Method Of Welding Two Sides Of A Joint Simultaneously

Abstract

A system for arc welding two sides of a joint simultaneously is disclosed. By customizing welding waveforms and the distance between two or more electrodes, weld currents can be designed to transfer current to and through one or more electrodes in addition to the current traditionally passed only to the common node.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A system for arc welding two sides of a joint simultaneously, comprising:
 a first power source connected to and supplying a first welding waveform to a first electrode;   a second power source connected to and supplying a second welding waveform to a second electrode;   a first and second base metal positioned such that a weld joint is to be welded on a first side and a second side;   the first electrode is positioned to weld the first side;   the second electrode is positioned to weld the second side;   the first and second electrodes move along the weld joint in the same direction and at or near the same speed; and   current transfers from the first electrode to the second electrode, or from the second electrode to the first electrode.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first electrode leads the second electrode by up to 6 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first electrode leads the second electrode by up to 12 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second welding waveform is out of phase with the first welding waveform by some degree other than 45°, 60°, 90°, 120°, 180°, or 270°. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the weld is a butt weld. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the weld is a butt weld in the 2G position. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the weld is a fillet weld. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the weld is a fillet weld in the 2F position. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein a computer takes as inputs simulated representations of the first and second welding waveforms, which are supplied to a simulation circuit in the computer that predicts at least the current flowing from the first electrode to the second electrode, or the current flowing from the second electrode to the first electrode. 
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 positioning a first workpiece proximate to a second workpiece to define a joint between the first and second workpieces, the first workpiece having a surface facing the second workpiece to define a first side of the joint and an opposing second side of the joint, the first workpiece surface further defining a joint length extending along a length of the first workpiece and defining a joint depth extending between the first and second joint sides;   disposing a first electrode to face the joint from the first joint side and simultaneously disposing a second electrode to face the joint from the second joint side;   receiving energy at the first electrode from a first energy source to arc weld the first and second workpieces from the first joint side and simultaneously receiving energy at the second electrode from a second energy source to arc weld the first and second workpieces from the second joint side; and   receiving energy at the first electrode from the second energy source to arc weld the first and second workpieces from the first joint side.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein receiving energy at the first electrode from the second energy source further comprises reducing energy received at the first electrode from the first energy source. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 receiving energy at the second electrode from the first energy source to arc weld the first and second workpieces from the second joint side.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein receiving energy at the second electrode from the first energy source further comprises reducing energy received at the second electrode from the second energy source. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein receiving energy at the first electrode from the second energy source further comprises receiving said energy via the second electrode. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein receiving energy at the second electrode from the first energy source further comprises receiving said energy via the first electrode.