Abstract: Disclosed herein is an instructional apparatus for underwater electric welding. The workpiece to be welded is clampable to a submergible bench mounted in a water tank on a power adjustable bench controllable by the trainee's feet while his hands are located in gloves mounted in the tank wall. Foot controlled valve and water pump auxiliaries enable the trainee to free his hands from the gloves quickly by dumping the water and to refill the tank after he has replaced his hands in the gloves. Pilot lights indicate the energized or non-energized condition of each auxiliary.

Abstract: A method of replacing a defective circumferential butt joint in a metal pipe is disclosed. An annular metal bridge ring, having a smaller wall thickness than the pipe but the same inside diameter, is positioned coaxial with the pipe in the relatively wide gap created by the removal of the defective joint. The ring becomes an integral part of the weld by being welded in place, thereby partially filling the gap between the edge surfaces of the pipe exposed by the removal of the defective joint. Subsequent layers of fusible material are weld deposited in place on top of the ring until the gap is filled to the exterior pipe surface. Use of the ring in the gap enables replacement of the defective joint with a single weld.

Abstract: In a submerged arc multiple wire welding system, only one or two of the welding wires used are over or microalloyed wires. The other wires are commercially available unalloyed or low-alloyed solid wires. The process produces a weld metal which has unexpectedly high toughness values, and can be performed more economically. This multiple wire welding system is used in single or multiple-pass welding operations.

Abstract: A method and system for enclosing a gas at a preselected pressure in a nuclear reactor fuel rod having two ends open to its interior. Hermetically enclose each end in a separate airtight chamber. Introduce the gas into the first chamber and open the second chamber to purge the fuel rod interior and both chambers of residual atmosphere. After purging close the open second chamber and determine the gas pressure in the fuel rod interior. When the pressure reaches the preselected value, hermetically seal each fuel rod end while in its respective chamber. After sealing, remove the fuel rod from the chambers.

Abstract: A method for fusion welding together two portions of a parent metal comprised by an aluminum alloy includes the steps of surface abrading the two portions in at least the region of their mutual interface and intended weld zones, applying to each abraded surface a hot-sprayed coating comprised by a metal having a lower electrochemical potential than the parent metal, abutting the two coated portions at the mutual interface, and fusing them together by fusion welding.

Abstract: A microprocessor-controlled arc welding power supply is disclosed. A silicon controlled rectifier ("SCR") bank is used to generate a direct current arc welding current under program control. Positive sychronization is provided by the microprocessor using a phase locked loop and a polarity detector, so that the gating signals applied to the SCRs are correctly timed. Optimum tradeoffs between hardware and software are accomplished by using look up tables to store correction factors that can be quickly accessed during execution, and by using timers as smart interface chips to fire the SCRs at the same angle during each cycle until changed or updated by the microprocessor. The arc welding power supply is capable of operating in a constant current or constant voltage mode without rewiring the circuit.

Abstract: A method of joining together two relatively thin work pieces by arc welding is disclosed. The work pieces are rotated relative to a welding electrode so that the welding electrode is moved at relatively high speed over a path of contact between the work pieces where the weld is to be made. The power density at the work pieces is controlled so that it is necessary to make several passes of the electrode over the path of contact between the work pieces to make the weld. This welding procedure produces a weld of high quality without the use of complex current programming which is required when using conventional arc welding procedures.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for welding edge joints such as turbine blades and the like, including adaptive tracking circuitry for maintaining the center of oscillation of the welding electrode substantially aligned with the center of the workpiece as the electrode is moved along the workpiece, and means for adjusting welding parameters such as welding current to prevent melt over of the edge and wirefeed rate to control overlay height as the welding electrode approaches to within a predetermined distance from the edge of the workpiece. The disclosed embodiment samples the arc signal, processes the arc signal to remove undesirable noise components, uses the processed signal to adaptively position the electrode with respect to the workpiece, and controls the welding parameters related to overlay height when the sensed position of the electrode reaches a predetermined distance from the edge of the workpiece.

Abstract: A method of welding a pair of aluminum driveshaft components together is disclosed. A first driveshaft component is formed with a hollow cylindrical end portion having an inside diameter and a flat radially-extending end surface. A second driveshaft component is formed with a cylindrical end portion extending axially from a flat radially-extending shoulder. The end portion of the second driveshaft component has an outside diameter which is approximately equal to the inside diameter of the cylindrical end portion of the first component. The cylindrical end portion of the first component is telescopically positioned about a portion of the cylindrical end portion of the second component such that a predetermined distance defining a longitudinally-extending annular gap therebetween is maintained between the end surface of the first component and the shoulder of the second component. A welding compound is supplied within the gap to weld the first and second driveshaft components together.

Abstract: The parallel faces of thick-walled structures to be joined by arc welding are provided an electrically conductive metallic support along and up into the bottom of a gap between the parallel walls for the initial pass of the arc. The metallic support is subsequently gouged from the gap and the union of the parallel faces is completed by filling the gouged space with welding material.

Abstract: A method and system of eliminating welding fumes by subjecting the air close to the welding point to a quiet electric discharge between an electrode supplied with a high voltage of direct current, and the work piece or another grounded object.

Abstract: A gas shielded arc welding method in which a non-consumable electrode and a filler wire are respectively connected to independent DC power sources and the non-consumable electrode is located in a preceding position, feeding the filler wire from behind the electrode. The non-consumable electrode is held in a forwardly tilted position to form an angle smaller than 85.degree. with a workpiece, and the non-consumable electrode and filler wire are applied with inverse electric currents to thereby control the arc direction for formation of sound joints. A welding apparatus is also disclosed which is capable of effecting arc extension control and oscillation simultaneously.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement are described for underwater arc welding in which the welding electrode is placed into the zone to be welded in lying position, the electrode being covered with a shield structure and ignited so that, when electrode burning occurs, it produces the desired weld at the zone to be welded. A mantle is used as the shield structure and comprises an inner burning layer made of a readily burning, preferably resilient material, by means of which the electrode is covered, and an outer protective layer, preferably made of a flexible material, by means of which the burning layer is covered, and fastening means, by which the mantle is fixed firmly and tightly in position. The fire gases produced during the burning of the electrode and of the burning layer prevent penetration of water to the electrode.

Abstract: In order to improve electric arc penetration of an arc welding torch, the angles of convergence .alpha. and .beta. of a sleeve and a nozzle of the torch are selected within an area which is inscribed in a quadrangular figure defined by the coordinates (.alpha., .beta.) with corners, or apices, at the four following points:______________________________________ .alpha. = 17.5 degrees S'.sub.1 : .beta. = 27.5 degrees .alpha. = 7.2 degrees S'.sub.2 : .beta. = 20 degrees .alpha. = 7.5 degrees S'.sub.3 : .beta. = 15 degrees .alpha. = 17.5 degrees S'.sub.4 : .beta. = 7.5 degrees ______________________________________The disclosed arc welding torch is favorably employed in an inert gas welding process.

Abstract: A three o'clock welding method in a narrow groove, wherein a lateral butt welded joint is formed by carrying out welding in a narrow groove. The narrow groove is inclined with respect to the horizontal in such a manner that the center face of substantially parallel upper and lower groove faces is lowered on the initial layer side, when the welding is performed.

Abstract: A snow plow runner for supporting the blade of a snow plow above the abrasive surface of a roadway with the snow plow runner formed of a material of a first melting temperature and having a plurality of hardened pads formed of a material of a similar melting temperature to permit fusing the pads to the snow plow runner to provide a high abrasion resistant surface that permits the snow plow runners to be used over an extended period of time.

Abstract: A method of autogenous welding steel strip is disclosed including the steps of applying to at least one edge of a section of the strip to be welded, a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloys, aluminum and manganese, positioning the edges in desired relative relationship and effecting welding. The applied material effects a chemical change in the steel strip to resist hot cracking in the weld, provides increased ductility and increased strength. The steel strip is preferably silicon steel or stainless steel strip.

Abstract: A method of preparing stranded electrical conductors for subsequent attachment to the terminal pad of an electrical device or component whereby the tip portion of said conductors are fused to form a coalescent bead. The stranded wire conductor is placed in a holding fixture and the end surface thereof is brought into engagement with an electrode member. The electrode is then displaced from the end of the wire by a predetermined gap distance. Subsequently, the air or other gas in the gap is ionized by a high frequency, high voltage electrical field, creating a low impedance for a low voltage current source. The current flowing from this source, through the electrode and through the gap is sufficient to fuse the strands of the conductor being treated at the tip end thereof and when cooled, a tiny coalescent bead of metal is formed. A suitable inert gas may also be introduced into the gap during the process to prevent oxidation of the metal during the fusion step.

Abstract: A gas-tungsten arc welding method for joining together structures formed of aluminum alloy with these structures disposed contiguously to a heat-damagable substrate of a metal dissimilar to the aluminum alloy. The method of the present invention is practiced by diamond machining the fay surfaces of the aluminum alloy structures to provide a mirror finish thereon having a surface roughness in the order of about one microinch. The fay surfaces are aligned and heated sufficiently by the tungsten electrode to fuse the aluminum alloy contiguous to the fay surfaces to effect the weld joint. The heat input used to provide an oxide-free weld is significantly less than that required if the fay surfaces were prepared by using conventional chemical and mechanical practices.

Abstract: A multi-position method is provided for gas metal arc welding thick aluminum alloy plates in a single welding pass on each surface of the plates. A first plate edge is provided with a tongue portion having (1) a land surface abutting a portion of a second plate edge, and (2) two arcuate J-shaped side surfaces, each adjoining the land surface at opposite ends thereof and each adjoining its respective side surface of the first plate at an angle approximating 90.degree.. The J-shaped side surfaces and second plate edge surface cooperate to define a modified double-J welding groove. The plates are welded together in a single pass on each side thereof by first depositing a weld bead in the modified J groove on one side of the plates and then, after this bead has sufficiently solidified, a second weld bead is deposited in a single pass in the modified double-J groove on the other side of the plates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a lamp involves preparing a lamp assembly having a base to which is coupled a bulb with external lead-in wires. One of the lead-in wires has an outer end which is drawn out between the bulb and the edge of the base. A potential is applied between a welding electrode of a welding device and the tip of the outer end of the external lead-in wire to weld the lead-in wire to the base. During this applying of potential, a gas flame is interposed between the outer end of the external lead-in wire and the welding electrode.

Abstract: An improved process is disclosed for splicing metal shafts, in which a pair of shafts (10, 12 or 44, 46) having transverse end surfaces (30, 32 or 54, 56) preferably substantially normal to the axes of the shafts, are positioned coaxially with an insert (34, 48) positioned between and abutted to the end surfaces. The insert is tapered or wedge-shaped at either end to define transverse contact surfaces (18) which abut the end surfaces of the shafts. The angle (.beta.) of the taper on the insert permits insertion of a consumable arc welding electrode (20) into the convergent space defined between the end surfaces of the shafts and the tapered surfaces of the insert and is large enough to allow the arc welding electrode to be positioned at locations not only sufficiently spaced from both the tapered surfaces and the end surfaces but also sufficiently close to the area of abutment between the contact and end surfaces, to ensure proper welding penetration into the base metals.

Abstract: A narrow groove arc welding process includes angular oscillation of a non-consumable electrode having a tip which is radially displaced with respect to the central axis of the electrode. This provides for improved arc sweep and can be combined with prior art lateral and pivotal electrode oscillation techniques. A non-consumable electrode for use in this process is provided with a radially displaced tip. The electrode can be easily replaced by detaching it from a permanent rod electrode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying filler material to a workpiece in conjunction with a heat producing means, to deposit a heating/molten pool region on the workpiece; wherein the filler wire is introduced into the pool region in a reciprocating manner which alternately advances an end of the filler wire into and out of the pool region; and wherein the heat produced by the heat producing means is varied so that peak heating pulses are initiated and maintained when the filler wire contacts the pool region, and so that the heat producing means maintains a lower, background level when the filler wire is withdrawn from the pool region.

Abstract: In accordance with the method, the arc supplying current is modulated if necessary for generating an acoustical signal. The acoustical signal generated by the arc is detected and its amplitude which, in practice, is a direct function of the actual length of the arc, is compared to a reference amplitude corresponding to the desired length of the electrical arc, in order to determine the algebraic value of their difference. This algebraic value is used for monitoring at least one element of the machine between which the arc forms, and moving this element proportionally to the so-determined algebraic value in order to increase or reduce the actual length of the arc and to bring this length back to the desired length.

Abstract: A method for controlling selected switching between preset welding schedules in a MIG welding operation, in response to operation from a single control switch having only on and off signal selections.

Abstract: A method for electroslag welding of railroad rails under field conditions employs a special mold bottom member and a special guide tube structure. The mold bottom member includes a metallic insert which is supported by heat-insulating means, e.g. ceramic material in a cavity in a bottom copper block. The ceramic effectively heat insulates the insert from the copper block so when arcing takes place at the start of the welding, the heat is retained by the insert, which forms part of the weld. The guide tube structure is flared toward the bottom and guides two continuously fed electrodes. The structure includes wing-like members near its bottom end. The bottom of the structure is designed wth sharp corners, so that when arcing takes place some of the guide structure metal melts to form a uniform layer of molten metal, which aids in the melting of flux into a slug bath of uniformly distributed temperature.

Abstract: A crucible for containing molten magnesium, and a process for forming the crucible. The crucible is formed from ferritic stainless steel, and particularly type 444 stainless steel plate. The method involves forming ferritic stainless steel plate into component parts of the crucible, while maintaining the ferritic stainless steel plate at temperatures above about 200.degree. F. but below the "blue brittle" temperature range. Further, the method involves special techniques for welding the crucible parts. Specifically, the crucible parts are preheated to a temperature of 100.degree. -150.degree. C. and are completely welded by a process utilizing multiple welding passes with a special metal inert gas shielded welding technique before any cool down of the crucible parts below 100.degree. C. is allowed. The welds extend completely through the crucible walls, which are the thickness of steel plate, and completely incorporate the crucible parts while being essentially free of cracks.

Abstract: In a rotary arc-welding method which comprises: directing a nozzle substantially vertically toward a weld zone of objects of welding; feeding a consumable welding electrode through said nozzle eccentrically from the center axis of said nozzle toward said weld zone; feeding welding current to said consumable welding electrode to produce an arc between the tip of said consumable welding electrode and said weld zone to weld said objects of welding with each other by means of the arc heat; rotating said nozzle to cause a circular movement of said arc from the tip of said consumable welding electrode corresponding to the eccentricity thereof; and, feeding a shielding gas toward said weld zone to shield said arc and said weld zone from the open air; the improvement characterized in that: the diameter of said consumable welding electrode is limited within the range of from 0.8 to 1.

Abstract: Apparatus for welding a workpiece using a gas tungsten welding arc and filler wire has three machine elements mounted on a base, to provide x, y, and z motions of a carriage part. A welding head is mounted on the carriage and is adapted to move in the z vertical direction and rotate without limitation, relative to the movable carriage. Thus, the head has five independent motions. The workpiece is mounted on a holder which provides x, y, and rotational motion beneath the welding head, to reposition the workpiece between actual welding operations. The apparatus which is controlled by two small computers is adapted to weld complex shaped workpieces.

Abstract: A method for welding bodies made of very hard or highly refined armor steel, particularly objects to be armored against the penetration of projectiles, flying bodies, splinters or the like, wherein armor steel bodies arranged in juxtaposition with a gap therebetween are provided, in the region of the root of the joint, with preferably one bar each, and/or a filler body of, in particular, an unalloyed steel is arranged in the joint so as to cover the joint gap. The armor steel bodies are welded together without preheating with a suitable ferritic welding material, of like base, under a protective gas atmosphere and after cooling of the weld seam from the welding heat to not less than 100.degree. C., the weld seam is heated locally and progressively without any holding period to at least 450.degree. C. and subsequently, without maintaining a certain ambient temperature and/or period of time, the weld seam is cooled to ambient temperature in air.

Abstract: A joint structure of a watch body and a bezel comprising a watch body with a joint surface, a bezel with a joint surface, at least one projection extending from one of the joint surfaces welded onto the other surface, a space between said surfaces and connecting material filling said space. By thus constructing, the watch body and bezel have a durable water and air tight joint.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hoop for a nuclear reactor vessel, equipped internally with projecting guide blocks serving for the guidance of the internal equipment. The method consists in coating an outer cylindrical hoop (1) of low-alloy steel internally with a thin plating (2) of stainless steel and in attaching supporting blocks (3) to the inside of this hoop, leaving bare an area of low-alloy steel of the hoop surrounded by the stainless steel plating (2), depositing on this hollowed area by arc welding a plating (34) of nickel-base alloy of Inconel type until a profile is obtained which projects with respect to the plating (2) of stainless steel, machining this plating (34) and then arc welding thereto a separate piece (35) of nickel-base alloy of Inconel type with addition of nickel alloy of Inconel type deposited in a groove (4) formed between the plating (34) and the separate piece (35).

Abstract: The method of and apparatus for welding of a pair of in-line pipes which utilizes a pair of insert rings. Initially, in the root area of the weld there is located an inner insert ring, which is welded to the pair of abutting pipes by a root welding path. An outer insert ring which is constructed of two identical pieces is located exteriorly about the inner insert ring between the pair of in-line pipes. The outer insert ring includes a laterally extending flange which is to be tack welded to the exterior surface of the pipe which is abuts. The main section of the outer insert ring is then melted to fuse together the pipes. The tack welding of the flange to the pipes keeps the main section of the outer insert ring located between the abutted edges of the in-line pipes.

Abstract: When metal inert gas (MIG) welding is carried out at normal atmospheric pressure, the electrode is made positive with respect to the workpiece because the use of a negative electrode gives little penetration. In undersea welding, as the pressure increases the arc stability and metal transfer in MIG welding become erratic and there is copious fume evolution. According to the present invention, MIG welding at pressures greater than 7 bars is carried out with the electrode negative with respect to the workpiece and with an electrode wire of diameter not greater than 1.4 mm; the slope of the power supply, as seen from the welding arc, is preferably between 6 and 15 V/100 A, which is higher than the 3 to 4 V/100 A used in positive-electrode MIG welding at normal atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method for arc cutting of metal, more specifically a method in which an electric arc is formed between the metal and a cutting torch and gas is blown into the cut during the cutting process. According to the invention a paste is injected through the torch into the region of the arc, said paste containing a finely-divided electrically conducting substance mixed with a carrier and acting as an electrode which causes the electric arc to be struck. The conducting substance may contain e.g. metal powder, such as powder of aluminium or of an aluminium alloy, to which also carbon and phosphorus may be added.

Abstract: A method for detecting whether dissimilar metals or alloys are being welded together is disclosed. Metals or alloys are welded together and electrical leads connected to a multi-purpose potentiometer or a voltmeter contact each metal at points heat conductively remote from the weld. The arrangement performs as a thermocouple with the weld acting as the "hot junction" and the contact points remote from the weld being at substantially ambient temperature, and acting as the "cold junction." According to the thermoelectric laws, if the metals are dissimilar, a current and EMF result provided that the hot junction and the cold junction are at different temperatures. If the metals are similar, no signal is generated. The potentiometer or the voltmeter detects whether any electrical signal is present. In the same manner, an unknown metal may be positively identified by welding it to different reference metals until no signal is generated.

Abstract: A method of hermetically sealing by NVFE (non-vacuum focused energy) welding abutment joints formed by elongate surfaces. At substantially spaced intervals narrow shallow vent grooves are formed across one of the surfaces, while leaving between the vent grooves separating lengths of many times the length of the groove width. The grooves enable the NVFE welding to be effected continuously in unidirectional pass along the joint, the gases venting from the joint through the successive vent grooves as the welding progresses continuously along the joint. Continuously after the venting of the gases at each of the successive vent grooves, each vent groove is sealed by the NVFE welding without interrupting the welding progression.

Abstract: An arc welding process using a consumable stranded wire electrode which is formed either by integrally intertwisting a plurality of wire elements substantially of the same sectional area such that the lines connecting center points of adjacent wire elements do not form a regular polygon in a sectional plane or by integrally intertwisting a plurality of wire elements of different sectional areas such that the lines connecting center points of wire elements of larger diameter do not form a regular polygon in a sectional plane wherein the consumable electrode is imparted with a bending trait and contacted with a surface on the inner periphery and at the outlet end of a conducting tip, and the arc is directed toward a center weld line to thereby obtain a stable arc.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making packets of rotor or stator sheets for electrical machinery. At a certain station to which a preselected number of sheets are delivered, the sheets are both aligned and joined together. Aligning is effected by an aligning device which includes aligning pins which move into openings in the sheets. While the sheets are still at the aligning station, joining means effect joining together of the sheets. The joining means may include a piston pressed into the opening in the sheets and/or a device for welding the sheets together. At a packet receiving station before the aligning and joining station relatively high stacks of sheets are placed into magazine baskets suspended from a central turntable member. A piston pushes a predetermined number of such sheets upwardly through its respective basket into a receiving head which carries those sheets to the aligning and joining station. The finished packets are then carried by the aligning joining means to a discharging station.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a watch case comprising the steps of placing contact points of a bezel and a watch body to face to each other, applying pressure to said contact points through electrodes, and applying pulse current to said electrodes until said contact points get molten. The pulse current will allow the bezel and the body except the contact points to cool down during its intervals. Therefore, this method does not require a water-cooling system as required by conventional methods.

Abstract: Cable ends (1 and 2) are to be joined. The cables are armored by stainless steel sheaths, and have two conductors (9 & 11, and 8 & 10 respectively) insulated by means of compressed mineral insulation (14). The cables are typically for thermocouples and have an outside diameter of a few millimeters. Joining proceeds as follows: The cable ends are reduced in diameter by swaging, e.g. with initial conical portions (5,4) followed by smaller diameter portions (7,6). The ends of the swaged portions are stripped to reveal the conductors which are joined end-to-end by welding. A longitudinally slotted length of tubing (3) is placed around the join, and the tubing is filled, via its slot, with powdered mineral insulation. The length of tubing 3 is then closed by welding, and the entire join is drawn down around the join to ensure that the entire joined cable is of uniform outside diameter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus to perform plasma welding, by providing a cooling water temperature detector at the inlet side of cooling water in the plasma welding torch, controlling the temperature at the inlet side of the cooling water running into the plasma welding torch at a set temperature of more than 4.degree. C. and less than 18.degree. C., starting a plasma arc when the temperature of the cooling water reaches a specified point after starting to pass the cooling water, and moving the base metals and the torch relatively upon lapse of a specified time allowed to form a keyhole after start of the plasma arc.

Abstract: A method of welding which utilizes a metal electrode core encased within a pre-sintered ceramic insulating sleeve. The method comprising, preplacing a welding wire in the welding kerf formed between the pieces to be welded, tacking the welding wire in place such that the wire abuts the surface of the pieces to be welded, guiding the metal core electrode rod encased in a ceramic pre-sintered sleeve over the welding wire, and simultaneously, torching the welding wire so that a uniform weld deposit is formed.

Abstract: Two improvements to the electrical conductor connection disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,869. The first is a new and improved process for forming by means of multiple timed MIG arc welding, an electrical connection between at least two lapped aluminum conductors, wherein neither conductor member has a pilot hole, thereby eliminating preforming and alignment requirements. The improved process produces the same full penetration weld with the same highly desirable substantially cylindrical weld nugget as the process of U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,869 with a preformed pilot hole does. The second improvement is a new and superior electrical conductor connection and a method of forming same between at least two lapped aluminum conductors. The connection so formed includes a weld nugget having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration at the interface. The rectangular shape of the weld nugget at the interface increases the mechanical torque capacity and the electrical conductivity of the connection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for follow-up controlling the weaving movement of a weaving device in consumable electrode type arc welding, in which welding currents at both ends of the left and right side of the weaving motion of the torch with respect to a welding line are detected and compared. If the detected welding currents are not equal, the weaving device mounting the torch is shifted either to the left or right with respect to the welding line depending upon which of the welding currents is larger until the detected welding currents become equal to each other.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a constant arc gap between the electrode and the weld puddle by controlling the addition of filler wire based on the arc voltage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a plurality of arc-spot welds in a predetermined pattern is disclosed. A plurality of welding torches are mounted upon a carriage which is longitudinally movable relative to a work piece. The work piece is supported by work piece supports which are vertically movable to allow exit of a completed work piece and insertion of a new work piece. A clamping assembly mounted above the work piece supports is movable toward the work piece to engage the work piece to hold it in place for welding, and is movable away from the work piece to allow exit of a completed work piece. The carriage is provided with a control which stops the carriage whereby the torches will be located at positions above the work piece corresponding to the desired pattern of arc-spot welds. The control preferably comprises a cam connected to the carriage which follows a track located on the frame which defines the welding pattern.

Abstract: A method comprises feeding two or more, if necessary, alloying materials and simultaneously changing the ratio thereof. The ratio of the alloying materials is changed at the moment of transition from one section to the other one having different composition, the ratio being changed to such extent that the length of the transition portion is as small as possible. The time of transition is determined depending on the weld pool volume, rate of surfacing, cross section of the layer being built up, amount of the alloying elements both the required and the real one. Determining the time of transition for carrying out the method of the invention is disclosed in term of a preferred embodiment. An apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention is characterized in that it includes an adder-differentiator link, a voltage limiter, a switching device and an aperiodical link. The aperiodical link is a simulator of the weld pool.

Abstract: A surfacing method comprises feeding alloying material to the weld pool in between two consumable electrodes, with the distance between those electrodes being determined depending on the diameter of the electrodes, feed mass velocity of the alloying material and the total feed mass velocity of the electrodes. An apparatus for controlling the surfacing process according to the proposed method includes an electrode feed rate transducer connected to series-coupled converters, one of which converters determines the ratio of the amount of the alloying material to the total amount of metal being fed to the weld pool, and the other one determines the alloying degree of the surface layer being formed. The converters are connected to an adder unit connected to a device for delivering additional alloying material whereas the converter for determining the alloying degree includes a programmer device and is connected with the device for feeding the alloying material.