Abstract: A trailer shield assembly (10) having a housing (24) with an open lower side and a welding torch (12) mounted so that a welding tip portion (48) of the torch (12) extends through the lower side of the housing (24). A flexible gas guide (76) is affixed to a rear wall (74) of the housing (24) and has an interior (116) in communicating relation with a welding region (34) of the housing (24). A flexible shield gas manifold (90) having a plurality of spaced openings (92) therein is disposed in an upper region (110) of the gas guide (76) and is connectible to a source (11) of shield gas. A diffuser (112) surrounds the flexible manifold and serves to distribute shield gas in an even layer downwardly to cover a hot weld. A pair of openings (96) in the flexible manifold (90) communicates with a second gas manifold (32) disposed in an upper region of the housing (24), with this second gas manifold (32) being provided with an aluminum gas diffuser (30).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accomplishing an underwater weld joint with a welding electrode between a support and an element to be welded fast onto the support in which the element to be welded fast is insulated from the ambient water with a protection cover which is disposed tightly against the free surface of the element to be welded fast and through the wall of which cover the welding electrode rotating about its longitudinal axis extends is led during the welding operation against the edges of an opening in the element to be welded fast, towards the support.

Abstract: A method of welding studs inclusive of a bolt or the like to an underwater structure or a land structure in the rain or for mounting anticorrosive members, wherein the tip of the stud held by the welding gun is enclosed by a resilient, heat-resisting water sealing member and a gas generating agent is applied to the tip of the stud. The water sealing member is brought in contact with a base metal and an arc is generated by a current across the stud and the base metal so that the arc heat causes gas to be generated from the gas generating agent to force any water around the stud tip out of the water sealing member under a gas pressure, and then the stud is welded to the base metal in the absence of water.

Abstract: A method of mounting a thermocouple assembly on a surface of a metal member by fusion welding of the thermocouple assembly sheath to the metal surface whereby the welding operation can be entirely carried out from a remote location either in air or in an underwater environment. The method generally comprises: positioning the thermocouple assembly so that the axis of the sheath extends perpendicular to the surface of the metal member, pressing the thermocouple assembly against the surface of the metal member so that the outer end surface of the tip portion of the sheath contacts the surface of the metal member; and fusion welding the tip portion to the surface of the metal member by connecting a source of d.c. potential across the sheath and the metal member and passing a d.c. current through the metal sheath and the metal member for a desired period of time.

Abstract: Portable welding apparatus for use in underwater arc welding comprising a housing through whose wall extends a welding gun. The housing has an aperture for fitment over an item to be welded to a structure and the housing has a gas inlet for evacuation of water from the housing in use.The apparatus preferably includes a rotatable housing portion on a fixed base so that welding can be performed around items which are contained wholly within the housing, thereby ensuring a dry environment for the well under water.

Abstract: An improved system for underwater oxy-arc cutting of a work piece, and a unique cutting rod used in such cutting work. This rod has an outer ferrous metal tube which contains a metal liner, which liner may in turn be comprised of a plurality of metal wires spaced in a circular pattern along the inner circumference of the tube. Oxygen is passed through a central passageway within the tube near but less than at sonic flows to avoid arc bounce. DC current (200-400 amperes) flows between the rod and work piece to form an arc consuming the rod at a rate between about 0.09-0.20 inches per second. The cross-sectional areas of the tube and the wires are about equal and the central passageway is less than one-half of either the tube or wires in cross-sectional areas. The rod is made (non-thermic) by sealing the tube about the wires or by use of aluminum or copper wires. Optimized parameters in underwater cutting of the work piece is applied, i.e. cutting rate, oxygen consumption, current magnitude and rod consumption.

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: Method and apparatus for conditioning weakly to medium-active wastes through fused vitrification by means of electric electrodes for generating the melting heat. The wastes optionally with additive materials are filled into a cup-shaped melting crucible which contains at least two electrodes. The melting crucible is closed off at the top by a furnace hood which has current leads. Voltage is applied to the electrodes via the current leads until the melting crucible containing material to be melted has melted. The current leads are separated from the electrodes. The furnace hood is removed, and after the cooling down, the melting crucible is filled with inactive cement paste to produce a cover layer.

Abstract: An electrode comprising a base rod and a hard coating is coated with a powder coating comprising thermite, a gelling agent, and optionally particles of hard coating material that swells upon contact with water and forms a gelatinous coating upon use in underwater arc welding, and acts as an insulating, coating, and fluxing agent in underwater arc welding is disclosed.

Abstract: A plasma arc cutting apparatus includes an adjustment member adjustably supporting a cutting torch. A rod is mounted to the adjustment member at one end and to a water shield ring at the other end for supporting the water shield in radially spaced apart relationship around a portion of the cutting torch.

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: A gas metal arc welding torch has an integral optical system which images the weld puddle on the face of a fiber optic cable. A concentric torch configuration is disclosed having a slim profile filler wire guide that is removably mounted on the ring-shaped torch body and projects into the gas cup at an angle to the optical axis to minimize obstruction of important regions of the weld scene. The fiber optic cable is coupled to a video camera and a viewing system or controller; real time observation of the weld area is made and used to control the weld process.

Abstract: A transfer member is provided for welding apparatus wherein fluid is deposited about the weld area during the welding process and T-studs are automatically fed from a remote source to a welding gun. The transfer member comprises two tubular members, one disposed within the other, and sealed one from the other. Studs are transferred through the inner tubular members and fluid, in the form of gas or liquid, is transferred through the outer tubular member.

Abstract: An underwater arc stud welding system consists of a specially designed submersible stud welding gun which is connected, by means of an electrical umbilical to conventional stud welding equipment located out of the water. The stud gun employs a simple, corrosion resistant, stud lifting mechanism with only one moving part, which freely floods with water and thereby eliminates problems associated with increased ambient pressure and also employs a magnetic base and a grounded electrical safety shield.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arc-welding device for securing studs on metallic elements underwater, and comprising a head containing a chamber and of which the welding bead is obtained by means of a dielectric refractory ring placed around the base of the stud, wherein an annular space is provided between the stud and the ring and neutral gas is blown into the chamber through said space, to drive the water out of the chamber and keep up therein a gaseous atmosphere to facilitate the welding of the studs; the refractory ring is produced from borosilicate glass, rich in silica.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the production by means of an electrical resistance welding method, of grids formed from metal wires crossing over another. The grid wires are carried through between rows of cooperating electrodes and, under pressure, are welded together at the cross points of the wires by an electric current. Each cross point of the wires and the surfaces of the associated electrodes of the grid welding machine, which lie in the welding region, are subjected to the action of a liquid coolant to increase the life of the electrodes and reduce distortion of the grid due to the localized heating of the wires.

Abstract: An elongated hollow housing is attached to an inert gas arc welding torch in a position extending rearwardly of the electrode parallel to and trailing the direction of movement of the torch during welding, and a source of inert gas is coupled to the interior of the housing. The housing serves to distribute inert gas over a sufficient length of produced weld extending from and trailing the puddle of molten metal that said length of weld is protected with inert gas until it is cooled to a temperature at which is not adversely affected by atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen. The housing may be completely open at its side facing the work to be welded, or said side may be formed as a perforated wall. Also, said side may be contoured to substantially match the contour of the work to be welded.

Abstract: A tubular electrode for use in a cutting torch which is primarily used in underwater cutting operations comprising a cutting rod made from tubing produced by rolling and forming copper coated sheet steel into the tubular shape which acts as a carrier for a plurality of metallic rods.

Abstract: A liquid joint process which includes the steps of feeding a liquid in a clearance formed between an electrical contact for joint and a carrier and around a joint part for joining the electrical contact and the carrier; a step of holding the electrical contact and the carrier by an upper electrode and a lower electrode from both sides under a predetermined pressure; and feeding current between the electrical contact and the carrier through the upper and lower electrode.

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: In an apparatus and a method of at least partially suppressing oxidation of can components or the like during resistance roller welding with the aid of an inert gas, the steps include welding the can components to one another, so as to obtain a hot welding seam, supplying the inert gas to the hot welding seam so as to envelop it at least partially, and to create a region of the inert gas in contact with the surrounding atmosphere, so that oxidation of the hot welding seam is at least partially suppressed.

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: An improved welding fume and spark trap includes a cannister and an inlet and outlet plenum for connection with an air filtration suction system designed to remove soot, fumes, and other particles from a welding area. The trap includes an internal baffle for reducing the velocity of the air stream passing through the trap, in this way promoting settling of particles suspended within the air stream into water contained within a water chamber defined by the bottom portion of the cannister.

Abstract: A wet welding electrode, for manual arc welding underwater, has a coating containing at least one oxidizing agent such as iron oxide, for neutralizing the embrittling effect of nascent hydrogen, and its core contains at least one constituent, e.g. aluminum oxide, aluminum and nitrogen, or copper, which results in the presence of hardening components in the weld deposit.

Abstract: A welding wire comprising a hollow tubular portion of titanium metal and a core portion filling the tubular portion. The core portion is formed of compacted alloying powders selected from the group aluminum, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum and vanadium. The core portion may also include powdered titanium.

Abstract: A procedure is disclosed in the application, for carrying out arc welding under water or in otherwise difficult external conditions. In the procedure, there is introduced in the arc area or in its immediate vicinity, an auxiliary substance having the purpose to boost the ignition of the arc and its burning and to retard the cooling of the weld bead produced, so that the emergence of gases from the welded seam is promoted and the quality of the weld seam improves. The auxiliary substance used consists mainly of soap which is a salt formed by anions of a fatty acid, a fatty acid mixture or a mixture of fatty and resin acids and by metal cations or a mixture of such salts and which may in addition contain water and inorganic salts. Best results have been obtained by using for auxiliary substance soft soaps made of tall oil and which contain salts of both fatty acids, such as oleic and linoleic acid and of resin acids, such as abietic acid.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for treating, primarily cleaning, underwater surfaces of fixed or floating constructions for example, ships' hulls. In the method according to the invention, the treatment or cleaning device, which is rotatably driven by a motor, is wholly or partially insulated from the surrounding water by a medium which is fed to the vicinity of the device. The apparatus according to the invention includes a channel and a connection for supplying the insulating medium in the vicinity of the cleaning device.

Abstract: A method of welding the ends of submerged pipes in a gaseous atmosphere at any depth comprises isolating the ends of the pipes by introducing obturators therein and then introducing the pipe ends into an open topped receptacle which is capped with an underwater personal carrying intervention unit. The closed receptacle is filled with gas and then a sleeve is positioned between the ends of the pipes and welded to the pipes.

Abstract: A method for cutting or gouging a metal object submerged in a non-volatile liquid medium by establishing an arc between the consumable electrode and the workpiece to heat and melt the metal and simultaneously directing a stream of the liquid medium at the molten metal to impinge upon and carry the molten metal away from the arc and the workpiece. The inventive method replaces conventional oxy-arc underwater cutting methods.

Abstract: An improved purge unit is provided for establishing an enclosed zone around a weld area for retaining an inert gas. The purge unit is particularly advantageous when welding a branch pipe or pipe connection to a main pipe or header. The purge unit has a cone-shaped member which is inserted into an opening in the header through the branch pipe or connection and is then expanded to establish the enclosed zone around the inside of the weld area. An inert gas is then supplied through the purge unit into the zone and the cone-shaped member is subsequently collapsed and withdrawn after the weld is complete. An expandable tube is employed to expand the cone-shaped member and has a rod extending therethrough and connected to the member to provide greater stability for the purge unit.

Abstract: Apparatus for welding a stiffening member or the like to a plate in which a box is provided having an opening in one wall thereof through which the stiffening plate enters the box. A plurality of guides are mounted to the box for holding welding rods in proximity to the place where the stiffener is to be welded to the plate. A suction source is attached to the box for removing gases, fumes and other like materials produced during the welding operation and the box is positioned relative to the plate and the stiffener.

Abstract: Method for producing a container whose interior is substantially under atmospheric pressure, by a vacuum welding process in which the container is sealed by welding together under vacuum a plurality of wall components while maintaining an opening therein. The interior of the container is filled through the opening with a medium which is substantially under atmospheric pressure. The opening is made vacuum-tight by a first seal. The container interior is sealed from the outside by an additional seal in the form of a cover for the opening, which cover is welded to the container under vacuum. The cover borders on the outer face of the container in such a manner that the cover is welded to the container under vacuum along a line which extends at such a distance from the first seal that the sealing effect of the first seal is not adversely influenced.

Abstract: An aluminum coated carbon-graphite electrode for use in the air-carbon arc cutting and gouging process. Uniformly coating the electrode with commercially pure aluminum results in a lower operating noise level when the electrode is in use, a cleaner and safer work environment for the user and better performance than conventional electrodes. A further feature of the invention resides in lowering the operating air pressure in the torch when using the new electrodes to further reduce the operating noise level.

Abstract: A method is provided for teem-welding metals, preferably light metals, particularly aluminium and its alloys, in which the metal, during its introduction into a casting mould, is caused to form one or more metal jets which are directed as far as possible at right-angles to and concentrated against the surfaces to be melted of the workpiece or workpieces. There is used a mould of such volume and with such an arrangement of the workpiece or workpieces therein, that the desired melting is achieved with that quantity of metal which, as the process proceeds, accumulates in and fills the mould, which quantity constitutes all the metal introduced into the mould.

Abstract: A method for assembling successive ducts end to end with a pipe-line constituted by the assembled ducts comprising: providing inner equipments for said ducts each comprising means for vacuum-tight connection with the inside of a duct and means protruding from the duct for vacuum tight connection with the pipe-line; placing said inner equipments in each successive duct in an equipping station, connecting said equipment to the inside of the duct at both ends to close an inner vacuum tight space inside the duct; connecting said space to pumping means and evacuating said inner space by said pumping means while transferring said duct and inner equipment from said equipping station to a welding station; positioning said duct in alignment and abutment end to end with the pipe-line in said welding station; locking the duct in fixed position with respect to the pipe-line, sealingly connecting said equipment with the pipe-line inside the pipe-line, and sealingly connecting a vacuum tight welding chamber of a rotative w

Abstract: Apparatus for precisely positioning the seam on an end of a nuclear reactor fuel rod opposite from a welding electrode in a weld chamber. The circumferential seam is formed by abutting surfaces at the end plug-fuel tube interface, and it is important that the seam be located in an exact position relative to the welding electrode tip. This is accomplished by providing a stop member against which the fuel plug rests during the time an end plug is welded. The distances are chosen such that when the end plug is fully seated in the stop member, the electrode tip and seam will be located in optimum positions to effect the making of high quality welds. Open communication is established between the inside of the fuel rod and vacuum equipment which is used for evacuating the fuel rod of air or other gases during the welding operation through an axial passageway in the stop member.

Abstract: A torch for cutting metals and nonmetals underwater includes an electrode having a tube and a plurality of rods within the tube. Some of the rods are ferrous metal and a smaller number of them are a nonferrous metal selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, Ti, or alloys thereof. Oxygen and electrical power are supplied through the electrode at least to start the cutting with an ionized gaseous cone. The cone persists when power is removed and is terminated by stopping oxygen flow. An independently portable apparatus using the torch is disclosed.

Abstract: A tool for underwater welding comprises an open-mouthed bell with an axially extending electrode inside, part of that electrode being surrounded by a tube supplying gas under pressure from a pumping station floating on the surface. Another tube linking the bell with that pumping station supplies water under pressure to an annular chamber open toward an array of fluid-guiding blades carried by the bell. In one embodiment, the bell is rotatably mounted and carries the blades on its outer surface, being set in rotation by the oncoming flow; in another embodiment, the bell is stationary and the blades are arranged on its inner surface whereby the water swirls in a film along that surface. In either case the circulating water forms a vortex that passes along the bell periphery and around the bell mouth which is slightly spaced from the workpiece to be welded, the resulting centrifugal forces preventing the entry of surrounding water into the bell whereby a gaseous atmosphere is maintained in its interior.

Abstract: A system for welding the ends of submerged pipes in a gaseous atmosphere at any depth comprises isolating the ends of the pipes by introducing obturators therein and then introducing the pipe ends into an open topped receptacle which is capped with an underwater personal carrying intervention unit. The closed receptacle is filled with gas and then a sleeve is positioned between the ends of the pipes and welded to the pipes.

Abstract: Submerged percussion welding is disclosed wherein the parts to be welded are in intimate contact with a liquid, such as water, during explosion and vaporization of the arc starter therebetween. In preferred form, one part is mounted to a stationary bottom electrode around which a movable water tank is raised to immerse the part. The other part, mounted to a movable top electrode, is brought into contact with the first part and the weld is completed under water.

Abstract: In underwater arc welding in a chamber filled with gas a consumable flux cored arc welding wire is fed to a welding torch and an arc is struck between the wire and the work to be welded so as to effect transfer of weld metal from the wire to the work. The arc welding wire contains at least one strong deoxidizer selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminium, zirconium, titanium, barium, lithium and calcium. A shielding gas is fed to the torch and emerges therefrom as an annular curtain of gas which shields the arc. The shielding gas also helps stabilize the arc from the effects of underwater pressure. The shielding gas comprises at least one oxygen-containing gas selected from oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: An underwater cutter for submerged pipelines employing O.sub.2 or gaseous hydrogen fluoride and a continuously fed electrode to provide high temperature cutting means, said electrode being carried by a motor driven spool in a housing on rollers contacting the pipe, one of said rollers being electrically driven, an adjustable bracket carried by the housing and having rollers substantially opposed to the first mentioned rollers, a knife edge carried by the housing adapted to ride in a precut slot on the pipe for guiding the cutter about the pipe, with suitable connections on the housing from a power source, a compressed air source, a source of O.sub.2 or gaseous hydrogen fluoride, a welding cable, and a ground connection.

Abstract: In a method of arc welding under water or at superatmospheric pressure (or both) the weld is made in a chamber containing a gaseous atmosphere. The weld metal is deposited from flux-cored welding wire whose core contains strong deoxidant(s) such as aluminium, magnesium, titanium, zirconium, lithium and calcium. A shielding gas containing a selected proportion of oxygen or oxygen-containing gas but consisting mainly of an inert gas such as argon or helium is employed to surround the arc. The shielding gas is constituted by the atmosphere in the chamber.

Abstract: A waterproof electrode useful in metal-working is obtained by coating the ectrode with a polyolefin selected from the class consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene and mixtures thereof at a thickness from 0.25 cm to 0.80 cm by a method which comprises placing the electrode inside a polyolefinic heat-shrinkable tubing of a length sufficient to cover at least 0.6 cm of the bare metal of an electrode with a flux coating and sufficient to extend at least 0.8 cm beyond the electrode and with a diameter and a shrinkability sufficient to bring the polyolefin in contact with the bare metal of a flux-coated electrode.

Abstract: In a method of welding together two submerged pipe ends, the pipe ends are spaced apart and introduced through orifices into a receptacle by which they can be isolated from the surrounding medium. The spaced pipe ends are connected by a connection sleeve and after isolation are welded to the connection sleeve.

Abstract: An underwater cutting and welding torch wherein the torch head carries both the welding electrode and means for directing a high pressure fluid toward an arc struck between the electrode and a workpiece. The high pressure fluid preferably is the water in which the torch is being operated.

Abstract: A laser beam is directed towards a workpiece immersed beneath the surface of a liquid coolant. An exothermically reactive gas is directed through the liquid coolant to the workpiece under sufficient pressure and velocity to sweep away a sufficient amount of the liquid coolant to expose part of the workpiece to the laser beam for cutting.

Abstract: A plunger placed through an opening in a heat pipe enclosure is heated to a temperature above the saturation temperature of the working fluid in the heat pipe to prevent the fluid from condensing across the gap between the plunger and the opening and to allow non-condensible gases to escape. Thereafter, the plunger is melted to seal the heat pipe. The plunger and at least that part of the heat pipe with the opening therethrough are made from the same materials.

Abstract: An underwater pipeline is repaired by cutting away a defective section thereof and replacing the defective section with another length of pipe. The replacement is joined to the exposed ends of the pipeline by welded ball-and-socket joints. Those welds that it is necessary to perform under water are made in a gaseous environment created in a chamber having an open base through which water may be displaced by gas and at least one transparent side panel which is displaceable to form a gap in the side of the chamber. A diver may insert a welding gun or welding rod through this gap. The chamber has outer tubular flanges which receive the lengths of pipe extending through the chamber. Tubular members of flexible or elastomeric material are used to seal each flange to the length of pipe passing there through. Each tubular member of flexible or elastomeric material is positioned around the flange and length of pipe which it is to seal.

Abstract: Method of joining fuel rod end caps and cladding tubes by resistance pressure welding within a welding chamber. A welding device is brought into engagement with an end portion of a rigidly mounted cladding tube. An opening chuck as well as a divided welding electrode, both of which are mounted at one side of the welding chamber, are shifted along a predetermined length of the cladding tube end portion. The chuck and the divided welding electrode are brought into contact with the cladding tube end portion. Another welding electrode carrying and end cap is thrust into the welding chamber from the other side thereof so that the end cap is fed to the open end of the cladding tube end portion. The welding chamber is sealed by sealing members sealingly engaging the cladding tube end portion and the other welding electrode and then the interior of the welding chamber is evacuated and filled with protective gas. The end cap is pressed onto the open end of the cladding tube end portion.