Nozzle welder

Claim 2

A self supported nozzle welder for welding a nozzle that has been tack welded in the wall of a cylindrical vessel having an opening for receiving an end of the nozzle and forming therewith a weld groove of substantial depth comprising: a. a drive shaft; b. means rigidly supporting said drive shaft in upright position on an end of said nozzle; c. an elongate, vertical housing surrounding said drive shaft and supported thereby for axial rotation; d. drive means operatively connecting the drive shaft with said housing for rotating the housing; e. a horizontal arm secured at one end to said housing and extending laterally from said housing for rotation therewith; f. an upright welding head support member carried by said horizontal arm between the ends thereof; g. a welding head carried by the lower end of said upright welding head support member; and h. means for moving said welding head support member horizontally along said horizontal arm and means for moving said welding head support member in an upward or downward position relative to said horizontal arm to orient and maintain said welding head in proper welding position in said weld groove as said nozzle welder rotates about its said drive shaft.

Claim 3

The nozzle welder of claim 1, including means pivotally mounting the upright welding head support member on a horizontal axis for moving said welding head toward and away from the axis of said nozzle, and means securing said welding head support member in any one of a number of adjusted positions.

Claim 4

The nozzle welder of claim 1 wherein said drive means includes a sun gear stationarily mounted on the upper end of said rigidly supported drive shaft, a motor supported by said housing, and planetary gearing carried by said housing operatively connected with said motor and engaging said sun gear for planet-wise movement thereabout to rotate said housing axially about said rigidly supported drive shaft.

Claim 5

The nozzle welder of claim 1, including clamping means rigidly securing said drive shaft on the outer end of said nozzle to locate said nozzle welder outside said cylindrical vessel for external welding of said nozzle to said cylindrical vessel.

Claim 6

The nozzle welder of claim 1, including clamping means rigidly securing said drive shaft on the inner end of said nozzle to locate said nozzle welder inside said cylindrical vessel for internal welding of said nozzle to said cylindrical vessel.

Claim 7

A nozzle welder for welding the circular base of a nozzle in an opening in the wall of a cylindrical pressure vessel, the nozzle base and pressure vessel forming bEtween them a welding groove of substantial depth, comprising a. a drive shaft; b. means rigidly and removably supporting said drive shaft in vertical position on an end of said nozzle; c. an elongated, vertical housing surrounding said drive shaft and supported thereby for rotation about the axis of said shaft; d. drive means including a motor mounted on said housing operatively connecting said drive shaft with said housing for rotating the housing; e. a horizontal arm secured at one end to said housing and extending laterally from said housing for rotation therewith; f. a first carriage mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement along said horizontal arm; g. a second carriage carried by said first carriage for movement therewith; h. an upright elongated welding head support member mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in said second carriage; i. a welding head carried by the lower end of said upright welding head support member; and j. means for moving said first carriage along said horizontal arm and means for moving said welding head support member vertically in said second carriage to orient and maintain said welding head in said weld groove as said nozzle welder rotates about its said drive shaft.

Claim 8

A nozzle welder for welding the circular base of a nozzle in an opening in the wall of a cylindrical pressure vessel, the nozzle base and pressure vessel forming bEtween them a welding groove of substantial depth, comprising a. a drive shaft; b. means rigidly and removably supporting said drive shaft in vertical position on an end of said nozzle; c. an elongated, vertical housing surrounding said drive shaft and supported thereby for rotation about the axis of said shaft; d. drive means including a motor mounted on said housing operatively connecting said drive shaft with said housing for rotating the housing; e. a horizontal arm secured at one end to said housing and extending laterally from said housing for rotation therewith; f. a first carriage mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement along said horizontal arm; g. a second carriage carried by said first carriage for movement therewith; h. an upright elongated welding head support member mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in said second carriage; i. a welding head carried by the lower end of said upright welding head support member; and j. means for moving said first carriage along said horizontal arm and means for moving said welding head support member vertically in said second carriage to orient and maintain said welding head in said weld groove as said nozzle welder rotates about its said drive shaft.

Claim 9

The nozzle welder of claim 6, including means pivotally mounting said second carriage to said first carriage on a horizontal axis for swinging said upright welding head support to any one of a number of adjusted positions for varying the radius of the circular orbit of rotation of said welding head.

Claim 10

A nozzle welder for welding the circular base of a nozzle in an opening in the wall of a cylindrical pressure vessel, the nozzle base and pressure vessel forming between them a welding groove of substantial depth, comprising: a. a drive shaft; b. means rigidly supporting said drive shaft in upright position on an end of said nozzle; c. a vertical housing surrounding said drive shaft and supported thereby for rotation about the axis of said shaft; d. drive means including a motor mounted on said housing operatively connecting said drive shaft with said housing for rotating the housing; e. an arm secured at one end to said housing and extending laterally from said housing for rotation therewith; f. a first carriage mounted for reciprocating movement along said arm; g. a second carriage carried by said first carriage for movement therewith; h. an upright welding head support member mounted for reciprocating movement in said second carriage; i. a welding head carried by the lower end of said upright welding head support member; and j. drive means including a motor carried by said laterally extending arm for effecting reciprocating movement of said first carriage therealong and drive means including a motor carried by said welding head support member for effecting reciprocating movement of said welding head support member in said second carriage to orient and maintain said welding head in said weld groove for depositing successive weld beads as said nozzle welder rotates about its said drive shaft.

Claim 11

A nozzle welder for welding the circular base of a nozzle in an opening in the wall of a cylindrical pressure vessel, the nozzle base and pressure vessel forming between them a welding groove of substantial depth, comprising: a. a drive shaft; b. means rigidly supporting said drive shaft in upright position on an end of said nozzle; c. a vertical housing surrounding said drive shaft and supported thereby for rotation about the axis of said shaft; d. drive means including a motor mounted on said housing operatively connecting said drive shaft with said housing for rotating the housing; e. an arm secured at one end to said housing and extending laterally from said housing for rotation therewith; f. a first carriage mounted for reciprocating movement along said arm; g. a second carriage carried by said first carriage for movement therewith; h. an upright welding head support member mounted for reciprocating movement in said second carriage; i. a welding head carried by the lower end of said upright welding head support member; and j. drive means including a motor carried by said laterally extending arm for effecting reciprocating movement of said first carriage therealong and drive means including a motor carried by said welding head support member for effecting reciprocating movement of said welding head support member in said second carriage to orient and maintain said welding head in said weld groove for depositing successive weld beads as said nozzle welder rotates about its said drive shaft.

Claim 12

The nozzle welder of claim 8 wherein the drive means for reciprocating said first carriage includes a screw supported by and extending longitudinally of said arm and a nut member threadedly engaging said screw non-rotatively supported by said first carriage, and wherein the drive means for reciprocating said welding head support member includes a screw supported by and extending longitudinally of said welding head support member and a nut member threadedly engaging said last named screw non-rotatively supported by said second carriage.