Internal tube welding apparatus

摘要

A hand-held welding torch is disclosed having a pair of foldable handles to permit maneuvering of the torch in confined spaces. The torch is of the type having a non-consummable electrode radially mounted on a longitudinal shaft which can be inserted into the bore of a tubular member and rotated so that the tip of the electrode moves over a circular path around the axis of the tubular member. In one preferred embodiment, a front handle is coupled to a spring-loaded collet having an expanded end and mounted for axial movement about the shaft upon actuation of the front handle. A set of radially-projecting jaws pivotally mounted immediately about the collet are spread outward to positively grip the bore by movement along the expanded end so that the torch is properly positioned in substantially the center of the bore and supported therein during rotation of the electrode. In another preferred embodiment, the front handle is linked to a set of spring-loaded jaws slidably mounted about a fixed collet for releasably gripping the bore.