Abstract: A welding torch is rotatably mounted in a carriage. The carriage and welding torch are driven by motors and driveshafts mounted on a base to provide a light carriage which can be rapidly accelerated as the torch moves from tube to tube when forming a continuous weld encompassing the juncture of a plurality of tubes.

Abstract: Traveling carriage apparatus, adapted to travel along a track disposed about or upon an object, to carry a device such as a welding torch to do work upon the object or upon other apparatus supported thereby. The apparatus is hinged end-to-end, preferably having three hinged-together portions, the angularity at the hinges being adjustable so that the apparatus may travel along a track which is either curved or flat. The apparatus is supported by track-engaging sets of wheels at its opposite ends. A retractable drive wheel assembly is carried by one of the hinged portions of the apparatus.

Abstract: Track apparatus, consisting of a circular track adapted to be affixed end-to-end around a pipe, usually adjacent an end thereof, to support a carriage apparatus for travel about the pipe, welding equipment, or the like, being mounted on the carriage apparatus for use in welding the pipe to another pipe abutted end-to-end therewith, or for other similar purposes. The track is supported by circularly spaced crossbars each provided with inwardly projecting spring biased pins upon which the crossbars are supported. A latch device for affixing the ends of the track together is provided. The track has frictional engagement means around its outwardly facing surface for engagement by drive wheels of the carriage apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically welding corrugated membranes of a type in which a welding torch is mounted on a head attached to the welding apparatus proper by way of an arc gear segment and the arc gear segment is driven through a pinion gear, whereby the head is moved along the arc gear segment to control the position of the torch. The arc gear segment is driven for angular movement by a drive motor mounted in the welding apparatus proper, and the arc gear segment includes a pair of rotatable small wheels provided at the ends of the arc gear segment and a cord such as a chain or rope extended around the small wheels and along the arcuate teeth of the arc gear segment, the middle portion of the cord being securely attached to the head adapted to be movable along the arc gear segment, whereby when the arc gear segment is rotated, the head attached to the cord is simultaneously moved through an angle which is two times that of the arc gear segment.

Abstract: A friction welding apparatus for welding a pair of members in which the welding surfaces of the members are contacted under pressure with each other, relative circular orbit motion of the members producing friction therebetween thereby heating and melting the welding surfaces and the relative circular orbit motion being stopped to locate the welding surfaces in a predetermined position.

Abstract: Gas-shielded, arc welding apparatus for securing a tube to the sidewall of a pipe or the like and facilitating removal of the welding apparatus after completion of the weld includes a locating fixture adapted for clamping engagement with the pipe and for positioning a welding head with rotary guide means coaxially aligned with the tube, a welding torch assembly being supported for rotation upon the guide means and supplied with power during rotation for welding the tube to the pipe.

Abstract: A light-gauge metal container has a closure flange fixed to a container wall, to which a closure plug is detachably screwed. An inwardly projecting cylindrical neck is fastened to the edge of a closure flange receiving opening made in the container wall. The closure flange is inserted in the opening so that the inward ends of the flange and neck flushed with each other, with an annular face formed by the flushed flange and neck ends circularly edge-welded. In manufacturing the container, the closure flange is press-fitted in the receiving opening, with the annular face held in the horizontal position. The assembly is transferred to welding apparatus, and positioned roughly first, then exactly by mating the flange opening with a vertical reference shaft on the welding apparatus. The annular face is edge-welded by rotating a welding torch about the axis of the reference shaft.

Abstract: In the welding of tubes with bevelled ends without heels or root-faces, all the weldings beads are made from the outside of the tubes with the tubes being in contact with local gap not exceeding 2 mm. The first and second welding beads are made both by the up-hill method and the down-hill method with the axis of the welding torches at the same inclination to the normal or the radius of the pipe and the accuracy of welding is improved by the use of mechanical guiding means for the welding means comprising at least one roller which bears on the bevelled ends of the tubes adjacent the welding zone.

Abstract: Apparatus for locating a welding carriage track disposed about a pipe adjacent an end of the pipe, wherein a linkage actuated clamp is adapted to engage opposite edges of the track, and wherein a surface of the apparatus is adapted to engage the end of the pipe about which the apparatus is disposed at a fixed distance from the near edge of the track, whereby said surface may be firmly engaged against the end of the pipe to dispose the track at said fixed distance from the end of the pipe. The distance between the pipe end engagement surface and the near edge of the track is fixed, but the apparatus is adapted to be used with tracks of different widths.

Abstract: A compact automatic pipe welding apparatus having a base member separable into three sections and having a welding unit, detecting unit and a driving unit which are distributed on the circumference of the base member at an equal distance from one another is suitable for use in welding work in limited space, as is the case of installation or repair of pipings in nuclear or chemical plant. For enhancing the welding precision, ring gears are provided for interlocking a plurality of clamping means for securing the base member to the pipe stably.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing large tanks according to the "from the top and down" method, comprising manufacturing the roof of the tank first at ground level and then successively attaching generally cylindrical plates one below the other as the completed part of the tank is raised in stages. The plates each have lifting lugs which alternately cooperate with lifting units for successively raising the partially completed tank and with a guide rail which is used for guiding of a welding machine. The guide rail is preferably adjustably suspended relative to each lug so that the distance from the guide rail to the lower edge of the plate sweep, i.e. where the welding seam is to be made, can be precisely adjusted.

Abstract: A seal-welded pipe joint mechanically braced by a clamp for preferred use in handling toxic and radioactive materials is disclosed together with a process for joining the same. The joint comprises a pair of abutted male frustroconical skirts, each attached integrally to the pipe segments to be joined and confronting each other at opposed mating and finished surfaces which define a sunken ridge at their periphery. A uniform continuous seal weld of relatively slight penetration seals the opposed mating and finished surfaces at the ridge. The pipe joint is physically secured by a plurality of, for example, three female frustroconical segments forming a circumscribing collet which is circumferentially clamped to the skirt. When the collet is clampd over the abutted skirts with seal weld there between, the mating and finished surfaces are compressd together, relieving the seal weld of shearing and normal stresses.

Abstract: Arrangement for manufacturing spherical reservoirs from meridional petal-like flaps, wherein the base has mounted thereon a supporting frame for the reservoir, and, successively overlying this frame: a shaft for accommodating the lids of the reservoir and for rotating the latter in the process of its manufacture, and a welding unit accommodated on a support beam. The shaft is journalled on posts mounted on the base, for rotation about a horizontal axis, while the supporting frame has a curvilinear surface for the meridional flaps to be placed thereupon, the shape of this surface corresponding to the curvilinear surface of the meridional flaps, the frame being carried by vertical guides for motion therealong, to bring the meridional flaps to the lids of the reservoir. The support beam has arcuate guideways of a radius somewhat greater than that of the sphere of the reservoir, to accommodate the welding unit for motion along the guideways in the course of welding the reservoir.

Abstract: Method for controlling an automatic pipe welder is disclosed. In the automatic welder which requires remote control, welding conditions for butt welding pipes are stored and an actual joint geometry or groove shape is sensed. From signals relating to the stored welding conditions and the sensed groove shape, a control command signal in actual welding is produced to effect welding under an optimum condition. On the other hand, an arc condition at an actual welding point and a melting condition of a metal are monitored and displayed to modify the welding conditions in accordance with the monitored condition to control the automatic pipe welder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus suitable for use in the automatic welding of pipes. The apparatus according to the invention comprises a fixed part or rail band which is clamped around the pipe at a prefixed position and a moving part which is driven with an orbital motion along the rail band and supports a swinging welding torch, a welding rod feeding mechanism and a torch position adjusting mechanism. The swinging motion of the welding torch is produced by a pneumatic system which permits both the amplitude and the frequency of said swinging motion to be adjusted. It is also possible to produce high swing frequencies and various times of stoppage for the torch at the ends of the swinging motion.

Abstract: A subsea machine tool for preparing the end of a bare piece of pipe in a subsea location for receiving an overfitting coupling and includes a support assembly adapted for raising and lowering in a body of water. A pipe clamp is attached to each end of the support assembly for clamping the pipe. A split frame is supported by the support assembly for axial travel. A split ring gear assembly is supported by the frame for rotation therein and about the pipe section. The split ring gear is in the form of a spool assembly wherein an involute gear forms one flange of the spool and a face plate forms the other flange. The spool is supported about the exterior thereof by a split fixed ring which in turn is supported by the frame. The fixed ring has mounted thereon one or more hydraulic motors which are arranged for rotating the ring gear relative to the fixed ring. The face plate has mounted thereon for rotation therewith work means in the form of a milling machine.

Abstract: Holder for a welding head for carrying out welds on the innerside of a substantially closed body, said holder being in the form of an elongated member, the end portion of which is provided with a holding member for the welding head adapted to pivot from an axial position to a radial position, and wherein means are provided for controlling said holding member.

Abstract: An apparatus for bonding beam lead devices and flip chip devices onto mating conductive surfaces on a substrate or other surface and for bonding electrical leads to semiconductor devices and subsequently to mating conductive surfaces on a substrate or other surface, utilizing either thermocompression or ultrasonic energy. The bonding system of this disclosure includes a novel bonding tool having minute spherically shaped bonding surfaces which are caused by a novel pivoting mechanism to individually and successively bond each of a plurality of electrical leads in a complex wobbling motion which permits the bonding surfaces to trace an adjustable rectangular or other predetermined linear path around the periphery of the device. The system also includes a frequency modulated ultrasonic generator and a novel lead composite, developed for this apparatus.