Method for continuously welding a plurality of tubes disposed in multiple rows to a tube sheet
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorRobert E. Monley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A continuous tube welding method which locates each tube and then moves a welding torch in orthogonal X, Y directions to form a continuous weld over a plurality of tubes disposed in a plurality of rows. The tube location is indicated by a probe which also measures tube diameter.
Claims9
A method for continuously welding at least a portion of multiple rows of tubes to a tube sheet utilizing apparatus having a carriage into which an interchangeable probe and welding torch are placed, the carriage can be driven rectilinearily in X, Y and Z directions to encompass said portion of said multiple rows of tubes, said method comprising the steps of:
- placing the probe in the carriage and moving the probe into each tube to be welded to the tube sheet encompassed in said portion of said multiple rows of tubes;
- sending a signal to a controller indicating that the probe is within a tube to be welded to the tube sheet;
- recording at the controller the X, Y and Z position of the probe which indicates the X, Y position of each tube and the diameter of each tube;
- replacing the probe with a welding torch;
- and
- forming a continuous weld following a predetermined path which includes a predetermined number of locations disposed about the periphery of each tube having its X and Y positions recorded to continuously weld a plurality of tubes in multiple rows to the tube sheet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.