Patent US3558846A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3558846A
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US
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Method of and apparatus for constructing substantially circular cross section vessel by welding
Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1967-03-15
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Granted: 1971-01-26
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Expires: 1987-03-15
Abstract
Abstract A thick-walled, substantially circular cross section vessel, such as a pressure vessel, is fabricated solely from deposited weld metal. Formation of the vessel is effected by the progressive deposition of molten weld metal to form a continuous helical strip whose axially adjacent convolutions are contiguous, with the deposited molten weld metal being progressively deposited along, and solidified in contact with, already solidified metal so that the heat of the freshly deposited molten weld metal can be utilized to heat treat progressively the solidified metal along which the molten metal is progressively deposited. The deposited weld metal is force cooled immediately after deposition and the convolutions are progressively mechanically trimmed, to preset inner and outer diameters, immediately after they are formed. The apparatus includes a turntable type of support rotated, relative to the source of molten weld metal, about the axis of the tubular body to be formed. During such rotation, the source of molten weld metal is moved progressively parallel to such axis so as to form the aforementioned helical strip by conjoint rotation of the support and of the body as it is formed and axial displacement of the source of weld metal. The support may be mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, in which case the support is moved axially at a rate coordinated with its rate of rotation. Alternatively, the support may be rotated about a vertical axis and, in such case, the source of molten weld metal is moved upwardly as the vessel wall is formed. Various welding processes may be used for depositing the weld metal, and among these may be mentioned electroslag welding, SIGMA welding, submerged arc welding and TIG welding.
Inventors
- 👤 Akira Ujiie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:23
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/42; G05B19/4202; G05B19/4207; B; B23; B23K; B23K25/00; B23K25/005; B23K9/00; B23K9/04; B23K9/044; B23K9/046; B23K9/048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of constructing a large diameter, self-supporting pressure vessel having a relatively thick wall of uniform thickness throughout and having a substantially circular cross section body, comprising the steps of progressively depositing molten weld metal to form a continuous helical metal strip of constantly uniform width whose axially adjacent convolutions are contiguous, the fresh molten weld metal being progressively deposited along, and solidified in contact with, only already solidified deposited weld metal deposited immediately prior to the deposition of the fresh molten weld metal; utilizing the heat of the freshly deposited weld metal to heat treat progressively the solidified metal along which the fresh molten metal is progressively deposited; continuing the formation of the helix until a circular cross section self-supporting body of a preselected axial length is formed solely by the deposited weld metal which constitutes the entire thickness of the wall of the vessel; and, as the successive convolutions solidify during formation of the vessel, progressively mechanically trimming the radially inner and outer surfaces of the successive still hot weld metal convolutions at a speed substantially equal to the speed of deposition thereat to obtain predetermined inner and outer diameters of the body being formed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of constructing a large diameter, self-supporting pressure vessel having a relatively thick wall of uniform thickness throughout and having a substantially circular cross section body, comprising the steps of progressively depositing molten weld metal to form a continuous helical metal strip of constantly uniform width whose axially adjacent convolutions are contiguous, the fresh molten weld metal being progressively deposited along, and solidified in contact with, only already solidified deposited weld metal deposited immediately prior to the deposition of the fresh molten weld metal; utilizing the heat of the freshly deposited weld metal to heat treat progressively the solidified metal along which the fresh molten metal is progressively deposited; continuing the formation of the helix until a circular cross section self-supporting body of a preselected axial length is formed solely by the deposited weld metal which constitutes the entire thickness of the wall of the vessel; and, as the successive convolutions solidify during formation of the vessel, progressively mechanically trimming the radially inner and outer surfaces of the successive still hot weld metal convolutions at a speed substantially equal to the speed of deposition thereat to obtain predetermined inner and outer diameters of the body being formed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, in which the molten weld metal is deposited as a continuous helical strip by rotation and axial displacement of the circular cross section body, which is being formed of the deposited metal, relative to the supply of molten weld metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, in which the molten metal is deposited as a continuous helical strip by rotating the body being formed while maintaining it fixed against axial displacement and by shifting the supply of molten weld metal axially of the body being formed at a rate coordinated with the angular velocity of the body being formed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, in which the deposited molten weld metal, which is still at a red heat, is force-cooled.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, in which the molten weld metal is deposited by a SIGMA welding process.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, in which each convolution of the helix has, in the solidified condition, a width of from 30 mm. tO 50 mm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for constructing a large diameter self-supporting pressure vessel having a relatively thick wall, of uniform thickness, and having a substantially circular cross section body, said apparatus comprising, in combination, supporting means operable to support the body only during formation thereof solely from deposited molten weld metal, said supporting means constituting the sole support for the deposited molten weld metal during formation of the body; molten weld metal depositing means positioned initially adjacent a body supporting surface of said supporting means; electric welding apparatus operable to supply molten weld metal to said depositing means; means operable to effect coordinated relative rotation and relative axial displacement of said supporting means and said depositing means, whereby molten weld metal is progressively deposited to form a continuous helical strip of constantly uniform width whose axially adjacent convolutions are contiguous, with the freshly deposited molten weld metal being progressively deposited along, and solidified in contact with, only already solidified deposited weld metal; and means operable to substantially solidify the deposited weld metal immediately after its deposition; said molten metal depositing means comprising a water-cooled turn dish arranged to receive weld metal from said electric welding apparatus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
192 words
Apparatus for constructing a large diameter self-supporting pressure vessel having a relatively thick wall, of uniform thickness, and having a substantially circular cross section body, said apparatus comprising, in combination, supporting means operable to support the body only during formation thereof solely from deposited molten weld metal, said supporting means constituting the sole support for the deposited molten weld metal during formation of the body; molten weld metal depositing means positioned initially adjacent a body supporting surface of said supporting means; electric welding apparatus operable to supply molten weld metal to said depositing means; means operable to effect coordinated relative rotation and relative axial displacement of said supporting means and said depositing means, whereby molten weld metal is progressively deposited to form a continuous helical strip of constantly uniform width whose axially adjacent convolutions are contiguous, with the freshly deposited molten weld metal being progressively deposited along, and solidified in contact with, only already solidified deposited weld metal; and means operable to substantially solidify the deposited weld metal immediately after its deposition; said molten metal depositing means comprising a water-cooled turn dish arranged to receive weld metal from said electric welding apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, including mechanical metal removal means engaging the successive still hot weld metal convolutions of the helix on the radially inner and outer surfaces thereof immediately after solidification thereof to trim the body to predetermined inner and outer radii.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, in which said supporting means comprises a wheeled carriage; rails supporting said carriage for longitudinal movement; a pedestal on said carriage; a frame rotatably mounted on said pedestal for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis and serving as a starting surface on which weld metal is deposited to form said body; a stationary supporting stand adjacent one end of said rails and facing said frame; said molten weld metal depositing means and said electric welding apparatus being mounted on said supporting stand; first driving means operable to rotate said frame; and second driving means operable to move said carriage along said rails away from said fixed supporting stand; said first and second driving means operating in coordination to effect axial displacement of said frame and concurrent rotation thereof in accordance with the pitch of the helical strip of deposited weld metal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
138 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, in which said supporting means comprises a fixed support; a frame rotatably mounted on said fixed support for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, said frame serving for initial deposition of molten weld metal thereon to initiate formation of the tubular body; a supporting stand adjacent said fixed support; said metal depositing means and said welding apparatus being vertically displaceably mounted on said supporting stand; first driving means operable to rotate said frame; and second driving means operable to move said weld metal depositing means and said welding apparatus conjointly upwardly of said fixed supporting stand; said first and second driving means effecting rotation of said frame and upward movement of said weld depositing means and said electric welding apparatus at a rate coordinated with the pitch of said continuous helical strip.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, in which said means for effecting substantial solidification of the deposited molten weld metal comprises a force cooling means operable on the metal deposited from said depositing means immediately after the metal has been deposited therefrom and while it is still at a red heat.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of constructing a large diameter, self-supporting pressure vessel having a relatively thick wall of uniform thickness throughout and having a substantially cIrcular cross section body, comprising the steps of progressively depositing molten weld metal to form a continuous helical metal strip of constantly uniform width whose axially adjacent convolutions are contiguous, the fresh molten weld metal being progressively deposited along, and solidified in contact with, only already solidified deposited weld metal deposited immediately prior to the deposition of the fresh molten weld metal; utilizing the heat of the freshly deposited weld metal to heat treat progressively the solidified metal along which the fresh molten metal is progressively deposited; continuing the formation of the helix until a circular cross section self-supporting body of a preselected axial length is formed solely by the deposited weld metal which constitutes the entire thickness of the wall of the vessel; and, during formation of the vessel, progressively mechanically trimming the radially inner and outer surfaces of the successive convolutions to obtain predetermined inner and outer diameters of the body being formed; the molten weld metal being provided by an electroslag welding process.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of constructing a large diameter, self-supporting pressure vessel having a relatively thick wall of uniform thickness throughout and having a substantially cIrcular cross section body, comprising the steps of progressively depositing molten weld metal to form a continuous helical metal strip of constantly uniform width whose axially adjacent convolutions are contiguous, the fresh molten weld metal being progressively deposited along, and solidified in contact with, only already solidified deposited weld metal deposited immediately prior to the deposition of the fresh molten weld metal; utilizing the heat of the freshly deposited weld metal to heat treat progressively the solidified metal along which the fresh molten metal is progressively deposited; continuing the formation of the helix until a circular cross section self-supporting body of a preselected axial length is formed solely by the deposited weld metal which constitutes the entire thickness of the wall of the vessel; and, during formation of the vessel, progressively mechanically trimming the radially inner and outer surfaces of the successive convolutions to obtain predetermined inner and outer diameters of the body being formed; the molten weld metal being provided by an electroslag welding process.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-25 | 1974-07-27 | 1975-01-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-25 | 1978-07-27 | 1979-01-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-25 | 1982-07-27 | 1983-01-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |