Magnetically Impelled Arc Butt Welding of Pipelines

摘要

The present invention is a method and a vehicle-mounted apparatus for laying pipelines in which adjacent pipe sections are joined by the technique of magnetically impelled arc butt welding (MIAB). A MIAB welding head having a welding axis is mounted on a transportable platform. A pipe guide capable of engaging a welded pipe string is located rearwardly of the welding head. The pipe guide maintains alignment of the string with the welding axis. The apparatus includes pipe feed means maintaining alignment of a next pipe to be laid with the welding axis and the pipe string. The platform is rotatably mounted on the vehicle and tilts around a horizontal axis. The vehicle is provided with pivoting steerable tracks.