Abstract: A jig for coaxially welding together a pair of generally coaxial tubular pipe ends meeting at a joint has a pair of support bodies in the pipe ends flanking the joint and each having an outer surface tapering axially inward toward the joint. Respective arrays of wedges are axially displaceable on the surfaces so that as the arrays are displaced apart the respective wedges move radially outward. Respective springs engaging the arrays urge the respective jaws radially together and urge the respective arrays axially toward each other. An abutment between the arrays has annular end faces engageable axially outward with the respective wedges. Thus when the bodies are drawn axially toward each other and the respective wedges are forced radially outward so that, when the arrays are flanking a joint and displaced radially outward, they coaxially center and lock together the pipe ends.

Abstract: A jig for coaxially welding together a pair of generally coaxial tubular pipe ends meeting at a joint has a pair of support bodies in the pipe ends flanking the joint and each having an outer surface tapering axially inward toward the joint. Respective arrays of wedges are axially displaceable on the surfaces so that as the arrays are displaced apart the respective wedges move radially outward. Respective springs engaging the arrays urge the respective jaws radially together and urge the respective arrays axially toward each other. An abutment between the arrays has annular end faces engageable axially outward with the respective wedges. Thus when the bodies are drawn axially toward each other and the respective wedges are forced radially outward so that, when the arrays are flanking a joint and displaced radially outward, they coaxially center and lock together the pipe ends.

Abstract: A protective device for welding a seam between a pair of workpieces has a flexible metallic band extending along the seam, spaced from surfaces of the workpieces, and having longitudinal edges on which are carried respective elastomeric heat-resistant strips extending the full length of the band and engaging the surfaces of the workpieces. A flexible ceramic band is provided between the elastomeric strips on the metal band between same and the surfaces. The band has a face turned toward and spaced from the surfaces and forms with the surfaces at the seam a chamber extending along the seam.

Abstract: A device for flooding a weld junction between two devices with a protective gas has a double wall body received in the pipes and bridging the junction with sealing rings received in end chambers of the body braced against inner surfaces of the pipe. An intermediate chamber is bounded outwardly by a cylindrical shell of fine-pore sintered metal and has an inner wall provided with at least one fitting for connecting a supply pipe for the protective gas thereto. Between the intermediate chamber and at least one of the end chambers, at least one outlet chamber is formed to discharge excess protective gas through a throttle on an inner wall of the outlet chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for grinding a point on a tip of an elongated tungsten-electrode rod has a base, a disk rotatable on the base about a disk axis and having a disk face substantially perpendicular to the disk axis, and a drive on the base for rotating the disk about the disk axis. An elongated holder extending along a holder axis is adapted to hold the rod to be ground with its tip projecting from a front end of the holder. This holder has a rear end formed with an outwardly open annular groove. A stationary tip support having a notch open toward the disk is adapted to cradle the tip of the rod immediately adjacent the disk and an outer holder support spaced from the tip support has a notch open parallel to the notch of the tip support and is adapted to cradle the holder at the groove thereof. An inner holder support engaging the holder presses the holder and tip into the notches of the tip support and outer support. These supports are aligned along a line extending skew to the disk face and axis.

Abstract: A clamping sleeve for an electrode of a burner, especially a TIG burner, has its bore receiving the electrode offset from the axis of the housing receiving the sleeve so that, upon clamping of the electrode, the electrode is not only pressed against the wall of the bore over a greater part of its length, but is also pressed to the wall of a bore in the housing through which the electrode extends to increase the area over which electric current is delivered to and heat is abstracted from the electrode.