The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 20, 1979
Filed:
Feb. 03, 1976
George J Merrick, Franklin, TN (US);
George E Cook, Brentwood, TN (US);
Donald D Modglin, Nashville, TN (US);
Merrick Welding International, Inc., Nashville, TN (US);
Abstract
Apparatus for rapid and automatic welding of joints which interconnect sections of pipe, and in particular oil or gas transmission pipe. The system includes at least one torch transport assembly which simultaneously moves a plural number of welding torches along a path parallel to the pipe joint being welded. The torch transport assembly includes track segments which surround circumferential portions of the pipe joint, with a welding torch carrier and multiple torches being independently movable along each track segment. The torch transport assembly is mounted on a support apparatus which is rigidly clamped to the pipe sections during welding, and which permits the torch transport assembly to be rapidly positioned in rough alignment with a pipe joint. The torch transport assembly and selected operating parameters of each welding torch are adjusted to accurately position each torch with respect to the pipe joint, and to repeatably provide programmed welding parameters resulting in a uniform pipe joint weld. The present system is disclosed in the context of hot-wire gas-tungsten arc welding torches, and in the operating environment of out-of-position joint welding.