Properties and performance of weld material between metals in a weldment is controlled by modifying one or more of the nitrogen content and the carbon content to produce carbide (e.g. MC-type), nitride and/or complex carbide/nitride (e.g. MX-type) type precipitates. Fusion welding includes (i) adjusting shield gas composition to increase nitrogen/carbon gas and nitride/carbide species, (ii) adjusting composition of nitrogen/carbon in materials that participate in molten welding processes, (iii) direct addition of nitrides/carbides (e.g. powder form), controlled addition of nitride/carbide forming elements (e.g. Ti, Al), or addition of elements that increase/impede solubility of nitrogen/carbon or nitride/carbide promoting elements (e.g. Mn), and (iv) other processes, such as use of fluxes and additive materials. Weld materials have improved resistance to different cracking mechanisms (e.g., hot cracking mechanisms and solid state cracking mechanisms) and improved tensile related mechanical properties.

A welding torch includes a gas lens of a lattice structure that straightens a shielding gas. The welding torch includes a non-consumable electrode, an electrode holder into which the non-consumable electrode is inserted, and a torch body including a sleeve that holds the electrode holder, a flow path forming portion that forms a shielding gas flow path around the sleeve, and a nozzle that forms a shielding gas guiding space around a distal end of the non-consumable electrode, the distal end extending from the electrode holder, in which the gas lens is provided so as to separate the shielding gas flow path from the shielding gas guiding space.

A field system for welding two pipes includes a first pipe engagement structure, a second pipe engagement structure, one or more weld torches, a motor and one or more processors. The one or more weld torches are configured to be positioned within the pipes to create an internal weld at an interface region between the pipes. The motor is operatively associated with the one or more weld torches to rotate the one or more weld torch along the interface region between the pipes. The one or more processors control the motor and the one or more weld torches. The one or more processors operate the motor and the one or more weld torches to generate a complete circumferential weld along the interface region by rotating the one or more weld torches along the interface region in a single rotational direction until the complete circumferential weld is completed.

An end product and system for connecting large aluminum tubular pipe segments into an Isolated Phase Bus comprising reducing the diameter (or increasing the same) of one end of a tubular segment and sliding it into (or over) the untreated end of an adjacent pipe or tubular segment, followed by a tubular and circumferential welding of the same. The outside or inside circumference of the connected segments are uniform from distal to proximal end of the overall length of the connected tubular segments. A structural integral, axially aligned, simplified set of connectable tubular segments allows for a grounded connection between power generators and step transformers. Preferably, the overall diameter change of the necked down flange (or outwardly flared flange) of one tubular segment is less than or only slightly greater than twice the material wall thickness of the tubular segment's initial pre-rolled flat aluminum sheet material.

A welding jig or gap tool and a method of operation is provided for welding management of the V-joint between facing pipe ends. One or more gap tools are distributed about the V-joint and actuated to maintain a welding gap along the V-joint during welding. The tool has a base portion removeably arranged between an alignment clamp and the pipe end. When actuated the gap tool bears against the alignment clamp and a cone is driven into the V-joint to establish and to maintain the gap between pipe ends.

A pipe assembly station for performing operations on a field joint during pipe assembly has an active rail extending around an opening through which the pipe can pass. Tool carriages are arranged to traverse along the active rail and around a periphery of the pipe. The station also comprises a standby position, distanced from the active rail and a switch arranged to transfer the tool carriage from the active rail to the standby position. By providing such a combination of a rail and a standby position, a tool carriage can be brought into position on the active rail to perform a pipe joining operation and can be subsequently set back to the standby position, where it is out of the way of operations taking place on the pipe. Such a switching arrangement allows for more effective use of the limited space around the joint.

A system and method provide gasless, mechanized, field welding of an exterior of a tubular structure such as a pipeline, without the need for an enclosure. An embodiment consolidates some of the welding equipment on a skid for ease of transport to and from a remote worksite. The gasless weld may be achieved despite the presence of wind, by precisely controlling an arc voltage as disclosed. The footprint and weight of the system may be minimized, along with the associated labor, expense, and environmental impact otherwise incurred by conventional welding techniques using enclosures.

An orbital welding device for forming a circumferential weld bead to engage adjoining segments of pipe is provided. The device features an annular track ring having an opening for engagement around the pipe. A travel carriage rotationally engaged with the annular track ring has a first motor for rotating the travel carriage and an engaged welding head around the pipe for forming a weld thereon. A second motor is provided to adjust a distance of the welding head from the pipe.

A welding torch includes a torch body including a flow path forming portion that forms a shielding gas flow path into which an inert gas flows and an outer gas flow path communicating with the shielding gas flow path, a first gas lens that straightens the inert gas in the shielding gas flow path and blows the inert gas out as a shielding gas, and a second gas lens that straightens the inert gas in the outer gas flow path and blows the inert gas out as an outer gas. Provided is an all-position welding device that performs butt welding of tubes, and includes the welding torch and a rotation mechanism for rotating the welding torch around the tube.

A welding system includes an orientation sensing system associated with a welding torch and is configured to sense a welding torch orientation relative to a direction of gravity. The welding system also includes a processing system communicatively couple to the orientation sensing system and configured to determine an angular position of the welding torch relative to a pipe based at least in part on the sense welding torch orientation.