Method and apparatus for preheating to allow welding to be performed

摘要

Apparatus for pre-heating tubular articles prior to welding and a method of using the apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a support (22) for carrying tubular articles (10) such that they can be rotated together about long axis of the articles. A heater has a heating head (20) that can be placed adjacent to a region to be welded. The articles (10) can be rotated such that the region to be welded passes the heating head and is thereby heated to enable it to be welded subsequently. The heater is typically an induction heater. The method of welding tubular articles (10) compries mounting the articles in the support of a pre-heating apparatus of a welding installation embodying the invention and causing the articles to rotate such that a weld region passes adjacent to the heating head (20). Then a part of the weld region is welded after that part of the weld region has rotated past and has been heated by the heating head.