Method and device for welding together two bodies

• US 6,737,601 B1
• Filed: 12/03/2001
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allseas Group S.A.
• Original Assignee: Allseas Group S.A.
• Inventors: Kastelein, Maarten Willem, Kramer, Gerardus Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoner, Kiley
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kerns, Kevin P.
• Application Number:
  US09/890,725
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 219/61, 219/125.11, 219/125.12
• US Class Current: 219/61
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0216 Seam profiling, e.g. weaving, multilayer
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0286 with an electrode moving around the fixed tube during the welding operation
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1735 making use of several electrodes

Abstract

A method and apparatus for welding together two pipes or plates. The bodies to be welded are placed mutually in line against each other while leaving clear a weld groove. The weld groove is filled with more than one welding layer by a welding torch moved in a longitudinal direction of the weld groove, and wherein two welding layers are laid in one welding pass by two welding torches placed successively at a predetermined fixed distance in the longitudinal direction of the weld groove, so that a time-saving is achieved in the welding process.

Claims

1. Apparatus for welding together two pipes which are placed mutually in line against each other while leaving dear a weld groove, comprising a carrier for a welding torch guidable in a longitudinal direction of the weld groove, characterized by at least two carriers each having at least two welding torches lying successively in the longitudinal direction of the weld groove and wherein said welding torches lie adjacently side by side in the longitudinal direction of said weld groove.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said weld groove has outwardly diverging walls, and said two welding torches are comprised of a leading welding torch and a trailing welding torch characterized by means for moving at least each trailing welding torch reciprocally in a transverse direction relative to said weld groove.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said means are formed by a shaft pin driven for reciprocal sliding in each carrier and connected to at least said trailing welding torch.

4. Method for welding together two pipes which include

placing the two pipes mutually in line against each other while leaving clear a weld groove formed in the two pipes;

placing two carriers each having two welding torches successively at a predetermined fixed distance in the longitudinal direction of said weld groove;

moving said two carriers each having two welding torches in a peripheral direction relative to the two bodies such that said weld groove is filled with two welding layers in one welding pass by means of the two welding torches of said two carriers, said welding torches adjacent to each other.

5. Method of claim 4, wherein said weld groove has outwardly diverging walls and each of said two carriers has a leading welding torch and a trailing welding torch, and at least said trailing welding torch of each of said carriers oscillates as said weld groove is filled.

6. Method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said trailing welding torch is oscillated at a greater amplitude than said leading welding torch.

7. Method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said trailing welding torch is oscillated at a frequency differing from that of said leading welding torch.

8. Method for welding together two pipes as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said two carriers is moved over half a peripheral part of the said pipes per welding pass.

9. Method as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said two carriers is moved in a downward peripheral direction of the pipes per welding pass.