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The present invention provides a welding apparatus for forming a weld joint between abutting ends of first and second tubular members. The welding apparatus includes a housing having first and second sides defining an interior therebetween. The welding apparatus includes a welding electrode movably

The present invention provides a welding apparatus for forming a weld joint between abutting ends of first and second tubular members. The welding apparatus includes a housing having first and second sides defining an interior therebetween. The welding apparatus includes a welding electrode movably mounted within the interior of the housing and projecting toward the abutting ends of the first and second tubular members to thereby define an arc gap between the electrode and the abutting ends. The welding apparatus includes an electrical source for supplying welding energy to the welding electrode and a pressurized-gas source for supplying inert gas to the arc gap. The welding apparatus includes a chuck assembly secured to the first side of the housing and having a plurality of chuck jaws for frictionally engaging the surface of the first tubular member to thereby secure the abutting end of the first tubular member within the interior of the housing adjacent the welding electrode. The welding apparatus also includes a support tool for supporting the second tubular member such that the abutting end of the second tubular member is secured within the interior of the housing adjacent the welding electrode and the abutting end of the first tubular member. In one embodiment, the welding apparatus includes a motor in operable communication with the welding electrode such that the welding electrode is moved circumferentially about the abutting ends of the first and second tubular members to thereby form the weld joint.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for forming a weld joint between abutting ends of first and second tubular members, comprising:a housing having first and second sides, said first and second sides of said housing defining an interior therebetween, said first side of said housing defining an aperture adapted to at le

1. An apparatus for forming a weld joint between abutting ends of first and second tubular members, comprising:a housing having first and second sides, said first and second sides of said housing defining an interior therebetween, said first side of said housing defining an aperture adapted to at least partially receive the abutting end of the first tubular member, said second side of said housing defining an aperture coaxially aligned with said aperture defined by said first side and adapted to at least partially received the abutting end of the second tubular member; a welding electrode, said electrode movably mounted to said interior of said housing and projecting toward the abutting ends of the first and second tubular members to thereby define an arc gap between said electrode and the abutting ends; a chuck assembly secured to said first side of said housing, said chuck assembly having a plurality of slidable chuck jaws each having first and second ends, said first end of each of said chuck jaws defining a gripping surface for frictionally engaging at least a portion of the surface of the first tubular member such that the abutting end of the first tubular member is secured within said interior of said housing adjacent said welding electrode; means, in operable communication with said chuck jaws, for moving said chuck jaws to thereby urge at least a portion of each of said gripping surfaces into frictional engagement with the surface of the first tubular member; a support tool for supporting the second tubular member, said support tool attached to said second side of said housing opposite said chuck jaws such that the abutting end of the second tubular member is secured within said interior of said housing adjacent said welding electrode and the abutting end of the first tubular member; and second means, in operable communication with said welding electrode, for moving said electrode circumferentially about the abutting ends of the first and second tubular members, while the first and second tubular members remain fixed, to thereby form a weld joint.