Abstract: An internal line-up clamp (20), for aligning two pipes to be welded together, includes a hi-lo measurement system, for example includes a laser source (24) and camera system (22), mounted on the internal line-up clamp (20) and arranged to make a hi-lo measurement (d), indicative of the degree of alignment of the pipes (10a, 10b). The measurement may be made when two pipes are clamped together by means the internal line-up clamp (20). The pipes may then be welded together, whilst the pipes remain clamped together in the same position, and whilst the hi-lo measurement system remains inside the pipes.

Abstract: A welding bug (1) comprising a welding torch (3) for welding in a groove (19). The welding torch (3) is mounted for rotational movement about an axis (21) that is substantially horizontal, relative to the welding bug, (typically tangential to a pipe during use) so that the torch is moveable, during use of the welding bug (1) when arranged to enable the torch to weld in a groove, between (i) an operating position, and (ii) a disengaged position in which the welding torch is positioned away from the groove (19). The welding bug may be less cumbersome and more compact than some known arrangements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a welding torch that includes an electrode (3) that has a longitudinal groove (9) formed therein which guides a welding wire (4) which is fed form a laterally spaced-apart location. The electrode (3) is open and the wire (4) is supported on one side only. In the region of the welding tip, the electrode (3) is elongate and the cross-sectional area is smaller than the area at a position further from the tip. Regions between an outer housing (11) and a main support body (2) define two shielding gas conduits positioned on opposite sides of the body (2), through which gas flows and then combines to form a unitary stream. The body (2) contains cooled regions which are supplied with cooling fluid by a conduit (7) and removed by conduit (8), parts of which are positioned between the shielding gas conduits close to the welding electrode (3).

Abstract: An internal line-up clamp (20), for aligning two pipes to be welded together, includes a hi-lo measurement system, for example includes a laser source (24) and camera system (22), mounted on the internal line-up clamp (20) and arranged to make a hi-lo measurement (d), indicative of the degree of alignment of the pipes (10a, 10b). The measurement may be made when two pipes are clamped together by means the internal line-up clamp (20). The pipes may then be welded together, whilst the pipes remain clamped together in the same position, and whilst the hi-lo measurement system remains inside the pipes.

Abstract: A welding bug (1) comprising a welding torch (3) for welding in a groove (19). The welding torch (3) is mounted for rotational movement about an axis (21) that is substantially horizontal, relative to the welding bug, (typically tangential to a pipe during use) so that the torch is moveable, during use of the welding bug (1) when arranged to enable the torch to weld in a groove, between (i) an operating position, and (ii) a disengaged position in which the welding torch is positioned away from the groove (19). The welding bug may be less cumbersome and more compact than some known arrangements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a welding torch that includes an electrode (3) that has a longitudinal groove (9) formed therein which guides a welding wire (4) which is fed form a laterally spaced-apart location. The electrode (3) is open and the wire (4) is supported on one side only. In the region of the welding tip, the electrode (3) is elongate and the cross-sectional area is smaller than the area at a position further from the tip. Regions between an outer housing (11) and a main support body (2) define two shielding gas conduits positioned on opposite sides of the body (2), through which gas flows and then combines to form a unitary stream. The body (2) contains cooled regions which are supplied with cooling fluid by a conduit (7) and removed by conduit (8), parts of which are positioned between the shielding gas conduits close to the welding electrode (3).