Patent ID: 8136715
Filing Date: 2012-03-20
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. A method of welding together a first pipe section and a second pipe section, said method comprising a) providing an internal pipe clamp apparatus comprising a frame; one or more clamping members, said one or more clamping members comprising one or more alignment guide devices, and said clamping members further comprising a means for supplying an inert purge gas directly to the area immediately surrounding a weld joint; a plurality of clamping members for engaging said adjacent ends of said first pipe section and second pipe section extensibly mounted to said frame, said plurality of clamping members being movable between a retracted position and an extended clamping position; a means for delivering a purge gas to said groove through said gas passageway; and a means for moving said clamping members between said retracted position and said extended clamping position; b) inserting into said first pipe section and said second pipe section said internal pipe clamp apparatus; c) aligning the ends of said first pipe section and said second pipe section and creating the desired weld-joint gap between said ends of said first pipe section and said second pipe section using said alignment guide devices attached to said one or more clamping members of said internal pipe clamp apparatus; d) clamping in this position said first pipe section and said second pipe section using said one or more clamping members of said internal pipe clamp apparatus; e) supplying an inert purge gas directly to the area immediately surrounding the weld joint using said purge gas supply means of said one or more clamping members of said internal pipe clamp apparatus; and f) welding to one another said first pipe section and said second pipe section.