US3754115A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tube sheet welding with inert gas pressure at the joint
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1972-03-20
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Granted: 1973-08-21
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Expires: 1992-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus is disclosed to horizontally butt fusion weld a tube to a tube sheet. A chill bar surrounds the butted joint forming a chamber around the joint to contain an inert gas under pressure. An orbital type welder is inserted inside the tube adjacent the butted joint and the interior atmosphere surrounding the electrode is pressurized with a second inert gas at a pressure higher than the inert gas in the chamber surrounding the exterior of the butted joint to prevent the weld puddle from falling by gravity into the inside of the horizontally disposed tube and tube sheet during the welding operation.
Inventors
- 👤 J Roberts
- 👤 J Weber
- 👤 S Margherio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:27
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/02; B23K9/028; B23K9/0288
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
342 words
An apparatus to butt fusion weld a tube abutting a tube sheet stub means when said tube and tube sheet stub means are in a substantially horizontal plane, comprising: a chill bar means surrounding said abutting tube and tube sheet stub means, said chill bar meanS having separable segments; manifold means defined by said segments, said manifold means communicating with an inlet conduit in one of said segments; weld puddle backup groove means defined by said segments of said chill bar means, said weld puddle backup groove means being adjacent said abutting tube and tube sheet stub means; one or more first inlet conduit means in said chill bar means communicating with said weld puddle backup groove means and said manifold means; one or more second exhaust conduit means in said chill bar means communicating between said weld puddle backup groove means and the atmosphere outside of said chill bar means, orbital welding means positioned interiorly of said tube and tube sheet stub means positioned adjacent said abutted tube and tube sheet stub joint to fuse said abutted tube and tube sheet stub means together, a first inert gas means connected to said first inlet conduit means whereby inert gas from said first inert gas means enters said first inlet conduit and is directed to said manifold means and passes into said first conduit means to said weld puddle backup groove means and out through said second exhaust conduit means to the atmosphere, thereby providing an inert atmosphere for a molten weld puddle; and a second inert gas means connected to the interior of said abutting tube and tube sheet stub means whereby inert gas under pressure from said second inert gas means enters the interior of said abutting tube and tube sheet stub means, the pressure of said inert gas from said second inert gas means being at a pressure higher than the pressure of said inert gas from said first inert gas means, thereby forcing the molten weld puddle into said weld puddle backup groove in said chill bar means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
342 words
An apparatus to butt fusion weld a tube abutting a tube sheet stub means when said tube and tube sheet stub means are in a substantially horizontal plane, comprising: a chill bar means surrounding said abutting tube and tube sheet stub means, said chill bar meanS having separable segments; manifold means defined by said segments, said manifold means communicating with an inlet conduit in one of said segments; weld puddle backup groove means defined by said segments of said chill bar means, said weld puddle backup groove means being adjacent said abutting tube and tube sheet stub means; one or more first inlet conduit means in said chill bar means communicating with said weld puddle backup groove means and said manifold means; one or more second exhaust conduit means in said chill bar means communicating between said weld puddle backup groove means and the atmosphere outside of said chill bar means, orbital welding means positioned interiorly of said tube and tube sheet stub means positioned adjacent said abutted tube and tube sheet stub joint to fuse said abutted tube and tube sheet stub means together, a first inert gas means connected to said first inlet conduit means whereby inert gas from said first inert gas means enters said first inlet conduit and is directed to said manifold means and passes into said first conduit means to said weld puddle backup groove means and out through said second exhaust conduit means to the atmosphere, thereby providing an inert atmosphere for a molten weld puddle; and a second inert gas means connected to the interior of said abutting tube and tube sheet stub means whereby inert gas under pressure from said second inert gas means enters the interior of said abutting tube and tube sheet stub means, the pressure of said inert gas from said second inert gas means being at a pressure higher than the pressure of said inert gas from said first inert gas means, thereby forcing the molten weld puddle into said weld puddle backup groove in said chill bar means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one or more first inlet conduit means communicating with said weld puddle backup groove means is offset with respect to the plane of abuttment of said tube and tube stub means so that the molten weld puddle is not forced into said one or more first inlet conduit means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said one or more second exhaust conduit means communicating with said weld puddle backup groove means and the atmosphere outside of said chill bar means is offset from said abuttment plane on the opposite side of said weld puddle backup groove means from said one or more first inlet conduit means so that the molten weld puddle is not forced into said one or more second exhaust conduit means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
111 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a removable internal plug means, said plug means sealingly engaged within the interior of said tube means downstream of said chill bar means surrounding said abutting horizontally disposed tube and tube sheet stub means, said internal plug means serving to provide a seal for said second inert gas means, the inert gas under pressure from said second inert gas means being directed interiorly of said tube and tube sheet stub means, said inert gas under pressure from said second inert gas means serving to force said molten weld puddle into said weld puddle backup groove means in said chill bar means
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
113 words
The invention set forth in claim 4 wherein said internal plug means comprises an inner and outer body interfitted one with the other with a spring means interposed therebetween, said spring means acting to retract the inner body within said outer body, one or more resilient ring means positioned peripherally between radially extending shoulders on said inner and outer body, said one or more ring means, when said inner body is retracted within said outer body, being compressed so that the circumference of said ring means is greater in diameter than the inside diameter of said tube means, thereby providing a seal between said internal plug means and the interior of said tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein said plug means further defines an exhaust port therethrough to pass a measured amount of inert gas through said plug means to carry out gas impurities existing interiorly of said tube and tube sheet stub means.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
323 words
An apparatus to butt fusion weld a tube abutting a tube sheet stub means when said tube and tube sheet stub means are in a substantially horizontal plane, comprising: a chill bar means surrounding said abutting tube and tube sheet stub means, said chill bar means having separable segments; manifold means defined by said segments, said manifold means communicating with an inlet conduit in one of said segments; weld puddle backup groove means defined by said segments of said chill bar means, said weld puddle backup groove means being adjacent said abutting tube and tube sheet stub means; one or more first inlet conduit means in said chill bar means communicating with said weld puddle backup groove means and said manifold means; one or more second exhaust conduit means in said chill bar means communicating between said weld puddle backup groove means and the atmosphere outside of said chill bar means, and orbital welding means positioned interiorly of said tube and tube sheet stub means, positioned adjacent said abutted tube and tube sheet stub means joint to fuse said abutted tube and tube sheet stub means together, an inert gas means connected to the interior of said tube and tube sheet stub means and to the interior of said weld puddle backup groove means, said inert gas means supplying inert gas under pressure, to said weld puddle backup groove means adjacent said abutting tube and tube sheet stub means and to the interior of said abutting tube and tube sheet stub means, inert gas flow splitting means serve to direct a portion of said inert gas at a higher pressure in the interior of said abutting tube and tube sheet stub means than the pressure in said backup groove means, the higher pressure in the interior of said tube and tube sheet stub means serving to force a molten weld puddle into said weld puddle backup groove means in said chill bar means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
323 words
An apparatus to butt fusion weld a tube abutting a tube sheet stub means when said tube and tube sheet stub means are in a substantially horizontal plane, comprising: a chill bar means surrounding said abutting tube and tube sheet stub means, said chill bar means having separable segments; manifold means defined by said segments, said manifold means communicating with an inlet conduit in one of said segments; weld puddle backup groove means defined by said segments of said chill bar means, said weld puddle backup groove means being adjacent said abutting tube and tube sheet stub means; one or more first inlet conduit means in said chill bar means communicating with said weld puddle backup groove means and said manifold means; one or more second exhaust conduit means in said chill bar means communicating between said weld puddle backup groove means and the atmosphere outside of said chill bar means, and orbital welding means positioned interiorly of said tube and tube sheet stub means, positioned adjacent said abutted tube and tube sheet stub means joint to fuse said abutted tube and tube sheet stub means together, an inert gas means connected to the interior of said tube and tube sheet stub means and to the interior of said weld puddle backup groove means, said inert gas means supplying inert gas under pressure, to said weld puddle backup groove means adjacent said abutting tube and tube sheet stub means and to the interior of said abutting tube and tube sheet stub means, inert gas flow splitting means serve to direct a portion of said inert gas at a higher pressure in the interior of said abutting tube and tube sheet stub means than the pressure in said backup groove means, the higher pressure in the interior of said tube and tube sheet stub means serving to force a molten weld puddle into said weld puddle backup groove means in said chill bar means.
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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) | 1976-08-20 | 1977-02-19 | 1977-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-20 | 1981-02-19 | 1981-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-20 | 1985-02-19 | 1985-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |