TPi January 2012

products & developments

Purge dams and weld gas analysers Sumner Manufacturing has launched new inflatable weld purge dams for use with stainless pipe from 50 to 350mm (2" to 14") in diameter. Inflatable purge dams can be used to quickly and efficiently create a reduced oxygen weld chamber where it is critical to avoid oxidation in the weld, for example when welding exotic metals such as stainless, duplex or titanium. “Inflatable purge dams provide welders with an inexpensive, time-saving, reusable device that not only performs a critical application of increased weld quality, but reduces argon consumption and increases weld production rate,” said Sumner president Rob Collins. “Using an inflatable weld purge dam system, purging a 6" pipe to less than 1% oxygen content takes less than 3 minutes. Other solutions such as paper dams simply can’t match that kind of production.” The purge dams are constructed using a primary and secondary inflatable dam at either end that are covered with heat and spark resistant double-stitched Proban ® cotton and connected with a 12" to 14" armoured stainless steel spinal hose. The spinal hose has a reactive valve to vent argon to the weld chamber. The primary dam is fitted with a primary hose to inflate the dams, a secondary hose that can be used to bypass inflation and quickly flood the weld chamber with argon, and a hose outlet for venting excess argon. Both the primary and secondary dams have a reinforced eyelet pull loop for feeding and retrieving the purge dam system inside pipe. The inflatable weld purge dam system works by connecting the primary inflation hose to the argon supply hose. Once the purge dam system has been positioned with the primary and secondary dams on either side of the weld the flow of argon to the purge dams can begin. Argon inflates the primary dam, flows through the spinal hose and inflates the secondary dam before

Ar-Gone weld gas analyser

usage and weld defects, while allowing users to increase weld production rates.” Both the Ar-Gone and Argo-Naught models feature replaceable batteries and oxygen sensors. The weld gas analysers come with a 2m (6½ft) rubber hose with stainless steel probe, a rubber aspirator bulb, carrying strap and operator’s manual in a sturdy nylon case. The Ar-Gone and Argo-Naught weld gas analysers function similarly. After switching the unit on, each can be quickly calibrated with the turn of a knob. The rubber hose and aspirator bulb connect to a flow adapter on the unit. When the weld chamber is ready, the steel probe on the other end of the rubber hose is inserted into the weld chamber, and the aspirator bulb is squeezed to feed gas into the weld gas analyser to obtain an accurate oxygen level reading. Sumner Manufacturing Co, Inc – USA customerservice@sumner.com www.sumner.com

finally venting through the reactive valve in the spinal hose to flood the weld chamber. Once the weld chamber is fully pressurised, argon will exhaust in the vicinity of the weld and through the argon vent hose. When the oxygen level has reached acceptable levels welding can begin. Sumner Manufacturing has also launched two new weld gas analysers for monitoring oxygen levels in oxygen- controlled weld gas chambers. The Ar-Gone weld gas analyser quickly measures oxygen levels and provides a feedback display down to 0.01%. The Argo-Naught weld gas analyser is hermetically sealed, making it air and water tight, and measures oxygen levels down to 0.1%. “Sumner weld gas analysers provide precise monitoring of oxygen levels for critical applications such as welding stainless steel, stainless titanium or other reactive metals,” commented Mr Collins. “Use of a reliable weld gas analyser such as Sumner’s Ar-Gone and Argo-Naught models reduces argon

Sumner’s inflatable purge dam

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January 2012 Tube Products International