Orbital welding apparatus

In an orbital welding apparatus for welding ends of cylindrical components, the orbital welding apparatus including a housing defining a weld head configured to receive and rotate a rotor assembly about an axis, the rotor assembly carrying a welding electrode which extends radially inward toward the axis, the improvement comprising:

• a rotor in the rotor assembly disposed in the weld head, the rotor having an electrically conductive member disposed therein, the electrically conductive member being insulated by the rotor and being in electrical contact with the welding electrode.

A welding apparatus comprising:

• a housing defining a weld head, the weld head including a driver for rotating a received rotor assembly about an axis;
• and,
• a rotor assembly disposed in the weld head, the rotor assembly comprising a C-shaped insulating member, a C-shaped electrically conductive member, and a welding electrode, the insulating member being configured to receive the electrically conductive member therein, the welding electrode being carried by the insulating member and being in electrical contact with the electrically conductive member.