Apparatuses and methods for repairing a defect in a nuclear reactor are provided. The apparatus includes a body for insertion in a tubular structure, the body includes: an end effector having a weld torch operable to deposit weld material by forming molten weld droplets and depositing the weld droplets the tubular structure. A drive unit includes a brace for selectively anchoring against said tubular structure; at least one linear actuator for moving the apparatus relative to the brace; and a rotational actuator coupled to rotate the weld torch. The method includes inserting a repair apparatus into tubular structure of the nuclear reactor; moving the repair apparatus to a defect location; depositing a protective weld layer over the defect by sequentially depositing weld droplets atop a weld pool on the tubular structure, wherein the protective weld layer bonds to the tubular structure surrounding the defect.

Systems and methods for automatically regulating the flow of fumes suctioned through a welding fume gun are provided. In certain embodiments, an automatic flow control assembly includes a vacuum system configured to suction a vacuum fume flow through an internal passage of a welding fume gun. The automatic flow control assembly also includes a sensor configured to measure a parameter related to the vacuum fume flow. The automatic flow control assembly further includes a flow regulation device configured to regulate an ambient air flow introduced into the vacuum fume flow. In addition, the automatic flow control assembly includes control circuitry configured to control the flow regulation device based at least in part on the measured parameter related to the vacuum fume flow.

The present invention concerns a joined connection and a joining method for welding torch components with a first metallic tubular segment and a second metallic tubular segment, which are joined to each other by plastic deformation via an interlocking connection. The problem which the invention proposes to solve is to indicate a joined connection as well as a joining method in which two metallic welding torch components can be joined without the use of thermal joining methods, yet with comparable quality. The problem is solved in that the interlocking is formed in at least two directions of the joining surface bordering one another.

An example fume extractor for a robotic welding torch includes: a neck clamp configured to attach to a neck of a robotic welding torch; an intermediate mount rigidly attached to the neck clamp; a fume duct coupled to the intermediate mount and extending over the neck of the robotic welding torch toward a nozzle of the robotic welding torch; and a fume manifold rotationally coupled to the intermediate mount and coupled to a fume hose, wherein the fume manifold, the intermediate mount, and the fume duct are configured to communicate a negative pressure from the fume hose to an end of the fume duct closest to the nozzle of the robotic welding torch.

A torch for performing TIG welding is disclosed. The torch includes an electrode for a TIG/GTAW welding operation with an inert gas and an active gas. In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, the torch includes a torch body having a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel, an electrode assembly disposed in the torch body, a nozzle concentric with the electrode and a shield cap concentric with the nozzle. An angle between a longitudinal axis of the electrode assembly and an outer surface of at least one of the electrode holder and the electrode is about nine degrees.

A welding torch using a shielding gas includes a diffuser and an external nozzle integrated or fastened to an insulator and a welding tip fastened to the diffuser. The welding torch includes: the amplification nozzle installed as an inner nozzle part and an outer nozzle part on the upper and lower parts of gas outlets of the diffuser. The inner nozzle part is installed to be inclined on the welding tip, and the external nozzle is partially or entirely opened.

Arc welding equipment for joining the objects at high speed and for reducing the strain of the objects after being joined is provided. The nozzle housing an electrode forming arc plasma is formed from a gas supply part and a gas suction part. The gas supply part has gas supply holes supplying gas outward in a radial direction of the arc plasma. The gas suction part suctions the gas supplied form the gas supply part. A pair of the gas supply holes, which are disposed so that the electrode is disposed therebetween, supply the gas of a first pressure to a position away from the electrode by a first distance. A pair of the gas supply holes, which are disposed so that the electrode is disposed therebetween other than the pair of the gas supply holes, supply the gas of a second pressure to a position away from the electrode by a second distance. The second distance is longer than the first distance. The gas of the second pressure is lower than that of the first pressure. Thereby, the arc plasma is compressed in a direction connecting the gas supply holes, and the arc plasma becomes long in a direction connecting the gas supply holes.

Protective gas mouthpiece for a connection device, having a base member which has an axial opening and a mouth arranged around the opening and which can be placed on a workpiece on which a connection process is intended to be carried out, wherein the opening adjacent to the mouth defines a cleaning space into which protective gas can be introduced and which, when the connection process is carried out, can be axially delimited by the workpiece which covers the opening. The protective gas is introduced into the cleaning space in such a manner that a main flow direction of the protective gas in a radial centre of the cleaning space is orientated in a substantially radial and unidirectional manner.

A welding torch includes: a cylindrical tip body extending in an axis line direction; an orifice member arranged on a radially outer side of the tip body, between which and the tip body a first ring-like space is formed; a cylindrical nozzle arranged on a radially outer side of the orifice member with an interposition of a second ring-like space and having an edge on one side in the axis line direction. The tip body has a first emission hole via which an inner space of the tip body communicates with the first ring-like space, and the orifice member has a second emission hole via which the first ring-like space communicates with the second ring-like space. The second ring-like space is substantially closed by a sealing part on another side in the axis line direction, and an outlet opening of the second emission hole is arranged close the sealing part.

Welding torch system for use in welding or cutting operations during which fume is created. The welding torch system has a welding torch comprising a contact tip holder and a coaxial nozzle comprising an inner shield gas conduit having a shield gas outlet for supplying a shield gas. The inner shield gas conduit surrounds the contact tip holder. An outer shell at least partly surrounds said inner shield gas conduit. The welding torch system further comprises a shield gas generator and supply unit for supplying shield gas through the shield gas outlet and a fume extracting assembly for extracting fume and ambient air. The welding torch system is arranged for—during operation—supplying shield gas through the shield gas outlet at a velocity between about 1.5 m/s and 10 m/s. By operating the fume extracting assembly to generate a flow of between 10 and 100 m.sup.3/h, preferably a flow of about 55 m.sup.3/h a reduction in the area of 90%-95% of hazardous fumes can then be realized. A welding torch for use in such a system has an inner shield gas conduit having an end portion with an inner surface of which the diameter decreases towards the shield gas outlet. In a method for welding the shield gas is supplied through the shield gas outlet at a velocity between about 1.5 m/s and 10 m/s.