Internal equipment for electron beam butt welding of two annular parts and utilization of such equipment

Internal equipment for the electron beam welding from the outside of two annular parts disposed in an axial extension of each other and having axial ends brought into abutment against one another in a connection region, said equipment comprising, in combination:

• (a) a metal ring having an outside diameter substantially equal to an inside diameter of said annular parts, said metal ring comprising a first part in the form of an incomplete annular element having a plurality of radially extending slots over a part of a width of said first part of said ring defining adjacent interconnected ring segments, two end surfaces between which said incomplete annular element defines a gap, and a key having an annular sector shape corresponding to a shape of said gap of said incomplete annular element;
• and
• (b) a device for maintaining and thrusting said metal ring against inner surfaces of said annular parts in said connection region and comprising a central support part and a plurality of arms of adjustable length having a radiating disposition around said central part, each of said arms comprising a first end part fixed to said central part, a second end part, a ring support carried by said second end part and in the form of an annular sector having an outer surface which has a radius substantially equal to the radius of said inner surface of said ring, and means located between said two end parts for extending and retracting each of said arms.