Abstract: The method can include inserting a first portion of a backing device into a fluid aperture of a first conduit component, inserting a second portion of the backing device into a fluid aperture of a second conduit component, and bringing the second conduit component adjacent the first component over the backing device, fusion welding the first conduit component to the second conduit over the backing device, and removing the backing device by circulating a fluid inside the welded conduit components. The backing device can be made of a soluble material.

Abstract: A solenoidal induction coil with dynamically variable coil geometry is provided for inductively welding or heating continuous or discontinuous workpieces passing through the solenoidal induction coil in a process line. The coil geometry can change, for example, as the outer dimension of the workpiece passing through the solenoidal induction coil changes or as non-continuous workpieces pass through the solenoidal induction coil in an induction heating or welding process line.

Abstract: A collar assembly has a sleeve, a first collar, a second collar and a third collar. The sleeve is configured to loosely extend into a first opening in a beam, a hollow interior of the beam and a second opening of the beam. The first collar attaches to one end of the sleeve and includes a first attachment flange that overlays a portion of an exterior surface of the beam and a first alignment flange that extends into a first opening of the beam. The second collar has a second attachment flange that overlays a portion of another exterior surface of the beam with the sleeve extending through an aperture with the sleeve member. The first and second collars are re-position-able along exterior surfaces of the beam such that the sleeve member is moved to a predetermined orientation relative to the beam prior to attachment to the beam.

Abstract: An electromagnetic perforation device for well casings includes a coil disposed around a core carried by a mandrel. The device further includes a power supply coupled to a current supply device, which is coupled to said coil. A stabilizing member extends from the mandrel and spaced apart on the mandrel from the coil core. The electromagnetic performance device may be positioned in a well casing, and the current supply device may rapidly supply a current to the coil to created an electromagnetic field in the coil and simultaneously induces a magnetic field in the well casing. The coil, current, and well casing may be selected such that electromagnetic field and the magnetic field produce repulsive magnetic forces that are sufficient to overcome a yield strength of the well casing and perforate the well casing.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a positive seal coupling and a pipe, including a frame, a stationary block assembly attached to the frame and having coupling gripping doors, and a traveling block assembly slidably attached to the frame and having pipe gripping doors. Two hydraulic ram cylinders are attached to the frame that have ram cylinder rods attached to the traveling block assembly so that the hydraulic ram cylinders can move the traveling block assembly toward the stationary block assembly. The coupling gripping doors are axially aligned with the pipe gripping doors so that when the hydraulic ram cylinders move the traveling block assembly toward the stationary block assembly, a pipe held by the pipe gripping doors is inserted into a coupling held by the coupling gripping doors.

Abstract: A pulsed induction heating system removes bonded elements from underlying substrates. A coil loop of a tool fits around the base of the element to be removed. The tool heats the element and the substrate in short pulses that are followed by brief, non-heated wait periods. The temperature of the substrate is measured during the wait periods between pulses to avoid overheating. When the substrate reaches a target temperature, the adhesive is sufficiently softened such that the element and adhesive are readily scraped off without damaging the substrate.

Abstract: A cartridge assembly is disclosed for a pulse welding a first tube supported on a mandrel to a second tube. An outer tool is assembled over the second tube and a stored charge is discharged in the cartridge assembly. The cartridge comprises an annular conductor and a solid casing enveloping the conductor. The stored charge is electrically connected to the conductor and discharged through the conductor to compress the second tube and pulse weld the second tube to the first tube.

Abstract: A method and device for soldering plural electrical connections, in which contact elements have to be soldered to soldered-connection faces positioned on a non-metallic glazing. In the method a soldering tool is used to emit a magnetic field towards the solder spots to heat these by induction. The magnitude and shape of the soldering tool is sized according to the surface area over which plural solder spots that have to be heated simultaneously in a soldering operation are situated. At the same time, the frequency of an AC voltage applied to the loop or to the coil is tailored to the connection geometry and set to 150 kHz at most. Thus, for a high work rate, markedly better heating of the components that need to be soldered is obtained because the low-frequency field lines have a greater depth of penetration into the bodies.

Abstract: An apparatus (30) and method for forming of a vehicle's driveshaft (32) is provided which makes use of a PMF process. The coil device used in the PMF apparatus is assembled around the shaft from two or more coil sections (40, 41, 43; 42, 44, 45) firmly attached to one another, and which may be disassembled from one another to allow to remove the formed driveshaft (32).

Abstract: A method for securing components of a vehicular driveshaft includes disposing a neck of an end fitting into the open end of a driveshaft tube. The end fitting is held with respect to the driveshaft tube so that an annular gap is formed between the neck and the driveshaft tube. An inductor is provided about the driveshaft tube adjacent the end receiving the neck. The inductor is energized to generate a magnetic field for collapsing the driveshaft tube about the neck at a high velocity so that the driveshaft tube and the end fitting are welded to each other.

Abstract: A method for securing components of a vehicular driveshaft includes disposing a neck of an end fitting into the open end of a driveshaft tube. The end fitting is held with respect to the driveshaft tube so that an annular gap is formed between the neck and the driveshaft tube. An inductor is provided about the driveshaft tube adjacent the end receiving the neck. The inductor is energized to generate a magnetic field for collapsing the driveshaft tube about the neck at a high velocity so that the driveshaft tube and the end fitting are welded to each other.

Abstract: A method of joining two vehicle suspension components made from the same or dissimilar materials includes providing a first suspension component, and providing a second suspension component made from a material which is same/dissimilar to the material used to make the first suspension component, where one of the first and second suspension components is a metallic component made of a metallic material. A portion of one of the first and second suspension components is positioned within a portion of the other of the suspension components in an overlapping manner, thereby forming an overlapping portion. A metallic band may be disposed around the overlapping portion. An inductor is positioned around the overlapping portion. The inductor is energized to generate a magnetic field for collapsing at least one of the overlapping portion and the metallic band at a velocity sufficient to magnetic pulse weld the components to each other, thereby securing the first and second suspension components together.

Abstract: A method for joining vehicle components together to form a vehicle frame assembly where the components are formed from dissimilar materials such as metallic and non-metallic materials. A composite body mount bracket may be attached to a structural component of a vehicle body and frame assembly by providing a body mount bracket having an opening formed therethrough and by providing a first structural component formed from a metallic material also having an opening formed therethrough. The body mount bracket is then positioned adjacent the first structural component such that the respective openings are aligned with one another. A second structural component formed of a metallic material is then inserted through the aligned openings. Next, the second structural component is welded first structural component through a magnetic pulse welding technique, and lastly, the second structural component is pulse formed or deformed so as to mechanically clamp the body mount bracket thereto.

Abstract: A method for securing components of a vehicular driveshaft includes disposing a neck of an end fitting into the open end of a driveshaft tube. The end fitting is held with respect to the driveshaft tube so that an annular gap is formed between the neck and the driveshaft tube. An inductor is provided about the driveshaft tube adjacent the end receiving the neck. The inductor is energized to generate a magnetic field for collapsing the driveshaft tube about the neck at a high velocity so that the driveshaft tube and the end fitting are welded to each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for permanently joining first and second metallic components uses magnetic pulse welding techniques. Initially, the end portions of first and second metallic components are oriented in a concentric, axially overlapping relationship. The first and second metallic components may be formed from either the same or different materials as desired. A plurality of inductors are disposed concentrically about or within the overlapping portions of the first and second metallic members. The inductors may be arranged adjacent one another in an axially end-to-end manner. Then, the plurality of inductors is sequentially energized so as to cause respective areas of the first metallic component to be deformed into engagement with associated areas of the second metallic component to permanently join the first and second metallic components together.

Abstract: A resistor array including a series of spaced first conductor members, a series of initially substantially non-conductive switches respectively connecting adjacent first conductor members to one another, at least one second conductor member in spaced relation to the first conductor members, and a series of resistors extending from respective first conductive members to the at least one second conductor member.

Abstract: A method for securing components of a vehicular driveshaft includes disposing a neck of an end fitting into the open end of a driveshaft tube. The end fitting is held with respect to the driveshaft tube so that an annular gap is formed between the neck and the driveshaft tube. An inductor is provided about the driveshaft tube adjacent the end receiving the neck. The inductor is energized to generate a magnetic field for collapsing the driveshaft tube about the neck at a high velocity so that the driveshaft tube and the end fitting are welded to each other.

Abstract: A connecting clamp includes a heating member which surrounds a portion to be connected of a steel pipe and heats the portion to be connected, and a first clamp section and second clamp section positioned on opposite sides of the portion to be connected and clamping the steel pipe, whereby the portion to be connected is connected by heating the portion to be connected by the heating member while applying pressure to the portion to be connected by the first and second clamp sections. The first and second clamp sections and the heating member are so arranged as to be slid around the outer surface of the steel pipe from one side of the steel pipe to the other side thereof.

Abstract: A sealing device for sealing non-circular, in particular polygonal, for example tetragonal, hexagonal, octagonal or elliptical, container openings comprises one or a plurality of induction loops (11, 38, 41) for sealing purposes. Containers (2) comprise joined-on closure devices (3) with sealing discs (15) joined onto a sealing edge (14) of the container opening. The induction loops (11, 38, 41) are adapted to the shape of the sealing edge (14) and the spacing between the induction loop (11, 38, 41) and sealing edge (14) is constantly adjustable and selectable.

Abstract: Induction heating apparatus for use in welding an end of a first length of pipe (26) to the exterior surface of a second length of pipe (28), consists of heating assemblies (20, 24) each comprising at least one electrical induction coil (32, 36) wound on an annular, laminated, magnetic core assembly (30, 34). The lowermost surfaces of said core assembly (30, 34) define a saddle shape adapted to be seated on the exterior surface of said second length of pipe (28). The arrangement of the coils (32, 36) and the core assemblies (30, 34) is such that substantially all of the magnetic flux generated when the apparatus is seated on the pipe (28) and the coil is energised is contained within the core assembly and within the wall of the pipe (28). Advantageously, the core assemblies (30, 34) have E-sections profiles, the ends of the limbs of the E-sections comprising the lowermost surfaces of the core assemblies and the coils being wound about the central limbs of the E-sections.

Abstract: An actuation system preferably for mounting between front and rear clamping mechanisms in a pipe clamping apparatus as part of an internal backup ring system. The system includes a guide, a cam plate positioned adjacent to the guide and rotatable relative thereto, a drive mechanism coupling the guide and the cam plate such that actuation of the drive mechanism causes the cam plate to rotate relative to the guide about an axis of rotation, and a power source for driving the drive mechanism. A backup ring assembly, having a plurality of backup shoe units, may be associated with the cam plate such that rotation of the cam plate relative to the guide plate causes the backup ring assembly to move radially relative to the axis of rotation of the cam plate in order to engage or disengage the inner wall of a pipe. The system may also include auxiliary means for dislodging the backup ring assembly when at least one of the backup shoe units is stuck to the inner wall of the pipe.

Abstract: A method for joining well and other oilfield tubulars by amorphous bonding comprises the steps of positioning a body of amorphous material (16) between adjacent and surfaces of a pair of oilfield tubulars (3, 4) that are to be joined and using induction heating to melt the amorphous material and create on cooling a metallurgical bond between the tubulars (3, 4). Throughout the heating and bonding process the tubulars (3, 4) are fixed in axial alignment with each other using clamp means which include a mandrel (1) which is inserted into the interior of the tubulars (3, 4) so that the bonding process can be performed in a sealed chamber (17, 18) which is filled with an inert gas.

Abstract: A gas shield strip cladding welding system including a workpiece, a strip of welding material, an enclosure having an opening through which the strip of welding material passes, a feeder for controllably passing the strip of welding material into the enclosure through the opening, a gas delivery conduit connected to the enclosure so as to pass a shielding gas into the enclosure adjacent to the strip of material, and a power supply electrically connected to the strip of welding material and to the workpiece such that an arc is produced when the strip of welding material comes into close proximity to the workpiece. A mechanism is connected to the enclosure so as to move the enclosure continuously relative to the workpiece so as to deposit the welding material in a desired pattern. The shield gas includes an inert gas.

Abstract: A method for securing components of a vehicular driveshaft includes disposing a neck of an end fitting into the open end of a driveshaft tube. The end fitting is held with respect to the driveshaft tube so that an annular gap is formed between the neck and the driveshaft tube. An inductor is provided about the driveshaft tube adjacent the end receiving the neck. The inductor is energized to generate a magnetic field for collapsing the driveshaft tube about the neck at a high velocity so that the driveshaft tube and the end fitting are welded to each other.

Abstract: A method of joining two vehicle frame components made from dissimilar materials includes providing a first frame component, and providing a second frame component made from a material which is dissimilar to the material used to make the first frame component, where one of the first and second frame components is a metallic component made of a metallic material. A portion of one of the first and second frame components is positioned within a portion of the other of the frame components in an overlapping manner, thereby forming an overlapping portion. A metallic band is disposed around the overlapping portion, and an inductor is positioned around the metallic band. The inductor is energized to generate a magnetic field for collapsing the band about the overlapping portion at a velocity sufficient to magnetic pulse weld the band and metallic component to each other, thereby securing the first and second frame components together.

Abstract: A method for bonding or joining plastic or metallic pipe using induced energy is provided. A susceptor is placed between the two pipes to be joined and a magnetic flux is induced onto the susceptor. The second pipe may be a coupling device. The magnetic flux may be induced by a tank circuit or an induction heating gun. The induction heating gun may be formed with a hinged heating head. The susceptor may be a perforated metal ring or a wire coil. The susceptor is coated with a material compatible with the pipes, for example, a plastic adhesive material, magnetic flux is an induction heating gun having a hinged heating head.

Abstract: An induction heating generator is described for braze-welding metallic pipes with a continuous process under a controlled atmosphere, comprising at least one heating inductor composed of two half-inductors in series whose winding directions for their windings are one opposite to the other. The generator is further equipped with a quartz tube placed inside the inductors and in which the metallic pipes pass together with the controlled atmosphere gas. The generator further includes at least one removable sealing insert to join two contiguous inductors. For every medium- and/or high-frequency section of the generator, a load matching system is finally provided to compensate for external diameter variations of the pipes, the system being interlacedly handled by a programmable controller (P.L.C.).

Abstract: A method for heating pipes with closely spaced end portions that are to be joined by forge welding or the like. Two diametrically opposed contacts are attached to each end portion for supplying high frequency alternating current for resistance heating of the material in the respective end portions. The contacts for one of the pipes being located in close proximity to and substantially in the same axial plane as the contacts for the other pipe. The contacts for one of the pipes are arranged to form an angle (.alpha.) with juxtaposed contacts of the other pipe so that the projections of the juxtaposed contacts onto the axial plane intersect.

Abstract: An expandable tool for holding and aligning pipes to be welded together is disclosed. The tool includes an annual array of radially movable gripping elements for engagement with the interior wall of the pipes to be welded. A wedge is mounted for axial movement relative to the gripping elements to effect selective radial outward movement of the gripping elements to align and hold the pipes for welding. The gripping elements are provided with passageways for delivery gas to preselected zones between the gripping elements and the interior wall surfaces of the pipes in the regions to be welded.

Abstract: An expandable tool for holding and aligning pipes to be welded together is disclosed. The tool includes an annual array of radially movable gripping elements for engagement with the interior wall of the pipes to be welded. A wedge is mounted for axial movement relative to the gripping elements to effect selective radial outward movement of the gripping elements to align and hold the pipes for welding. The gripping elements are provided with passageways for delivery gas to preselected zones between the gripping elements and the interior wall surfaces of the pipes in the regions to be welded.

Abstract: An electro-fusion fitting includes a body, and a magnetic alloy member which is continuous in the axial direction is embedded in the vicinity of a joint surface of the body. A shield member is arranged on the outer surface of the body in a portion where a cold zone is to be formed. The joint surface of the body and a joint surface of a member to be joined are brought into contact with each other. When a high frequency current is applied to the magnetic alloy member from a high frequency power supply by electromagnetic induction in this state, the magnetic alloy member generates heat, so that the body and the member to be joined are fused, and joined to each other. Since the shield member shields the electromagnetic induction, the magnetic alloy member in a portion where the shield member is provided does not generate heat, so that the cold zone is formed in the portion.

Abstract: A method of maintaining the housing of a reactor pressure vessel having: a reactor pressure vessel into which cooling water is introduced; a cylindrical housing which penetrates an end bracket of the reactor pressure vessel; and a circumferential weld for securing the intermediate portion of the housing to the reactor pressure vessel by welding, the method of maintaining a housing of a reactor pressure vessel comprising the steps of: remaining the cooling water in the reactor pressure vessel; preventing leakage of the cooling water in the reactor pressure vessel through the housing by sealing the housing; making the inside portion of the housing lower than the seal to be a hollow space of a gas atmosphere; heating a heat affected zone due to welding by using a heating device inserted into the hollow space from a lower portion so as to compressive-yield the inner surface of the housing in the heat affected portion upper than the circumferential weld and tensile-yield the outer surface; and cooling heated porti

Abstract: The present invention provides an electric joining method of a body to be jointed including the butted portion of at least between electroconductive ceramics to be jointed or between an electroconductive ceramics and a metal to be jointed, whereby the body to be jointed is electrically jointed while the thermal stress generated at the ceramics materials to be jointed is eased. In the electric joining method according to the present invention, at least a pair of electrodes are brought to butt against the materials to be jointed holding at least one or more butted portions therebetween, with a joining agent interposed at the butted portions. Moreover, there provided are a first heating means for heating the materials to be jointed between the electrodes by Joule heat through impression of a voltage between the electrodes and, a second heating means for heating a part of said materials to be jointed and its vicinity where a large temperature gradient is formed only by the first heating means.

Abstract: A cylindrical wheel rim blank has a longitudinal seam defined by a pair of longitudinal edge portions each of which is clamped between upper and lower jaws of a respective clamping assembly. The two clamping assemblies are urged laterally together to press the two longitudinal edge portions together, and welding current is introduced at the seam through the lower jaws to effect the weld. The upper jaws are at the bottom of cantilevered horn members around which the rim blank is mounted. The lower jaws are urged upwardly toward the cantilevered upper jaws to effect the clamping function. Structure is provided to equalize the clamping pressure exerted against the upper jaw along the length thereof and, if desired, to introduce a bias into the upward pressure exerted through the lower jaw. There is a mechanism to provide different, predetermined spacings between the clamping assemblies as different steps in the operation. Circuitry is provided to produce a reversing, pulsating DC welding current.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming thin-wall tubing in a funnel die or with a series of sets of forming rollers. The tubing is then welded by a method and apparatus which includes simultaneous guiding of the both the inner and outer peripheries of the tubing during the welding operation by a mandrel and a sleeve, respectively, so that lack of rigidity of the tubing is not a limitation. The edges of the tubing are not clamped, but are allowed to "float" during welding. The resulting tubing is highly uniform. A wide range of tubing materials can be welded and thin-wall tubing of nearly any desired length or wall thickness can be produced.

Abstract: To make a container with a butt welded longitudinal seam, the side edges of a preformed blank are guided by straight grooves so that the side edges converge at an acute angle. At the point of convergence the side edges are heated to at least to the forging temperature, preferably by a focused laser beam. The side edges are then tangentially compressed before they cool.

Abstract: An apparatus for welding together coaxial tube sections which includes a main housing within which is located a through opening within which is to be located the coaxial tube sections to be welded. A welding electrode is mounted within the main housing to be rotatable about the tube sections to effect the welding procedure. The welding electrode is mounted on a deflectable welding electrode mounting member which is to be moved to cause the welding electrode to physically contact the tubes in the welding area and then to be movable to cause the welding electrode to assume a spaced position establishing the desired welding arc. The coaxial tube sections are snugly held in position through the use of a metallic clamping plate arrangement. This clamping plate arrangement has formed therein a series of slots which is to provide for increased expansion of the size of the through opening so as to permit mounting of the tube welder on a greater size variance of tubes to be welded.

Abstract: An internal chuck for use in the butt welding of tubes 16, 17 aligning the tubes and for bringing them into abutment comprises a central tube 6, a sleeve 7 slidable on the central tube and carrying centering means 12 and welding backup means 8, the centering means and the welding backup means being longitudinally spaced from one another, gripping means 2, and jaws 33 for clamping against the tubes. The jaws are displaceable longitudinally relative to the gripping means and central tube to draw the two tubes together and a jack 27 is provided for displacing the sleeve longitudinally relative to the central tube so that either the centering means or the welding backup means can be aligned with the ends of the tubes.

Abstract: The longitudinal edge portions of a cylindrical wheel rim blank are gripped by a pair of laterally spaced clamping assemblies each having a radially fixed inside clamping member and each having a radially movable outside clamping member adapted to clamp the blank against the inside member. After the rim blank has been clamped, the two clamping members of one of the clamping assemblies are pivoted laterally toward the clamping members of the other assembly to press the edges of the rim blank against one another preparatory to welding current being directed through the blank to weld the edges. A load cell detects the force applied to the pivoted clamping assembly and produces a signal which is used to monitor or control the force.

Abstract: Apparatus for internal welding of pipes is provided with an external mechanism for rotating a pipe to be treated and a car insertable into the pipe and operable within the pipe. The car which carries a welding equipment is rigidly mounted to a central shaft which is freely pivotally mounted by means of bearings in two subframes each of which carries a number of tread rollers which can be locked against the inner surface of the pipe, so that the subframes during the operation are rotated together with the pipe whereas the car hangs downwardly within the pipe.

Abstract: An internal apparatus for flash welding pipes together in end to end relationship both under factory conditions and in the field, for example in laying trunk pipelines, comprises an elongate supporting member carrying an axially movable clamping assembly with electrode jaws for clamping one pipe, an axially immovable clamping assembly with electrode jaws for clamping the other pipe, and a doughnut-type welding transformer. The welding transformer is disposed at the side of the axially immovable clamping assembly, which is distant from the joint. The axially immovable clamping assembly is mounted on the elongate supporting member in a manner to provide an annular clearance therebetween such that there are extending therethrough two coaxial contact tubes, which are electrically insulated from one another and connect the welding transformer with the electrode jaws, whereby in operation a welding circuit is established.

Abstract: A pipe resistance butt welding apparatus comprises a body with an elongated arrying member and two internal expanding clamps including current-feeding shoes. One of the clamps is rigidly attached to the body, whereas the other is movably mounted on the elongated carrying member and connected with a drive intended to communicate reciprocating motion to the other clamp. A trimming mechanism for removing flash is mounted on at least one of the internal expanding clamps. The body of the apparatus mounts centering supporting rollers and driving wheels, the former and the latter being secured thereto by means of spring-loaded levers. The driving wheels are connected with a rotation drive intended to rotate the wheels. The body carries a powder cylinder and spring-loaded three-arm rockers, the latter being turnably mounted. The first arm of each of said three-arm rockers carries a driving wheel, the second arm carries an additional supporting roller, and the third arm is connected with a rod of the power cylinder.

Abstract: A continuous lap-seaming electrical resistance welding machine for can bodies is disclosed. Two electrode units together define a welding passage, through which laps of sheet metal are passed for welding. Each of the electrode units comprises a band electrode running over an electrode roller having a stationary axis. A band guide roller spaced from the electrode roller(s) in continuation of the welding passage forms a straight-line section between the electrode roller(s) and the associated guide roller. Preferably the guide roller is disposed downstream of electrode roller relative to the direction of displacement of the laps through the welding passage.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a case with a carriage mounted on horizontal guides thereof which carriage supports two brackets provided with contact clamps. Under the brackets there is mounted a bath containing a cooling medium. At least one of the brackets is movable and is resiliently pressed in the direction opposite to the second bracket. A rod of a power cylinder is in contact with the movable bracket which rod serves only to put the brackets closer. The contact clamps are provided with mandrels to be inserted into a tubular workpiece.

Abstract: A multiple sheath cable for telemetry, heating and communications and methods of manufacturing such cable in long lengths with high tensile strength. The telemetry and communications cable may be of the wire type for conducting electrical signals or fiber optics for conducting laser or other optical signal, the conductors being typically insulated by mineral insulation material or organic insulation material. These insulated conductors are provided with concentric multiple layers of metal tubular sheaths having staggered weld joints for increasing tensile strength while protecting the conductors and the insulation from extreme environmental conditions such as heat, pressure and corrosion.

Abstract: A pipe resistance butt welding apparatus comprises a movable clamp and a fixed clamp to locate the pipes to be welded. Current-feeding shoes contact the ends of the pipes to be welded together. A device is provided for axially moving the movable clamp in fusing and upsetting the pipes. Both clamps and the device are mounted on an elongated supporting member. The shoes are carried by beams oriented along the supporting member and having bevels acted upon by drive rollers, whose axes are directed across the supporting member. The invention is useful for welding large diameter pipes.

Abstract: A welding machine for welding the longitudinal seams in wheel rim blanks which have been rolled into cylinders with the longitudinal edges of each blank forming a longitudinal gap includes a pair of clamping assemblies each having an inside member and an outside member for engaging the inner and outer surfaces, respectively, of the rim blank adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof on opposite sides of the longitudinal gap so as to align the longitudinal edges with each other. At least one of the clamping assemblies is movable relative to the other clamping assembly in a direction transverse to the longitudinal gap so as to permit the longitudinal edges of the rim blank to be pressed against each other. The longitudinal edges of the blank are pressed together in the transverse direction to close the gap and hold the longitudinal edges together during the welding thereof.

Abstract: A tube mill which employs circular rotating electrodes for welding the edge seam along with means within the continuous tube for rolling the welded seam. An arm extends into the tube and carriers a rotating roller that contacts the seam just downstream from the point where welding occurs. A connector affixed to the arm extends upward through the region between the converging edges of the strip to a pivot pin. An air cylinder is arranged to rock the arm about the pivot pin and force the roller upward against the undersurface of the hot seam close to the circular welding electrodes to produce a smooth surface. The upper section of the arm carries a pair of rotatable discs of different thicknesses which guide the converging edges of the strip into proper position for welding. The arm carries a pipe which directs fluid past the roller to blow weld spatter downstream while simultaneously cooling the roller.

Abstract: A large diameter rocket launch tube comprised of a pair of thin sheets wh are rolled and positioned in concentric relation with the seams disposed in spaced (180.degree.) relation. A pair of reinforcing weld strips are positioned inside the tube adjacent the seams, and a second pair of reinforcing strips are positioned inside the tube intermediate the first pair of strips. A bonding agent is spread on the inner tube and the tubes are assembled and spot welded prior to having the adhesive cured.