Flux backup arrangement for circumferential welding

Abstract

A flux back-up assembly for a tank welding fixture is disclosed having a rotatable ring which supports a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extendible jacks for supporting and clamping hollow tank sections during welding of the sections in end-to-end abutting relation to form an elongated tank. The flux back-up assembly includes a continuous circular, flux receiving trough member formed of telescoping accurate sections attached to the extendible tank engaging ends of the jacks and adapted to telescope circumferentially whereby the continuous circular trough may expand or contract in diameter as the jacks are extended or retracted to accommodate tank sections of different diameters. A plurality of flux supply hoppers are carried by the ring at circumferential spaced points and are connected to the circular flux trough by conduits at points spaced from the hoppers whereby powdered flux from the hoppers is supplied to the trough member or returned to the hoppers by gravity as the ring is rotated during welding of the tank sections.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.