PRECISION ROTATIONAL WELDING AROUND OUTSIDE OF ELONGATE, TUBULAR COMPONENT, SUCH AS A COLUMN
Apparatus and methodology for performing precision rotational welding on the outside surface, and circumferentially around the long axis, of an elongate, hollow, tubular component. The apparatus includes an elongate frame, and plural, component-supporting, releasable-clamping yoke structures mounted on and distributed along the frame, including idlers defining an elongate, common, substantially horizontal rotational axis for a supported component, which common axis is designed to be substantially coincident with the long axis of such a component. With this apparatus, practicing the invention involves releasably clamping and horizontally supporting such a component for rotation on its long axis relative to the frame, and while so supporting a component, implementing selective rotation of it about its long axis, and performing precision rotational welding on and circumferentially around the surface of the supported component.
1 . Apparatus for performing precision rotational welding on the outside surface, and distributed circumferentially around the long axis, of an elongate, hollow, tubular component comprising
an elongate frame, and
plural, component-supporting, releasable-clamping yoke structures mounted on and distributed along said frame, including idlers defining an elongate, common, substantially horizontal rotational axis for a supported component, which common axis is designed to be substantially coincident with the long axis of such a component.
2 . A method for performing precision rotational welding on the outside surface, and distributed circumferentially around the long axis, of an elongate, hollow, tubular component comprising
releasably clamping and horizontally supporting such a component for rotation on its long axis relative to a frame structure, and
while so supporting such a component, implementing selective rotation of it about its long axis, and performing precision rotational welding on and circumferentially around the surface of the supported component.