Abstract: Internal welding head apparatus, wherein a welding torch is mounted on a pivotal support for movement of the torch toward and away from the weld site, and wherein the torch is carried on a rotative shaft to be oscillated transversely by oscillation of the rotative shaft, oscillation of the rotative shaft being accomplished by rotation of an eccentric in a yoke fixed to the rotative shaft, and wherein the oscillations are dampened by spring means disposed at opposite sides of the rotative shaft. The apparatus is compact, and is adapted to be mounted on a carrier to be rotated about the interior of a pipe or tank, or the like.

Abstract: Welding carriage, including an articulated body having support wheel sets on its end sections, one of said end sections supporting a drive assembly movable toward and away from a track upon which the carriage travels, the drive assembly including two tandem drive wheels driven by an electric motor supported by the drive assembly. The carriage may support one welding head or plural welding heads, so that one or more weld beads may be formed as the carriage travels past a section of a welding groove.

Abstract: Welding head apparatus, wherein a welding head assembly is mounted on a support plate which can be adjustably moved both vertically and horizontally, and of which the welding tip may be angularly adjusted and may be oscillated transversely of the weld joint. The apparatus is compact and light in weight so that it may be mounted on a welding carriage, either singly or in plural units for forming multiple weld beads in a single pass. The apparatus is self contained, including a wire feeder, so that separate assemblies for supporting the welding apparatus are not needed.

Abstract: Track to provide travel of a welding carriage about a pipe, including a metal band bent to encircle a pipe and being supported by slotted crossbars, the slots of the crossbars providing resiliency to the band so that the band will yield when tightened about the pipe, and so that the pipe may expand and contract under changes in temperature without longitudinal overstressing of the band and the latch connecting the ends of the band. The invention includes locator apparatus for spacing the track from the end of a pipe, including one or more adjustable locking pliers fitted to provide pipe end and track engagements and suitable to serve as a guide for locating the position of the track with respect to the pipe end.

Abstract: Internal pipe welding apparatus, including a pair of internal pipe clamps between which is disposed a rotative welding head support. The welding wire and gas feed conduits are disposed through passages through the central hub of one of the clamps. The welding head support is rotated by a ring gear engaged by a gear carried by a shaft disposed through a passage of the central hub of the other clamp. The gear engagement with the ring gear is adjustable to minimize vibration and chatter. The welding wire feeders are mounted on a block support at the front of the first mentioned central hub.

Abstract: Pipe welding clamp apparatus, including a pair of clamp assemblies, one being of conventional design and the other being of a special design permitting access to the axial space between the clamp assemblies so that internal welding assemblies may be disposed partly within said axial space and partly at a location opposite said special clamp assembly from said axial space. Each welding assembly includes a relatively large welding electrode reel and an electrode feeder at said location, communicated with a torch assembly in said axial space through a flexible tube. Each torch assembly includes means for torch position adjustments angularly and radially, and includes novel means for oscillating the torch so that a wider root weld is formed which will bridge the welding gap between adjacent pipe ends in spite of torch position misalignment and in spite of irregularities in pipe alignment and welding gap width. Novel clamp locator means and wheel support means are also disclosed.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus for welding, wherein during welding the welding electrode is oscillated laterally of the weld path, and the welding current pulse frequency and oscillation frequency are correlated whereby weld metal droplets are deposited when the electrode is at its limit of movement away from center at each side of the weld path. During each cycle of oscillation of the welding electrode, a controlled number of weld metal droplets is deposited at each side of the weld path. An electrical circuit controls the electrode oscillation frequency and the welding current pulse frequency to be in correlation, and controls the number of weld metal droplets deposited at the opposite sides of the weld during each oscillation of the welding electrode.

Abstract: Welding methods and apparatus, wherein a welding electrode is oscillated by a motor-driven oscillator in back and forth movements transverse to a weld joint, and an alternating welding current is supplied to the welding electrode in timed relation with the welding tip oscillations so that weld metal is deposited along opposite sides of the weld joint in parallel paths without deposit of weld metal at the center of the weld joint.

Abstract: Welding backup shoe apparatus, wherein plural backup shoes are carried side-by-side on flexible bands, each backup shoe being resiliently biased outwardly so that the backup shoes are resiliently pressed against the inner side of a weld joint between end-to-end pipe sections to prevent blowthrough of weld metal through the joint during welding and to dissipate heat from the weld metal. A pair of bands, each carrying a plurality of backup shoes, are supported by the shoes of a welding clamp, the bands being disposed at the upper and lower interior of the pipes to be expanded outwardly when the welding clamp shoes are expanded and to be retracted inwardly when the welding clamp shoes are retracted.

Abstract: Traveling carriage apparatus, adapted to travel along a track disposed about or upon an object, to carry a device such as a welding torch to do work upon the object or upon other apparatus supported thereby. The apparatus is hinged end-to-end, preferably having three hinged-together portions, the angularity at the hinges being adjustable so that the apparatus may travel along a track which is either curved or flat. The apparatus is supported by track-engaging sets of wheels at its opposite ends. A retractable drive wheel assembly is carried by one of the hinged portions of the apparatus.

Abstract: Pipe welding clamp including pipe end spacing means, for holding pipes disposed end to end for welding, and for spacing the pipe ends apart by a small distance during welding. Two clamp assemblies are provided, one for each pipe end, the clamp assemblies being individually expanded and set by forces applied through axially movable sleeve assemblies and toggles connected between the sleeve assemblies and radially disposed clamp elements. The sleeves are moved for setting and retracting the clamp assemblies by fluid cylinders. An additional fluid cylinder is adapted to move one clamp assembly relative the other to provide spacing between the pipe ends after setting of the clamps, the pipe end spacing being controlled at circularly spaced points around the apparatus by screw-adjustable spacing stops.

Abstract: Track apparatus, consisting of a circular track adapted to be affixed end-to-end around a pipe, usually adjacent an end thereof, to support a carriage apparatus for travel about the pipe, welding equipment, or the like, being mounted on the carriage apparatus for use in welding the pipe to another pipe abutted end-to-end therewith, or for other similar purposes. The track is supported by circularly spaced crossbars each provided with inwardly projecting spring biased pins upon which the crossbars are supported. A latch device for affixing the ends of the track together is provided. The track has frictional engagement means around its outwardly facing surface for engagement by drive wheels of the carriage apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for locating a welding carriage track disposed about a pipe adjacent an end of the pipe, wherein a linkage actuated clamp is adapted to engage opposite edges of the track, and wherein a surface of the apparatus is adapted to engage the end of the pipe about which the apparatus is disposed at a fixed distance from the near edge of the track, whereby said surface may be firmly engaged against the end of the pipe to dispose the track at said fixed distance from the end of the pipe. The distance between the pipe end engagement surface and the near edge of the track is fixed, but the apparatus is adapted to be used with tracks of different widths.

Abstract: An adjustable welding head oscillator in which rotary motion is transformed into sinusoidal reciprocatory motion and transferred to a welding head. A cam follower is adapted for receiving rotary motion from an eccentric arm and translating the rotary motion into sinusoidal reciprocatory motion. The cam follower is mounted on a swing bar having another point along its length connected to the cam follower which is reciprocated with the same amplitude as the cam follower. The welding head is attached to the reciprocating swing bar at selected points along the length of the swing bar. The amplitude of oscillation of the welding head is adjusted by varying the location of the welding head with respect to the swing bar.