Internal clamping of a weld-neck fitting to a pipe in preparation for precision tack welding of the fitting to the pipe is established by a pair of alignment and clamping wedge members, each having alignment and gripping members and angulated reaction surfaces which are positioned within the pipe and weld-neck fitting with the angulated reaction surfaces in relatively moveable engagement. One of the alignment and clamping wedge members is moved linearly, causing the angulated reaction surfaces to translate the linear movement to lateral movement, forcing the alignment and gripping members laterally against the internal surfaces of the pipe and fitting and supporting the fitting in precision aligned relation with the pipe to facilitate tack welding. A gauge member confirms precision alignment of the fitting with the pipe before and after applying the tack welds, then the alignment and clamping apparatus is loosened by opposite linear movement of the wedge members which are removed to permit final weld connection of the fitting to the pipe.

An apparatus for connecting collar components to an elongate member is disclosed. The apparatus includes a frame structure having a central opening that is configured to receive an elongate member and that includes at least a first gripping station and a second gripping station. Each gripping station includes a reference surface and a clamp device that is configured to force a collar component against the reference surface. The first and second gripping stations are configured to control relative spatial location of a first collar component held by the first gripping station relative to a second collar component gripped by the second gripping station, prior to connecting the first and second collar components to the elongate member.

Disclosed are a special tooling and method for electron beam welding of a cavity body and a beam tube of a superconducting niobium cavity. The special tooling includes a first clamping device for fixing a flange and a second clamping device for fixing a semi-cavity body, wherein the first clamping device and the second clamping device are fixedly connected. A pressing ring of the first clamping device is disposed around a beam tube of a superconducting niobium cavity and cooperates with a base plate to clamp and fix the flange. The second clamping device includes clamping arms evenly distributed along a circumference of the semi-cavity body, and each clamping arm includes a second pressing plate axially disposed along the beam tube and a pressing block that is disposed on an end portion of the second pressing plate and fixes an edge of the semi-cavity body.

Internal clamping of a weld-neck fitting to a pipe in preparation for precision tack welding of the fitting to the pipe is established by a pair of alignment and clamping wedge members, each having alignment and gripping members and angulated reaction surfaces which are positioned within the pipe and weld-neck fitting with the angulated reaction surfaces in relatively moveable engagement. One of the alignment and clamping wedge members is moved linearly, causing the angulated reaction surfaces to translate the linear movement to lateral movement, forcing the alignment and gripping members laterally against the internal surfaces of the pipe and fitting and supporting the fitting in precision aligned relation with the pipe to facilitate tack welding. A gauge member confirms precision alignment of the fitting with the pipe before and after applying the tack welds, then the alignment and clamping apparatus is loosened by opposite linear movement of the wedge members which are removed to permit final weld connection of the fitting to the pipe.

A weld root gap management apparatus includes three or more spacers with a predetermined dimension; a cam; a shaft that is connected to and supports the cam; and a body of the apparatus. The spacers are movably installed on the body. The shaft is rotatably supported by the body. The rotation of the shaft can make the cam rotate to push the spacers emerge out of the body.

The tool for welding of a mounting bracket on a tube for a tank comprises means for gripping of the tube, which clear access to a surface on the tube which is designed to be welded, means for heating of the surface which are mobile relative to the means for gripping of the tube, between a position of heating of the surface and a retracted position, means for heating of the mounting bracket, and means for gripping of the bracket which are mobile relative to the means for heating of the bracket and relative to the means for gripping of the tube, between a position for heating of the mounting bracket and a position for welding of the mounting bracket on the surface of the tube.

Devices, systems, and methods are directed to automated techniques for fitting flanges to tubular sections used to form tubular structures, such as large-scale structures used in industrial applications (e.g., wind towers and pipelines). As compared to manual techniques for fitting flanges to tubular sections, the devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure facilitate faster attachment of flanges, which may be useful for achieving cost-effective throughput. By way of further comparison to manual techniques, the devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure may, further or instead, facilitate achieving tighter dimensional tolerances. In turn, such tighter dimensional tolerances may be useful for forming thinner-walled, lighter, and lower cost tubular structures. Still further or in the alternative, automated techniques for fitting flanges to tubular sections may facilitate attachment of multipiece flanges or other non-traditional flange geometries.

A pipe fabrication apparatus includes a fabrication module having a guide adapted to support a cylindrical component, at or adjacent a first end of the component, at two discrete and space apart locations on an exterior surface of the component, and a bed for supporting the cylindrical component at a position distal the first end such that a longitudinal axis of the component is aligned with a central axis of the fabrication module in order to allow additional cylindrical parts to be quickly and easily coaxially aligned with the component for the purposes of tack welding the two items together prior to full seam welding.

A weld root gap management apparatus includes three or more spacers with a predetermined dimension; a cam; a shaft that is connected to and supports the cam; and a body of the apparatus. The spacers are movably installed on the body. The shaft is rotatably supported by the body. The rotation of the shaft can make the cam rotate to push the spacers emerge out of the body.

A weld root gap management apparatus includes three or more spacers with a predetermined dimension; a cam; a shaft that is connected to and supports the cam; and a body of the apparatus. The spacers are movably installed on the body. The shaft is rotatably supported by the body. The rotation of the shaft can make the cam rotate to push the spacers emerge out of the body.