An instantaneous gas purge apparatus distributes a flow of a gas, such as an inert gas, directly juxtaposed to a welding seam between two adjacent tubes. The device includes a central hub having radially extending stabilizer arms, mounted inside one of the tubes to be welded. A counterweight and a gas dispersion unit are independently rotatable relative to the hub. The welding operation comprises a continuous rotation of the tubes. Using a stationary welding device, the gravitational pull on the counterweight maintains the gas dispersion unit proximate the welding seam.

A welding system using a purge plug for data acquisition. In one example, a purge plug includes purge plug component having a sealing structure. The sealing structure is configured to abut a surface of a hollow device and to form a seal between the sealing structure and the hollow device. The purge plug also includes a sensor at least partly disposed in the purge plug component, the sealing structure, or some combination thereof. The purge plug component is configured to be disposed on a workpiece having the hollow device to purge an undesired gas from the workpiece.

A smart welding system and smart welding process which integrates technology to increase performance and safety in welding operations.

An orbital welding device (1), having a welding current source (10) in a welding current source housing (11) and an orbital welding head (20), which is separate from the welding current source housing (11) and is connected to the welding current source (10) by a cable (2), the orbital welding head (20) having a pipe mount (21) and a welding electrode holder (22) for holding a welding electrode (23). An electric motor (31) is designed to drive the welding electrode holder (22) and thus turn it with respect to the pipe mount (21). The orbital welding head (20) has a chamber (50) for shielding gas. An optical oxygen sensor (40) is designed to measure an oxygen concentration in a measuring region (51) in the chamber (50). The oxygen sensor (40) is arranged outside the chamber (50) and is optically coupled to the measuring region (51) by an optical coupling.

A water-degradable welding purge dam apparatus for purging a weld zone of a pipe assembly having first and second pipes having respective first and second pipe ends to be welded together at a root gap. The purge dam apparatus includes a blocking plate assembly having an outer blocking plate, an inner blocking plate, and zero or more interior blocking plates. The blocking plate assembly may be formed from one or more water degradable materials to facilitate removal of the purge dam apparatus from the pipe assembly using an aqueous fluid following welding. At least one of the blocking plates may include a plurality of fluid flow apertures to aid distribution of the aqueous fluid through the blocking plate assembly. If desired, first and second ones of the blocking plate assembly may be ganged together by an interconnection assembly to form a ganged set of blocking plate assemblies.

Apparatus, systems, processes, control systems, means and methods for near-weld gas purging and welding. A focused circumferential near-weld purge gas delivery system for pipeline welding. A near-weld purge rig which has a near-weld purge gas channel and which achieves a low oxygen concentration proximate to a pipe gap for welding. The gas used for purging is also directed against an interior surface of the pipe to be welded. The directed gas cools the pipe to a desired temperature.

A wireless oxygen monitor for monitoring oxygen in a weld zone. The oxygen monitor receives weld zone gas samples and an oxygen sensor detects oxygen levels. A controller generates gas sample oxygen level data and wirelessly transmits gas sample data via an oxygen monitor wireless communication interface to a remote device that displays the gas sample data and logs it in a remote device storage.

Systems and methods are provided for a boss welding positioning tool. The boss welding positioning tool may, at least, include a purge base, a purge gas delivery connector, and features for aligning two items to be welded together. The purge gas delivery connector may be configured to be coupled to the purge base and may include ports that receive purge gas and deliver purge gas to an inner portion of the items to be welded.

Apparatus, systems, processes, control systems, means and methods for near-weld gas purging and welding. A focused circumferential near-weld purge gas delivery system for pipeline welding. A near-weld purge rig which has a near-weld purge gas channel and which achieves a low oxygen concentration proximate to a pipe gap for welding. The gas used for purging is also directed against an interior surface of the pipe to be welded. The directed gas cools the pipe to a desired temperature.

A smart welding system and smart welding process which integrates technology to increase performance and safety in welding operations.