Method and apparatus for preheating in welding operations

Abstract

Apparatus for pre-heating tubular articles prior to welding and a method of using the apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a support for carrying tubular articles such that they can be rotated together about long axis of the articles. A heater has a heating head that can be placed adjacent a region to be welded. The articles can be rotated so the region to be welded passes the heating head and is thereby heated to enable it to be welded subsequently. The heater is typically an induction heater. The method of welding tubular articles comprises mounting the articles in the support of a pre-heating apparatus of a welding installation embodying the invention and rotating the articles such that a weld region passes adjacent to the heating head. Then a part of the weld region is welded after it has rotated past and has been heated by the heating head.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.