Patent ID: 6953142

Claim:
Apparatus for locating and grasping a flange while welding a flange to a pipe, at least a first flange hole and a second flange hole extending through the flange, the apparatus comprising: a stationary platform having an upper surface, at least a first platform hole and a second platform hole arranged to register with the first flange hole and the second flange hole of the flange; a stationary tool support; a pin holder mounted to the tool support for movement between a retracted position and an extended position; at least a first pin and a second pin attached to the pin holder and positioned within the first and second platform holes respectively, the first pin and the second pin moving upwardly beyond the upper surface of the platform when the pin holder moves to the extended position; a spider having a plurality of clamp members movably mounted thereon, the spider being movable from a first position to a second position; a pusher connected to the spider and the pin holder for moving the spider between the first and second positions, and for moving the pin holder between the retracted and extended positions; a plurality of cams on the tool support, each positioned to cam against one of the plurality of clamp members for causing the clamp members to move into a clamped position engaging and grasping the flange to hold the flange against movement on the upper surface of the stationary platform whenever the spider is moved to its second position.