Abstract According to the method of this invention water is kept away from the arc in underwater arc welding by means of a gas under a pressure greater than that of the water and, preferably, the wire-feeding unit, welding gun, and electrode wire of the gas shielded, metal arc-welding apparatus to be used under water are enclosed in airtight and watertight containers. The air connecting conduits and tubing carrying the electrode wire and shielding gas are similarly enclosed in airtight and watertight conduits. The containers and conduits are then internally pressurized with a shield gas to prevent the entry of water. The welding gun nozzle is enclosed within coaxially disposed tubular sections such that the electrode wire may be surrounded by either one or two annular gas streams under pressure which serve to shield it effectively from the surrounding water. Welding then takes place in a pocket of shielding gas to permit underwater welds of a quality previously obtainable only in atmospheric conditions. The front end of one of the tubular sections may have a flexible gasket which contacts the workpiece to aid in maintaining the pocket of shielding gas in the vicinity of the weld itself. A viewing plate is provided within the tubular section to permit the welding operation itself to be viewed while in operation. A light source and a vent tube are associated with the tubular section to facilitate the welding operation.
Inventors
👤 Ernest H Berghof
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-09 13:01
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/0061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of underwater electric arc welding a workpiece in which an underwater electric arc is drawn between an electrode being issued from a feeding unit and said workpiece to effect welding on said workpiece and in which water is kept from contact with said arc and the weld area of said workpiece immediately adjacent said arc by: externally supplying a shielding gas under a pressure greater than the pressure of said water to said arc and said weld area, surrounding said feeding unit with a shielding gas under pressure greater than said water pressure, and ejecting said gas as a stream about said arc thereby to form an envelope about said arc and to force said water away from said arc and said weld area.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of underwater electric arc welding a workpiece in which an underwater electric arc is drawn between an electrode being issued from a feeding unit and said workpiece to effect welding on said workpiece and in which water is kept from contact with said arc and the weld area of said workpiece immediately adjacent said arc by: externally supplying a shielding gas under a pressure greater than the pressure of said water to said arc and said weld area, surrounding said feeding unit with a shielding gas under pressure greater than said water pressure, and ejecting said gas as a stream about said arc thereby to form an envelope about said arc and to force said water away from said arc and said weld area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method according to claim 1 which includes the step of: forming two streams one being an inner annular gas stream coaxially about said arc and the other being an annular gas stream about said inner stream, each of said streams being directed toward said workpiece and both having a pressure exceeding that of said water, thereby to shield said arc and said weld area from said water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said gas streams are different chemically.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said outer gas stream is carbon dioxide.