of spaced apart welding wire straightening roller assemblies mounted thereon which are in a position at selected angles relative to each other around and in engagement with the welding wire and which define a feed guide path for the passage of the welding wire between the rollers of each assembly. A welding head is pivotally mounted on a support for pivotal movement transverse to the welding direction and the head includes a welding guide and a carrying guide which together define tongs of the head which are mounted on the support for pivotal movement toward and away from each other. Tongs carry a plurality of guide shoes which define a continuing guide path for the welding wire received from the welding wire feed guide and deliver it to the welding zone between the workpieces.

Abstract: A four-electrode submerged arc welding process employs connections of four electrodes aligned in one row for alternating current source so that electromagnetic force Fx.sub.4 in a direction opposite to a welding direction acting upon a middle point of the arc from the rearmost electrode is within -25.ltorsim.Fx.sub.4 .ltorsim.-10 (N/m). The connections are preferably selected such that phase differences among currents applied to the three electrodes other than the frontmost or rearmost electrode are 120.degree., respectively, and a phase difference of the remaining frontmost or rearmost electrode is within 0.degree..+-.30.degree. relative to the furthermost electrode.With such connections of the four electrodes, the four-electrode submerged arc welding process remarkably prevents welding defects such as undercuts even at higher welding speeds.

Abstract: A method for producing line pipe of high strength and high toughness by the submerged-arc welding process in which a welding wire containing 0.18-0.55% C. is used, Ti or B or both are added to the welding wire or flux or both, and a steel containing 0.005-0.06% C. is welded by the submerged-arc welding process, whereby both Ti and B are caused to be present in the weld metal.

Abstract: Apparatus for overhead welding a first metal plate to a second metal plate comprising a base; an electrically insulated support for granular flux, adapted to span and cover with flux an overhead joint to be welded, on the base; a welding wire guide for directing the wire to an overhead joint covered by the flux support; and a flux feeder at least partially supported by the base for forcing granular welding flux onto the flux support to cover the joint with flux.A method of welding using the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A welding process for joining aluminum materials in a horizontal welding position, without preheating, this process being highly economical and characterized by minimal environmental pollution, good strength and toughness of the welded joint, in which process the arc, as in submerged arc welding of steel plates, is covered by a flux layer and burns in a closed cavity, this process being realized by the use of a flux having a flux composition of 20-70% potassium chloride (KCl), 20-70% of an alkaline earth metal chloride, preferably calcium chloride and/or magnesium chloride (CaCl.sub.2 and/or MgCl.sub.2), 1-20% of calcium fluoride (CaF.sub.2) and preferably 1-15% of a substance capable of lowering the melting point and/or releasing gas.

Abstract: A process for both-side single layer, high speed submerged arc welding of steel plate for use in low-temperature applications having a particular chemical composition with a welding flux and welding wire is disclosed. The welding flux comprises 20 to 30 wt % of SiO.sub.2, less than 25 wt % of at least one of TiO.sub.2 and ZrO.sub.2, 10 to 20 wt % of CaO, less than 10 wt % of at least one of MnO and MgO, not more than 10 wt % of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and 20 to 40 wt % in total of CaF.sub.2 and BaO each being not more than 20 wt %, wherein a total content of acidic components (SiO.sub.2 %+TiO.sub.2 %+ZrO.sub.2 %) is 30 to 45 wt %, a total content of basic components (CaO %+MgO %+MnO %) is 20 to 30 wt % and a weight ratio of the total content of basic components to the total content of acidic components is within a range of 0.5 to 0.8; said these components being compounded so that a surface tension F of slag is not more than 450 dyne/cm as calculated from the following equation (1):F=285.times.[SiO.sub.2 ]+380.

Abstract: The flux dams used to form mounds of granular flux in submerged arc welding deteriorate rapidly because they are subjected to elevated temperatures and high heat. These flux dams also twist and distort creating gaps. Granular flux bleeds through these gaps. Flux is wasted and the welding arc may be exposed to the atmosphere. Flux dams are also awkward to move and slow production down. The apparatus and method disclosed herein overcome these problems by utilized an elongate flux dam (19) that is stationary during welding and which extends for the length of the weld. The flux dam (19) is mounted on a heat exchanger (24) by a mounting plate (21) that minimizes thermal distortion of the flux dam (19). The heat exchanger (24), the mounting plate (21), and the flux dam (19) are pivotally connected to a support arm (26) that is mounted for motion about the platform (6) on a pivot point (32).

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.