Apparatus for internally welding pipe joints

Claim 2

Apparatus for effecting an internally welded interconnection between rotating pipe joints comprising: a longitudinally extending boom; means for moving said boom in a direction longitudinally of its length; a welding head; means movably mounting said welding head to a free end of said boom so as to enable the head to be moved in a longitudinal direction relative to the boom; said head and a marginal length of said boom having a configuration which enables it to be telescopingly received within the pipe to be internally welded; means for remotely controlling the action of the welding head as it forms a bead within the pipe; means for remotely controlling said means movably mounting said head to said boom; a television camera, means mounting said camera to said head so that the camera can transmit an image representative of the area being welded; and, a remotely located television receiver means electronically connected to said camera for producing said image; an index means located in the field of vision of said camera which enables visual observation of the relative position of the welding head with respect to the bead being formed on the interior of the pipe.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there is further included means for impacting the area of the pipe where the bead has been formed to thereby loosen flux from the bead.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 and further including means for removing debris from the area of the pipe being viewed.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means adjustably mounting said head to the free end of said boom includes a jack screw, a follower, linkage means connecting said head to said follower, and remote control means for rotating said jack screw in a counter-clockwise or clockwise rotational direction so that said follower is moved along the jack screw carrying the head therewith.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for moving said boom in a direction longitudinally of its length includes a track mounted cart affixed to the end of the boom which extends away from the pipe when the remaining end of the boom is telescoped into the pipe; said cart being remotely controlled and movable along the track carrying the boom therewith.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said index means includes a pointer interposed between The camera lens and the wall at a position respective to the welding head which is aligned laterally with respect to the welding electrode so that when the pointer is aligned with the interconnection between the pipe sections, the electrode will be interposed over the interconnection.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said pointer is superimposed over the pipe wall at a location spaced from and behind the welding head so that the pointer is normally aligned with the bead formed at the interconnection between the pipe joints while the welding head is positioned in advance of the pointer.

Claim 9

An internal non-rotating pipe welding apparatus for internally welding together adjacent pipe joints while the pipes are rotated about their longitudinal axis comprising: a longitudinally extending boom; means for moving said boom in a direction longitudinally of its length; a welding head; means movably mounting said welding head to a free end of said boom so as to enable the head to be moved in a longitudinal direction relative to the boom; said head and a marginal length of said boom having a configuration which enables it to be telescopingly received within the pipe to be internally welded; means for remotely controlling the action of the welding head as it forms a bead within the pipe; means for remotely controlling said means movably mounting said head to said boom; means for enabling remote visual observation of the relative position of the welding head and the interface between the pipe joints, so that the location and action of the welding head can be controlled to cause the bead to be properly formed on the pipe; the last said means including a television camera mounted to said head, said television camera having a lens positioned to transmit an image representative of the bead adjacent to the area being welded by the welding head, a remotely located television receiver means connected to said camera for producing said image; a pointer fixed in position relative to said welding head, said pointer being spaced behind said welding head and positioned in aligned relationship with respect to the interface of the adjacent pipe joints so that the image of the pointer and its relative location respective to the interface can be used to control the position of the bead.

Claim 10

An internal non-rotating pipe welding apparatus for internally welding together adjacent pipe joints while the pipes are rotated about their longitudinal axis comprising: a longitudinally extending boom; means for moving said boom in a direction longitudinally of its length; a welding head; means movably mounting said welding head to a free end of said boom so as to enable the head to be moved in a longitudinal direction relative to the boom; said head and a marginal length of said boom having a configuration which enables it to be telescopingly received within the pipe to be internally welded; means for remotely controlling the action of the welding head as it forms a bead within the pipe; means for remotely controlling said means movably mounting said head to said boom; means for enabling remote visual observation of the relative position of the welding head and the interface between the pipe joints, so that the location and action of the welding head can be controlled to cause the bead to be properly formed on the pipe; the last said means including a television camera mounted to said head, said television camera having a lens positioned to transmit an image representative of the bead adjacent to the area being welded by the welding head, a remotely located television receiver means connected to said camera for producing said image; a pointer fixed in position relative to said welding head, said pointer being spaced behind said welding head and positioned in aligned relationship with respect to the interface of the adjacent pipe joints so that the image of the pointer and its relative location respective to the interface can be used to control the position of the bead.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means adjustably mounting said head to the free end of said boom includes a jack screw, a follower, linkage means connecting said head to said follower, and remote control means for rotating said jack screw in a counter-clockwise or clockwise rotational direction so that said follower is moved along the jack screw carrying the head therewith.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein there is further included means for impacting the area of the pipe where the bead has been formed to thereby loosen flux from the bead; and further including means for removing debris from the area of the pipe being viewed.