Patent US3876852A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3876852A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for underwater welding
Assignee: HYDRO TECH INTERNATIONAL Inc
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Filing: 1973-04-25
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1993-04-25
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for making an underwater weld by a diver, including an underwater hand-portable housing having a top portion and depending sides, with at least a part of the housing being transparent for viewing therethrough by the diver when making the weld and with the bottom of the housing being open for insertion therethrough of the welding tip being manipulated by the diver. The device includes a means for detachably supporting the housing adjacent to a work-piece, such as an underwater pipe, to thereby form with the work-piece a welding space which is closed at the top and sides thereof and which is open on the bottom thereof, which space includes the area adjacent to the work-piece where the welding is to be performed. Means are provided for supplying a pressurized gas to the welding space at sufficient pressure to evacuate water therefrom through the bottom portion of the housing. The apparatus and method of this invention is particularly useful for peforming an underwater weld by a diver without the necessity for the diver himself being confined in a dry habitat, but rather the workpiece where the welding is to be performed is maintained in a dry habitat and the diver is thereby permitted to insert the welding apparatus into the dry habitat and perform the welding while viewing the welding operation through a transparent portion of the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Leland D Topham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:32
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/0061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
A method of underwater welding a work-piece by a diver, the combination of steps comprising: forming a hand-portable housing having a top portion and depending side portions, with at least a part of said housing being transparent for viewing thereinto by said diver, and with the bottom of said housing being open, said housing being dimensioned to accommodate the tip of a welding gun therein through said open bottom and being smaller in size than that which would be required to accommodate the body of a diver therein; detachably mounting said housing by said diver in engagement with said work-piece to thereby form with said workpiece a welding space which is closed at the top and sides thereof and open on the bottom thereof, and which welding space includes the area of said work-piece where said welding is to be performed, enabling access to said space by said diver through said open bottom while the diver remains located in the water exteriorly of said housing; supplying pressurized gas to said welding space at a pressure great enough to evacuate water therefrom thereby exposing said work-piece to a gaseous atmosphere; inserting the welding tip of a welding apparatus by said diver into the water evacuated welding space through said open bottom of said housing without effecting closure of said open bottom; and welding said work-piece by said diver while located in the water exteriorly of said housing as aforesaid, said diver operating said welding tip in said evacuated welding space while viewing the welding operation from the exterior of said housing through the transparent part thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
265 words
A method of underwater welding a work-piece by a diver, the combination of steps comprising: forming a hand-portable housing having a top portion and depending side portions, with at least a part of said housing being transparent for viewing thereinto by said diver, and with the bottom of said housing being open, said housing being dimensioned to accommodate the tip of a welding gun therein through said open bottom and being smaller in size than that which would be required to accommodate the body of a diver therein; detachably mounting said housing by said diver in engagement with said work-piece to thereby form with said workpiece a welding space which is closed at the top and sides thereof and open on the bottom thereof, and which welding space includes the area of said work-piece where said welding is to be performed, enabling access to said space by said diver through said open bottom while the diver remains located in the water exteriorly of said housing; supplying pressurized gas to said welding space at a pressure great enough to evacuate water therefrom thereby exposing said work-piece to a gaseous atmosphere; inserting the welding tip of a welding apparatus by said diver into the water evacuated welding space through said open bottom of said housing without effecting closure of said open bottom; and welding said work-piece by said diver while located in the water exteriorly of said housing as aforesaid, said diver operating said welding tip in said evacuated welding space while viewing the welding operation from the exterior of said housing through the transparent part thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said gas is supplied to said welding space by passing said gas through an aperture in one of the closed sides of said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said welding is performed by drawing an electric arc between consumable electrode and said work-piece, and ejecting said electrode and said gas from said welding apparatus into said welding space.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1 including: forming said side portions of said housing with openings therethrough adjacent the lower edges thereof for the escape of water and excess gas therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein said work-piece includes a pipe and including the steps of: forming said hand-portable housing with a plurality of mating sections; and clamping said sections about said pipe to thereby form said welding space.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
281 words
A method of underwater welding a work-piece by a diver, the combination of steps comprising: forming a hand-portable housing having a top portion and depending side portions, with at least a part of said housing being transparent for viewing thereinto by said diver, and with the bottom of said housing being open, said housing being dimensioned to accommodate the tip of a welding gun therein through said open bottom and being smaller in size than that which would be required to accommodate the body of a diver therein; detachably mounting said housing by said diver in engagement with said work-piece to thereby form with said work-piece a welding space which is closed at the top and sides thereof and open on the bottom thereof, and which welding space includes the area of said work-piece where said welding is to be performed, enabling access to said space by said diver through said open bottom while the diver remains located in the water exteriorly of said housing; inserting the welding tip of a welding apparatus by said diver into the welding space through said open bottom of said housing without effecting closure of said open bottom; supplying pressurized gas to said welding space by passing said gas through a portion of said welding tip, said gas being at a pressure great enough to evacuate water from said welding space thereby exposing said work-piece to a gaseous atmosphere; and welding said work-piece by said diver while located in the water exteriorly of said housing as aforesaid, said diver operating said welding tip in said water evacuated welding space while viewing the welding operation from the exterior of said housing through the transparent part thereof.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
281 words
A method of underwater welding a work-piece by a diver, the combination of steps comprising: forming a hand-portable housing having a top portion and depending side portions, with at least a part of said housing being transparent for viewing thereinto by said diver, and with the bottom of said housing being open, said housing being dimensioned to accommodate the tip of a welding gun therein through said open bottom and being smaller in size than that which would be required to accommodate the body of a diver therein; detachably mounting said housing by said diver in engagement with said work-piece to thereby form with said work-piece a welding space which is closed at the top and sides thereof and open on the bottom thereof, and which welding space includes the area of said work-piece where said welding is to be performed, enabling access to said space by said diver through said open bottom while the diver remains located in the water exteriorly of said housing; inserting the welding tip of a welding apparatus by said diver into the welding space through said open bottom of said housing without effecting closure of said open bottom; supplying pressurized gas to said welding space by passing said gas through a portion of said welding tip, said gas being at a pressure great enough to evacuate water from said welding space thereby exposing said work-piece to a gaseous atmosphere; and welding said work-piece by said diver while located in the water exteriorly of said housing as aforesaid, said diver operating said welding tip in said water evacuated welding space while viewing the welding operation from the exterior of said housing through the transparent part thereof.
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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) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |