Method of and apparatus for controlling a weld penetration profile with application of shielding gas in an inner region of a workpiece
AssigneeMicro Motion, Inc.
InventorGiorgi Kerecelidze
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of controlling a weld penetration profile on a workpiece (306) having an outer region and an inner region is described. The method comprises the step of applying energy to the outer region of the workpiece with a welder (302) to produce a weld pool (304). The method also comprises the steps of penetrating the workpiece (306) such that the weld pool (304) spans between the outer region and inner region, and also applying a shielding gas to the inner region at a pressure that provides a force that limits weld penetration. A corresponding apparatus is also defined.
Claims27
A method for controlling a weld penetration profile on a workpiece having an outer region and an inner region comprising the steps of:
- placing seals oriented proximate open conduit ends of the workpiece to form a predominantly sealed inner region that prevents shielding gas from escaping through the conduit ends, wherein gas may only escape a pre-welded abutment of the workpiece;
- applying energy to the outer region of the workpiece with a welder to produce a weld pool;
- penetrating the workpiece such that the weld pool spans between the outer region and the inner region;
- and
- applying a shielding gas to the inner region at a pressure that provides a force that limits weld penetration;
- measuring the pressure of the shielding gas within the inner region;
- comparing a measured pressure with a predetermined range of acceptable pressures;
- and
- adjusting the pressure of shielding gas within the inner region (338) to be within the range of acceptable pressures if the pressure measured falls outside the range of acceptable pressures to maintain a constant pressure of shielding gas within the inner region.
An apparatus (300) for controlling a weld penetration profile on a workpiece (306) having an outer region (336) and an inner region (338), comprising:
- a welder (302) configured to create a weld joint (334) from the outer region (336) of the workpiece (306), wherein the weld joint (334) penetrates from the outer region (336) of the workpiece (306) to the inner region (338) of the workpiece (306);
- seals oriented proximate open conduit ends of the workpiece to form a predominantly sealed inner region that prevents shielding gas from escaping through the conduit ends, wherein gas may only escape a pre-welded abutment of the workpiece;
- a gas supply (314) in fluid communication with the inner region (338) configured to provide a shielding gas to the inner region (338) of the workpiece (306), wherein a pressure of the shielding gas provides a force that limits weld penetration;
- and
- a pressure gauge (332) in communication with the inner region (338), wherein the pressure gauge (332) is configured to measure the pressure of the shielding gas present in the inner region (338);
- a valve (328) in fluid communication with the inner region (338) configured to adjust the shielding gas pressure within the inner region (338) by controlling the amount of shield gas provided by the gas supply (314);
- a system electronics (400) in communication with both the pressure gauge (332) and the valve (328), wherein the system electronics (400) is configured to receive a pressure signal from the pressure gauge (332) and adjust the valve (328) accordingly so to maintain a constant pressure within the inner region (338).
A method for controlling a weld penetration profile on a portion of a flowmeter having an outer region and an inner region, comprising the steps of:
- placing seals oriented proximate open conduit ends of the workpiece to form a predominantly sealed inner region that prevents shielding gas from escaping through the conduit ends, wherein gas may only escape a pre-welded abutment of the workpiece;
- applying energy with a welder to the outer region of the portion of the flowmeter to produce a weld pool;
- penetrating the portion of the flowmeter such that the weld pool spans between the outer region and the inner region;
- applying a shielding gas to the inner region at a pressure that provides a force that limits weld penetration;
- maintaining an approximately constant pressure of shielding gas within the inner region, wherein the pressure of shielding gas is between about 0.01 psi and 2.0 psi;
- measuring the pressure of the shielding gas within the inner region to generate a measured pressure;
- comparing the measured pressure with a predetermined range of acceptable pressures;
- and
- adjusting the pressure of shielding gas within the inner region to be constant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.