The axle welder can be easily configured and adjusted to accommodate axle assemblies of varying axle shaft lengths, hub styles (“straight” and “drop axle”) and lug bolt configurations. The axle welder uses a sliding carriage that slides along the support frame at one end of the welder to accommodate differing shaft lengths. The axle welder also includes a pair of pivoting hub lifts that accommodate both straight and drop axle style axle hubs using modular mounting plates. Modular mounting plates (“hub adaptors”) fitted to the hub lifts accommodate hub assemblies with differing lug bolt patterns. The axle welder is built on a rectangular frame that supports a pair of weld units and articulated electrode arms. The axle welder also includes a pair axle supports for carrying the axle shafts within the support frame. A shaft drive pivotally mounted to the support frame lowers to engage and rotate the axle shaft and hub assemblies in unison during the welding process.

Producing welded connections between inner tubes and tube support plates of a tube bundle for a product-to-product shell-and-tube heat exchanger by means of an auxiliary device is described. A production method includes pressing the end face of a tube support plate against the end face of the inner tubes in the direction of the inner tube longitudinal axes during welding operations with a first form fit, which is effective both radially and axially, immovably fixing the number of inner tubes corresponding to the tube layout pattern to each other by a second, detachable form fit of the auxiliary device, making a circumferential round weld orbitally, starting from the plate inner bore and the tube inner bore, in a single pass and continuously from radially inside to radially outside, and detaching and removing the auxiliary device from the welded tube bundle.

A process of welding fittings to ends of a double wall pipe comprising forming a first welded joint between an inner pipe and an inner receiver of a first fitting; forming a second welded joint between an outer pipe and an outer receiver of the first fitting; forming a third welded joint between the outer pipe and an outer receiver of a second fitting; and forming a fourth welded joint between the inner pipe and an inner receiver of the second fitting.

An apparatus for guiding tube processing devices, in particular planing devices, wherein the apparatus is arranged on an outer circumference of the tube to be processed, wherein the apparatus has at least two bands which extend in parallel.

Present invention provides a universal fixture that fits a broad range of flange/pipe sizes, covering the common sized 4-hole to 24-hole flanges. The present invention solves the end play issue (between the mounting studs and the screw holes of the flange) by aligning the centers of the flange to the center of the pipe, relying on the center hole of the OH plate. An additional accessory can be used to set adjustable height support, for propping up pipes and balance the weight, facilitating the ease of handling the welding work.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A pipe flange is leveled for welding by using stainless steel using ball bearings attached to a U-shaped spring-loaded wire so a fitter is able to level a flange for welding while the wire supports a level. The ball bearings are part of a first leveling unit and a second leveling unit which comprise a flange leveling system. The spring acts to bias a first leg and a second leg of the leveling units such that the distal ends of both legs are biased toward each other. The ball bearings are axially co-linear with each other and are sized to be seated in bolt holes defined in the first and second sides of the pipe flange. A related process is also disclosed wherein the flange is adjusted until the associated flange holes on the first and second sides of the pipe flange are level with each other.