Gasless, Mechanized, Field-Welding Of Tubular Structure
AssigneePipeline Supply & Service, LLC
InventorsMarcus Cook, Peter Nicholson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method provide gasless, mechanized, field welding of an exterior of a tubular structure such as a pipeline, without the need for an enclosure. An embodiment consolidates some of the welding equipment on a skid for ease of transport to and from a remote worksite. The gasless weld may be achieved despite the presence of wind, by precisely controlling an arc voltage as disclosed. The footprint and weight of the system may be minimized, along with the associated labor, expense, and environmental impact otherwise incurred by conventional welding techniques using enclosures.
Claims20
A method of welding a tubular workpiece, comprising:
- suspending a helper station from a lifting arm adjacent to the tubular workpiece with a supply of consumable welding wire carried thereon;
- positioning a guide track about the tubular workpiece along at least a portion of the circumference of the tubular workpiece and securing a mechanized carrier to the guide track, with a gasless torch held by the mechanized carrier positioned adjacent to a weld path on the tubular workpiece to be welded;
- and
- feeding the consumable welding wire to the gasless torch and supplying a controlled voltage from a welding machine to generate an electrical arc between the consumable welding wire and the tubular workpiece, while moving the mechanized carrier along the guide track to weld along the weld path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.