This invention relates to systems and methods of joining components, including cylindrical components. More specifically, the subject invention relates to systems and methods for joining components, workpieces and pipes with a hot wire system and process.
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Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional, traditional, and proposed approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such approaches with embodiments of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.
Embodiments of the present invention provide for systems and methods for joining two components in which one component is inserted in a recess of another, or positioned in an otherwise overlapping manner, such as a lap joint.
As an initial matter, it should be noted that even though the following discussion utilizes the joining of pipes as an exemplary embodiment, aspects of the present invention can be utilized in joining work pieces in many different configurations, including but not limited to lap joints, butt joints, angles joints, etc. Therefore, the following exemplary discussion is not intended to be limited to simply pipe joints, as the embodiments and aspects discussed herein can be equally employed in multiple joint types without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Therefore, even though the following discussion utilizes a pipe embodiment, aspects of the present invention are not limited in this regard.
Turning now to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, provided are systems and methods for joining a first cylindrical component having a recess with a second cylindrical component disposed in the recess. Accordingly, the subject systems and methods are suited for joining two pipes. In one embodiment, a first pipe component includes an inner surface defining a passageway and a second pipe component is at least partially disposed in the passageway such that a portion of the first pipe component overlaps the second pipe component. Disposed between the overlapping regions of the first and second pipe components is a cladding material that defines the interface between the first and second pipe component. A fillet weld joins the first and second pipe components, and a portion of the fillet weld extends along the clad interface. In one aspect of the subject system and method, the clad interface essentially serves as a heat sink so as to minimize or eliminate the effects of the HAZ in the base materials of the first and second pipe components. Thus, in one particular aspect of the subject system and method the need for post-weld heat treatment of the joined first and second pipes can be eliminated.
Another particular embodiment of a pipe joint assembly includes a first cylindrical pipe component having an inner surface defining a first pipe passageway. An internal clad is formed along the inner surface of the first pipe component. A second cylindrical pipe component having an outer surface with an external clad disposed about the outer surface is disposed within the first pipe component. The internal and external clad define an interface between the first and second pipe components. A fillet weld extends between and joins the first and the second pipe components. At least a portion of the fillet weld extends along the internal and external clad.
These and other features of the claimed invention, as well as details of illustrated embodiments thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.
The above and/or other aspects of the invention will be more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described below by reference to the attached Figures. The described exemplary embodiments are intended to assist the understanding of the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
As an initial matter, it should be noted that even though the following discussion utilizes the joining of pipes as an exemplary embodiment, aspects of the present invention can be utilized in joining work pieces in many different configurations, including but not limited to lap joints, butt joints, angles joints, etc. Therefore, the following exemplary discussion is not intended to be limited to simply pipe joints, as the embodiments and aspects discussed herein can be equally employed in multiple joint types without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Therefore, even though the following discussion utilizes a pipe embodiment, aspects of the present invention are not limited in this regard.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention, shown in
The assembly 100 includes a second component 112, which defines an outer dimension configured for insertion in the first component 110. In one particular embodiment of the assembly 100, the second component is a second pipe component 112 defining a second nominal diameter D2. The second pipe component 112 includes an inner surface 118 defining a central passageway 120 of the second component having an inner diameter ID2. For the exemplary embodiment, the first and second pipes are depicted as linear pipe segments. However, as used herein “pipe” includes linear pipe, formed pipe such as, for example, bent pipe; or pipe fittings, such as for example, T-fittings, elbow fittings.
As noted above and shown in
In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, each of the clad layers 122a and 122b are applied to the pipes using a low heat input cladding operation. For example, a laser hot-wire cladding process can be used as described and disclosed in US Patent Publication Nos. 2011/0297658 and 2010/0176109 each of which is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Because such a cladding operation imparts lower heat input than an arc process, the HAZ in such an operation is smaller and has less of an impact on the pipes 110 and 112. Thus, each of the clad layers 122a and 112b essentially provide a substrate to absorb heat from the joining operation as described below.
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To affix and join the first pipe 110 to the second pipe 112, a weld metal 130 is formed at the axial end of the first pipe 110, and more particularly the axial end of the clad 122. The weld metal 130 joins the first pipe 110 and/or clad 122 to the adjacent outer surface of the second pipe 112. In one particular embodiment, the weld metal 130 is a fillet weld formed by any suitable welding technique including electric arc welding or a hot wire welding techniques, such as for example, GTAW. The weld metal 130 in one aspect circumferentially and continuously extends about the joint axis X-X.
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As shown in the embodiments described above, each of the layers 122a and 122b end at essentially the same spot, such that at least some of the weld 130 is directly on the pipe 112. However, in other exemplary embodiments of the present invention, at least the clad layer 122b extends beyond the edge of the pipe 110 and layer 122a such that the weld deposit 130 is almost entirely contacting the layers 122a and 122b. By doing this, each of the layers 122a and 122b can absorb the additional heat from the creation of the bead 130, whether it is an arc process or not, and because the formation of the layers 122a and 122b is a low heat process, the overall heat input into the pipes 110 and 112 is greatly minimized. Such an embodiment is shown in
Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in
It should be noted that although the joints shown herein are standard pipe joints where one pipe is inserted into another, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to this configuration, and as discussed above other types of joints can be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.
For example, each of
Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention also allow for the joining of dissimilar metals via use of a clad layer. For example, it may be desirable to join two pipes (or other workpieces) having dissimilar composition which is difficult to do using known methods. Such dissimilar metals can include chrome-molybdenum steels and stainless steels. In such embodiments, the cladding can be comprised of a nickel alloy which will bond sufficiently with the workpiece and will bond well with a welding joint 130 when created. Thus, not only can embodiments of the present invention, join workpieces with a reduced heat affected zone, they can also do so with workpieces having a different composition.
The exemplary embodiments show two pipe members being joined together. However the systems and methods described herein are not limited to forming a welded pipe joint. The subject techniques are applicable to joining two components by welding in which one component has an inner surface defining a recess for receiving a second component and where a clad surface can be formed internally or externally about the components to form a clad interface therebetween. Accordingly, the inner surface of the first component and the outer surface of the second component may define any geometry, e.g., circular, rectangular, triangular, etc., so long as they compliment one another for joining the components in a manner described herein.
Schematically shown in each of
While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/681,934 filed Aug. 10, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61681934 | Aug 2012 | US |