Abstract: A handheld portable oxygen monitor for monitoring oxygen includes one or more of (1) a replaceable dust filter element removably disposed in a gas inlet pathway extending from an gas inlet port to an oxygen sensor, (2) an oxygen sensor module including the oxygen sensor and a circuit board on which the oxygen sensor is mounted, the oxygen sensor module being removably mounted to a circuit board holder, (3) configurable gas pathway components within the oxygen monitor housing, and (4) a controller operable to enable a remote device to (a) control one or more operations of the oxygen monitor, (b) receive real-time oxygen monitoring data from the oxygen monitor for display on the remote device, (c) upload logging event data from the oxygen monitor storage, (d) obtain system information from the oxygen monitor storage, and (e) perform firmware updates on the oxygen monitor to modify its programming.

Abstract: A glass grinding apparatus includes a base unit assembly having a work-piece support assembly and a motor housing assembly. The work-piece support assembly includes a work-piece support grating and a water basin. The motor housing assembly includes a motor housing containing a grinding motor and a power supply. The grinding motor has a rotatable motor shaft whose upper end is configured to receive a glass grinding bit operable to grind a glass work-piece situated on the work-piece support grating. In one aspect, the grinding motor operates on direct current provided by an AC/DC power supply that is directly operable with different utility mains. In another aspect, the work-piece support assembly is a discrete unit having lifting handles. In another aspect, the work-piece support grating has water-restriction baffles and/or a water-level view port. In another aspect, an integrated lamp-shield assembly is provided. In another aspect, a self-contained pedestal assembly is provided.

Abstract: A heat-resistant weld backing tape for placement between a backing member and a workpiece to be welded at a root gap. The weld backing tape includes a flexible tape substrate. The tape substrate has a longitudinal length that extends between first and second tape substrate ends, and a lateral width that extends between first and second tape substrate side edges. The tape substrate has a substantially planar first face and a substantially planar second face. The first and second tape substrate faces are mutually parallel and spaced from each other by a tape substrate thickness. The tape substrate length and the tape substrate width are substantially larger than the tape substrate thickness. A heat-resistant material is disposed on the first tape substrate face and arranged to face the workpiece during welding. An adhesive material is disposed on the second tape substrate face and arranged to face the backing member during welding.

Abstract: A weld backing tape for double-sided arc welding of double-groove joint preparations. The weld backing tape includes a flexible tape substrate supporting a centrally-disposed heat-resistant material flanked by adhesive material on each side. The weld backing tape is bendable into a folded shape, the heat-resistant material being on the convex side of the fold for seating in a back-side groove of the weld preparation, with an apex of the heat-resistant material substantially packing an apex of the back-side groove to block weld pool material introduced into a front-side groove of the weld preparation. The back-side groove is defined by a pair of side walls extending from the groove apex to a rear surface of the workpiece. The heat-resistant material has a maximum width selected to leave part of each side wall exposed for engagement by the adhesive material to retain the heat-resistant material in position in the back-side groove during welding.

Abstract: A heat-resistant weld backing tape for placement between a backing member and a workpiece to be welded at a root gap. The weld backing tape includes a flexible tape substrate. The tape substrate has a longitudinal length that extends between first and second tape substrate ends, and a lateral width that extends between first and second tape substrate side edges. The tape substrate has a substantially planar first face and a substantially planar second face. The first and second tape substrate faces are mutually parallel and spaced from each other by a tape substrate thickness. The tape substrate length and the tape substrate width are substantially larger than the tape substrate thickness. A heat-resistant material is disposed on the first tape substrate face and arranged to face the workpiece during welding. An adhesive material is disposed on the second tape substrate face and arranged to face the backing member during welding.

Abstract: A gas-diffusing water-degradable welding purge dam apparatus for purging a weld zone of a pipe assembly having first and second pipes with respective first and second pipe ends to be welded together at a root gap. The purge dam apparatus includes a first air flow blocking member, a second air flow blocking member, and an interconnecting member interconnecting the first and second air flow blocking members. The interconnecting member has a hollow purge gas-receiving interior and a gas-diffusing sidewall that allows a pressurized purge gas in the gas-receiving interior to pass through the sidewall and exit therefrom in a diffused state into a weld zone external to the interconnecting member. An external purge gas entry port in the purge dam apparatus in fluid communication with the gas-receiving interior. The purge dam apparatus includes one or more water degradable materials so it can be flushed from the pipe assembly following welding.

Abstract: A glass grinding apparatus includes a base unit assembly having a work-piece support assembly and a motor housing assembly. The work-piece support assembly includes a work-piece support grating and a water basin. The motor housing assembly includes a motor housing containing a grinding motor and a power supply. The grinding motor has a rotatable motor shaft whose upper end is configured to receive a glass grinding bit operable to grind a glass work-piece situated on the work-piece support grating. In one aspect, the grinding motor operates on direct current provided by an AC/DC power supply that is directly operable with different utility mains. In another aspect, the work-piece support assembly is a discrete unit having lifting handles. In another aspect, the work-piece support grating has water-restriction baffles and/or a water-level view port. In another aspect, an integrated lamp-shield assembly is provided. In another aspect, a self-contained pedestal assembly is provided.

Abstract: A water-degradable welding purge dam apparatus for purging a weld zone of a pipe assembly having first and second pipes having respective first and second pipe ends to be welded together at a root gap. The purge dam apparatus includes a blocking plate assembly having an outer blocking plate, an inner blocking plate, and zero or more interior blocking plates. The blocking plate assembly may be formed from one or more water degradable materials to facilitate removal of the purge dam apparatus from the pipe assembly using an aqueous fluid following welding. At least one of the blocking plates may include a plurality of fluid flow apertures to aid distribution of the aqueous fluid through the blocking plate assembly. If desired, first and second ones of the blocking plate assembly may be ganged together by an interconnection assembly to form a ganged set of blocking plate assemblies.

Abstract: A water-degradable carrier for holding a caustic substance includes a tube having a first end, a second end, and a hollow interior disposed between the first and second ends. The tube may be formed from a water-degradable material and have overlapping self-adhered windings. The water-degradable material may include a water-degradable paper layer and a chemical-resistant water-degradable film layer that acts as an adhesive when wetted to adhere together the windings. The chemical-resistant water-degradable film layer is selected from a material that is resistant to a caustic substance that is to be carried by the carrier and acts as a barrier to substantially prevent the caustic substance from degrading the water-degradable paper layer and leaking out of the tube.

Abstract: A wireless oxygen monitor for monitoring oxygen in a weld zone. The oxygen monitor receives weld zone gas samples and an oxygen sensor detects oxygen levels. A controller generates gas sample oxygen level data and wirelessly transmits gas sample data via an oxygen monitor wireless communication interface to a remote device that displays the gas sample data and logs it in a remote device storage.

Abstract: A water-degradable carrier for holding a caustic substance includes a tube having a first end, a second end, and a hollow interior disposed between the first and second ends. The tube may be formed from a water-degradable material and have overlapping self-adhered windings. The water-degradable material may include a water-degradable paper layer and a chemical-resistant water-degradable film layer that acts as an adhesive when wetted to adhere together the windings. The chemical-resistant water-degradable film layer is selected from a material that is resistant to a caustic substance that is to be carried by the carrier and acts as a barrier to substantially prevent the caustic substance from degrading the water-degradable paper layer and leaking out of the tube.

Abstract: A water-degradable welding purge dam apparatus for purging a weld zone of a pipe assembly having first and second pipes having respective first and second pipe ends to be welded together at a root gap. The purge dam apparatus includes a blocking plate assembly having an outer blocking plate, an inner blocking plate, and zero or more interior blocking plates. The blocking plate assembly may be formed from one or more water degradable materials to facilitate removal of the purge dam apparatus from the pipe assembly using an aqueous fluid following welding. At least one of the blocking plates may include a plurality of fluid flow apertures to aid distribution of the aqueous fluid through the blocking plate assembly. If desired, first and second ones of the blocking plate assembly may be ganged together by an interconnection assembly to form a ganged set of blocking plate assemblies.

Abstract: A wireless oxygen monitor for monitoring oxygen in a weld zone. The oxygen monitor receives weld zone gas samples and an oxygen sensor detects oxygen levels. A controller generates gas sample oxygen level data and wirelessly transmits gas sample data via an oxygen monitor wireless communication interface to a remote device that displays the gas sample data and logs it in a remote device storage.

Abstract: A portable hand-held oxygen monitor for monitoring oxygen in a weld zone includes a user interface having an alphanumeric display and one or more user interface buttons. An audiovisual alarm includes an indicator light and an audio output device, the indicator light being separate and distinct from the alphanumeric display. The oxygen monitor implements an oxygen monitoring mode responsive to activation of one or more of the user interface buttons, wherein (1) a gas sample is obtained, (2) a digital gas sample oxygen level value is generated, and (3) the gas sample oxygen level value is compared to a stored oxygen level alarm value, and the audiovisual alarm is activated if the gas sample oxygen level value is less than the oxygen level alarm value. The activating includes illuminating the indicator light and generating sound from the audio output device to alert a monitor user that is safe to weld.

Abstract: A gas-diffusing water-degradable welding purge dam apparatus for purging a weld zone of a pipe assembly having first and second pipes with respective first and second pipe ends to be welded together at a root gap. The purge dam apparatus includes a first air flow blocking member, a second air flow blocking member, and an interconnecting member interconnecting the first and second air flow blocking members. The interconnecting member has a hollow purge gas-receiving interior and a gas-diffusing sidewall that allows a pressurized purge gas in the gas-receiving interior to pass through the sidewall and exit therefrom in a diffused state into a weld zone external to the interconnecting member. An external purge gas entry port in the purge dam apparatus in fluid communication with the gas-receiving interior. The purge dam apparatus includes one or more water degradable materials so it can be flushed from the pipe assembly following welding.

Abstract: An inflatable purge dam apparatus for use with pipes of different nominal pipe size (NPS) includes first and second inflatable purge bladders, and an intermediate bridge conduit. In a first aspect, the purge bladders each comprise an expandable inner purge gas retaining liner and a heat-resistant stretchable outer protective cover. The protective covers comprise a heat-resistant stretchable material that is constructed to undergo variable stretching to increase the size of the purge bladders as they are inflated with purge gas to a desired sealing pressure, thereby allowing the purge bladders to form an effective weld zone seal in pipes of different NPS. In a second aspect, an air vent conduit extends between first and second ports located proximate to a longitudinal centerline of the first purge bladder. The air vent conduit provides a vent pathway for venting air from the weld zone through the first purge bladder.

Abstract: A field-customizable inflatable purge dam apparatus for welding includes first and/or second inflatable purge bladders. A bridge conduit extends between the purge bladders. First and second quick-disconnect couplers are provided for detachably connecting the bridge conduit to the first and second purge bladders, respectively. The quick-disconnect couplers allow the bridge conduit to be selectively attached to, and detached from, one or both of the first and second purge bladders. The purge dam apparatus can be field-customized by combining the bridge conduit with one or more different purge bladders. Alternatively, the purge bladders may be selectively combined with one or more different bridge conduits. In another aspect, one end of the bridge conduit may be detachably connected to a single inflatable purge bladder, and the other end of the bridge conduit may be adapted to connect to a purge gas source. Various purge dam apparatus sub-assemblies may also be provided.