Patent ID: 6059320
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: B23K,F16L

Abstract:
A spacer for spacing a pipe end from an internal annular shoulder of a fitting into which the pipe end is inserted prior to welding the pipe to the fitting, said spacer being generally annular and having an outer peripheral edge defining an outer diametrical dimension approximating the outer diametrical dimension of the pipe and an inner peripheral edge, said spacer further comprising:a plurality of spaced apart elongated, flattened body portions lying in substantially the same plane, two of said body portions having ends;a plurality of segments offset axially from said flattened body portions, each of said offset segments being disposed between two of said flattened body portions thereby connecting said two body portions, said segments being sufficiently yieldable to partially flatten under the compressive force of the pipe end when the pipe expands during welding;each segment extending between convergingly directed spaced edges wherein the segments extends a greater distance along said spacer outer peripheral edge than the segment extends along said spacer inner peripheral edge.