DEVICE FOR CENTRING AND CLAMPING TUBULAR PARTS, COMPRISING MEANS FOR REGULATING THE GAS FLOW RATE IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE OXYGEN CONTENT

摘要

The invention relates to a device for centring and clamping conduits which are preferably made from alloy steel and which are positioned end to end in order to be welded to form a pipeline. The invention comprises: means for centring and clamping two conduits that are to be welded, optional leak-tight partition means which define an inerting chamber at the mating surface, and inert gas distribution means for creating a protective atmosphere at the mating surface. The inventive device also comprises at least means for regulating the flow of inert gas and/or the supply pressure of said inert gas as a function of the concentration of O₂ measured in the protective atmosphere and/or the pressure measured within said atmosphere, such as to maintain the O₂content of the atmosphere below a pre-determined alarm threshold value and/or the pressure of the atmosphere below a pre-determined threshold value.