DEVICE FOR CONNECTING THE ENDS OF PIPES MADE OF STEEL BY MEANS OF AN ORBITAL WELDING PROCESS

摘要

A device is disclosed for connecting the ends of pipes, which are already aligned and tack-welded and which are made of steel in particular, by means of an orbital welding process using a welding joint which is formed by the pipe ends and using tools which can be orbitally moved about the welding joint for welding and checking the welding seam. The device includes guide base plates which can be placed on both sides at each pipe end in the region of the welding point and which can be rigidly clamped to said pipe ends. The guide base plates centrally have a circular recess with a radial opening for the feed-through of the pipes to be welded and for centrally receiving said pipes in the recess. The guide base plates include clamping elements for clamping the guide base plates to the pipe ends, the clamping elements being rigidly connected to each guide base plate face facing away from the welding joint, and a frame for receiving the welding and checking tools, the frame being rotatably mounted between the guide base plates on the inner faces facing the welding joint and being centrally pivotal about the pipe ends by at least 360°.