Backing material for welding
View Patent ↗A backing plate for includes a synthetic diamond portion configured to abut a joint region during a welding operation. A welding clamp includes a plurality of clamping blocks, each including a synthetic diamond portion configured to abut a pipe joint region during a welding operation. Because the backing plate and clamping block each include a synthetic diamond portion, the backing plate and clamping block can withstand high welding temperatures without damaging or diminishing the quality of the weld.
1. A welding clamp, comprising:
a clamp body; and
a plurality of clamping blocks configured to radially expand from the clamp body, wherein each clamping block comprises a synthetic diamond portion configured to abut an internal pipe joint region during a welding operation.
2. The welding clamp of claim 1 , wherein the synthetic diamond portion comprises polycrystalline diamond.
3. The welding clamp of claim 1 , wherein each clamping block comprises a metallic portion configured to be spaced apart from the pipe joint region during the welding operation.
4. The welding clamp of claim 3 , wherein the synthetic diamond portion is chemically bonded to the metallic portion.
5. The welding clamp of claim 1 , further comprising a clamping mechanism configured to radially expand the plurality of clamping blocks.
6. The welding clamp of claim 5 , wherein the clamping mechanism is further configured to translate the plurality of clamping blocks during radial expansion.
7. The welding clamp of claim 6 , wherein the clamping mechanism is configured to align the synthetic diamond portion of each of the plurality of clamping blocks during translation.
8. The welding clamp of claim 5 , further comprising an actuator to actuate the clamping mechanism.
9. The welding clamp of claim 5 , wherein the clamping mechanism engages with each clamping block at a groove defined in each clamping block.
10. A method, comprising:
forming a pipe joint between a plurality of pipes;
disposing a welding clamp having a clamp body within an inner diameter of at least one pipe of the plurality of pipes;
radially expanding a plurality of clamping blocks from the clamp body of the welding clamp; and
abutting a synthetic diamond portion of each clamping block with the pipe joint during a welding operation.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the synthetic diamond portion comprises polycrystalline diamond.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein each clamping block comprises a metallic portion configured to be spaced apart from the pipe joint.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the synthetic diamond portion is chemically bonded to the metallic portion.
14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising radially expanding the plurality of clamping blocks via a clamping mechanism.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising translating the plurality of clamping blocks during radial expansion.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising aligning the synthetic diamond portion of each of the plurality of clamping blocks during translation.
17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising actuating the clamping mechanism.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the clamping mechanism engages with each clamping block at a groove defined in each clamping block.