Lawrence D Koltz

US Patent:

40847390, Apr 18, 1978

Filed:

Feb 28, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/772913

Inventors:

Lawrence D. Koltz - Colgate WI
Herbert E. Pritzlaff - Brookfield WI

Assignee:

Wisconsin Centrifugal, Inc. - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

B23K 1302
B23P 1900

US Classification:

228168

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for concentrically and radially aligning and welding together two tubular metal components, such as a metal pipe or tubing, and a tubular flanged member, or two or more metal pipes or tubings. The adjacent end wall portions of the two tubular metal components are positioned against each other in contiguous or abutting relationship; a segmented generally cylindrical or tubular mandrel or split sleeve unit, embodying component radial segments, and having an inflatable elastic tubular member or boot arranged therein, is inserted into the segmented tubular mandrel or split sleeve unit; the inflatable elastic tubular member or boot is then inflated to expand the component radial segments of the segmented tubular mandrel or split sleeve unit radially outwardly against the internal surfaces of the tubular metal components to position and hold them in properly mated or concentrically axially and radially aligned position and in contiguous or abutting relationship with and relative to each other; the contiguous or abutting end wall portions of the tubular metal components are then preliminarily or tack-welded together from outside the tubular metal components while a stream of argon, or other inert gas, is discharged radially outwardly into the weld area from within the segmented tubular mandrel into the weld area during the preliminary or tack-welding operation to insure an oxide-free preliminary or tack-weld joint; the inflated elastic tubular member or boot is then partially deflated, and the segmented tubular mandrel or split sleeve unit and the deflated elastic tubular member or boot are withdrawn from the thus preliminarily or tack-welded tubular metal components; and the welding operation is then completed by filling in the weld area with weld metal from outside the tubular metal components while a stream of argon or other inert gas is blown into the weld area from the welding head to assure an oxide-free completed weld joint.