Gas metal arc welding apparatus for repairing misaligned tube holes

A gas metal arc welding apparatus for repairing relatively small diameter tube holes, including:

• a bearing assembly having a rotatable pulley;
• power means to rotate the pulley;
• a welding torch supported by the bearing assembly for relative rotation therebetween and defining a longitudinally extending wire conduit;
• a torch restraint for preventing rotation of the welding torch;
• a nozzle assembly having
• electrically conductive guide means defining a tubular passageway including a curved portion for directing the consumable wire toward the tube hole sidewall as the wire exits the nozzle assembly,
• a gas nozzle annularly encircling the guide means for directing an inert gas into the tube hole, and
• insulating means for thermally protecting the lower part of the guide means and for electrically insulating the guide means from the gas nozzle and the tube hole sidewall;
• a connecting assembly having
• an outer body secured to the bearing assembly for unitary rotation therewith and connected to the welding torch for relative rotation therebetween, surfaces of the outer body defining a gas bore for transmitting the inert gas from the welding torch to the gas nozzle,
• a sealing member disposed between the welding torch and the surfaces defining the gas bore for preventing the inert gas from passing therebetween,
• means for connecting the gas nozzle with the outer body for supporting the gas nozzle, and
• means disposed within the gas bore for rotatably connecting the guide means with the welding torch for transmitting the consumable wire and conducting an electric current therebetween, and
• a vertical drive mechanism for vertically passing the nozzle assembly through the tube hole at a controlled rate.