Apparatus for distributing cover gas in reduced-width groove during welding

An apparatus comprising:

• first and second components to be welded, said first and second components forming a groove;
• a welding electrode having a blade and an electrode tip at an end of said blade, said electrode tip being located in the groove;
• a filler material guide nozzle for guiding filler material to a location in the path of an arc from said electrode tip, said filler material nozzle having an outlet for the filler material at a distal end thereof, said outlet being located in the groove;
• a gas distribution tube for distributing gas in the groove, said gas distribution tube having an outlet for gas at a distal end thereof, said outlet being located in the groove;
• and
• a coil spring having one end connected to said distal end of said gas distribution tube.

An apparatus comprising:

• first and second components to be welded, said first and second components forming a groove;
• a welding electrode having a blade and an electrode tip at an end of said blade, said electrode tip being located in the groove;
• a filler material guide nozzle for guiding filler material to a location in the path of an arc from said electrode tip, said filler material nozzle having an outlet for the filler material at a distal end thereof, said outlet being located in the groove;
• and
• a gas distribution tube for distributing gas in the groove, said gas distribution tube having an outlet for gas at a distal end thereof, said outlet being located in the groove,
• wherein said gas distribution tube comprises a first porous wall having a relatively coarse-grade porosity and a second porous wall having a relatively fine-grade porosity, said first porous wall being nested inside said second porous wall.

An apparatus comprising:

• first and second components to be welded, said first and second components forming a groove;
• a welding electrode having a blade and an electrode tip at an end of said blade, said electrode tip being located in the groove;
• a filler material guide nozzle for guiding filler material to a location in the path of an arc from said electrode tip, said filler material nozzle having an outlet for the filler material at a distal end thereof, said outlet being located in the groove;
• a gas distribution tube for distributing gas in the groove, said gas distribution tube having an outlet for gas at a distal end thereof, said outlet being located in the groove;
• and
• a compliant gas dam located in the groove, wherein said compliant gas dam comprises a canted-coil spring filled with compliant material and a solid rod passing through said compliant material and extending along a portion of the length of said spring.

An integral filler wire guide nozzle and gas distribution pipe comprising:

• a gas inlet, a gas outlet, a channel connecting said gas inlet to said gas outlet, a filler wire inlet and a filler wire outlet, wherein said filler wire outlet is formed by an opening at a distal end of said pipe, and said gas outlet is formed by a circumferential opening in a section of said pipe removed from said distal end;
• and
• a fine-mesh screen covering said gas outlet
• wherein said filler wire outlet is designed to radially restrain a filler wire of constant cross section passing therethrough, and said channel having along its length a cross-sectional area greater than an area of said constant cross section of said filler wire.

A gas distribution system comprising:

• a tube having a gas inlet, a gas outlet and a channel connecting said gas inlet to said gas outlet;
• a conduit connected to said gas inlet;
• and
• a spring coil having one end connected to and in flow communication with said gas outlet of said tube;
• and
• an end cover connected to the other end of said spring coil.

An apparatus comprising:

• first and second components to be welded, said first and second components forming a groove;
• a welding electrode having a blade and an electrode tip at an end of said blade, said electrode tip being located in the groove;
• a filler material guide nozzle for guiding filler material to a location in the path of an arc from said electrode tip, said filler material nozzle having an outlet for the filler material at a distal end thereof, said outlet being located in the groove;
• and
• a plurality of mutually parallel channels for distributing gas in the groove, each of said channels having an inlet, an outlet and an axis, said axes of said channels being generally coplanar and said outlets being located in the groove, wherein said channels are formed by drilling or machining a monolithic block of material having a non-circular cross section.