Apparatus for supporting backing member in enclosed structures

A system for welding a first plate of an enclosed structure, the first plate defining an opening therethrough, the system configured to be disposed within the enclosed structure, the system comprising:

• a backing member defining a first surface and a second surface distal to the first surface;
• and
• an apparatus for supporting the backing member, the apparatus comprising:
• a clamp member configured to abut the second surface of the backing member, wherein the first surface of the backing member is configured to abut the first plate;
• and
• a support member configured to rotatably support the clamp member, wherein the clamp member is rotatable about a rotation axis defined by the support member, the support member further configured to abut a second plate spaced apart from the first plate;
• wherein the clamp member is configured to be moved along the rotation axis relative to the support member and bias the backing member to contact with the first plate along the opening.

A method of supporting a backing member in an enclosed structure having a first plate and a second plate spaced apart from the first plate, the method comprising:

• defining an opening in the first plate, the opening having a longitudinal axis;
• inserting an apparatus, at a first orientation thereof, within the enclosed structure through the opening, the apparatus comprising a clamp member and a support member configured to rotatably support the clamp member, wherein, in the first orientation, the clamp member is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the opening;
• disposing the support member of the apparatus on the second plate;
• rotating the apparatus to a second orientation thereof about a rotation axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein, in the second orientation, the clamp member is oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the opening;
• inserting a backing member through the opening within the enclosed structure;
• aligning the backing member with the longitudinal axis of the opening to at least partially close the opening from inside of the enclosed structure;
• and
• rotating the apparatus about the rotation axis to move the apparatus to the first orientation thereof to support the backing member on the clamp member.