Patent ID: 8573470
Filing Date: 2013-11-05
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. A welding bug, comprising: a control arm and a welding torch arranged on the control arm, the welding torch being suitable for welding in a groove at a joint between an end of a first pipe and an end of an adjacent second pipe, and a pipe clamp for mounting to circumferentially extend around a longitudinal axis of the first pipe, wherein the welding bug is mounted on the pipe clamp for circumferential movement around the first pipe, and wherein the control arm is mounted on the welding bug for rotational movement about an axis that is substantially horizontal, relative to the welding bug, the axis being orientated perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pipes at the joint, and the axis being set back from the torch in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the welding bug is arranged such that the torch is moveable about said axis, during use of the welding bug when arranged to enable the torch to weld in a groove, between (i) an operating position in which the welding torch is positioned in the groove, and (ii) a disengaged position in which the welding torch is positioned out of the groove after the welding bug has completed a weld pass.