Abstract: A partially consumable spacer chill ring for welding a pair of adjacent pipe ends together, includes a non-consumable, substantially annular, base metal ring having an outer surface with an outside diameter permitting a snug fit interiorly of the pipe ends to be welded, the non-consumable base metal ring being effectively continuous with at most a small transverse slit; and a consumable, substantially annular, filler metal spacer ring medially attached to the outer surface of the base ring and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, for spacing apart and for welding the pipe ends together by supplying filler metal from the consumable spacer ring to the weld during a first root pass of a welding operation, the consumable filler metal ring having, in cross-section, a radial leg extending extending medially with respect to and radially outwardly from the outer surface of the base metal ring, and two opposite, transverse legs extending on opposite sides of the radial leg and positioned on the outer surface of th

Abstract: A partially consumable spacer chill or welding ring includes a generally cylindrical non-consumable base metal ring having an outside diameter of such a size as to snugly fit the inside diameter of the pipe end to be welded. A circular consumable filler metal spacer ring is medially attached to the outer periphery of the base metal ring and extends peripherally radially outwardly to function as a spacing device between adjacent ends of two lengths of pipe to be joined. The consumable spacer ring may be affixed to the base metal ring in a plurality of circularly offset locations by spot welding or may be press-fitted in an alignment groove in the base ring. The consumable spacer ring becomes filler metal during welding.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preparing consumable insert rings for use in welding of conduit and the like, which utilizes a drawing operation. Particularly, a ring having a multiple gauge configuration is drawn by a process whereby the first drawing pass achieves 80 to 90% preparation of the final cross-sectional configuration. The drawing operation may be conducted at speeds of about 1' per minute, and final dimensions and shape of the inserts may be achieved by as few as two drawing passes. Surface uniformity is achieved and work hardening of the insert during formation is minimal. Starting stock utilized in the present method may be of lesser diameter than that used in conventional processes.