USRE20439E

USRE20439E - Flash removes

Info

Publication number: USRE20439E
Authority: US
Publication date: 1937-07-06

Description

H. C. RIPPEL FLASH REMOVER July 6,1937.

v 4 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed March 22, 1955 nventor r HERBHer c-R/PPH Br i fis' Cfol'negs July 6, 1.937. H Q RIPPEL Re. 20,439

v FLASH REMOV'ER original Filed March 22, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 2 Ihwentor HEJEEET C- )PIPPEL (ttornegs July 6, 1937.

H. C. RIPPEL FLASH REMOVER Original Filed March '22, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 muenfor H. c. 'RIPPl-:L

lFLASH REMOVER July` 6, 1931.

4 Sheets-sheet 4 original Filed Marlon 22, 1935 (Ittornegs lReami-luiy s, 1937- n Re. 26,439

`PAT'lez-NT oFFicr-:

' msn nanom- Herbert C. Riniiel. Yllnlltcwn, Ohio, amig-nor to Republic Steel. Corporation, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation oi New Jersey (lriginal No. 2,025,421, dated December 24, 1935, Serial No. 12,471, March 22, 1935. Application for reissue February 17, 1937, Serial No. 126,227

. 26 Claim.

'I'his invention relates broadly to the manufacture of longitudinally welded tubular vmetal articles such as steel tube or pipe, and is more particularly concerned with apparatusV for `removing hot plastic welding. flash or burr metal which is formed welding..

In the manufacture of metal tube or pipe to which this invention particularly relates, the flat metal `is formed into a tubular blank with longitudinally abutting edges which are welded together by the electric resistance butt weld method. 4During welding, longitudinal ridges of metal, commonly known as flash or burr metal, are formed on the welded seam, usually on both the inside and outside of the article. For many uses it is desirable, and for other uses it is essential, that the inside and/or outside of the tube should have smooth interior and/or exterior surfaces and should be free metal'.

f Heretofore, this ash metal has often been removed when cold. This method of removal usually yrequires transportation of the tube from the extra operation, and the use of additional equipment and power to remove the cold metal. v

Attempts have been made to remove the flash metal while in a hot plastic state, but several difculties have been encountered, among which was thatof preventing removal of too much or not enough flash metal, that of preventing clogging of the cutter with severed plastic metal, and that of disposing of the severed metal so as not to interfere with planishing of the seam immediately i like parts have been designated by like referencev after removal of the flash metal.

f The present invention avoids the disadvantages of prior devices and possesses many new advantages. It makes possible the severing of the iin, burr or iiash metal, while hot and plastic, and,

passage of the severed metal away from the cut--l ting tool without clogging or adhering to the latter. It also makes possible separate or simultaneous removal of the flash metal from the insideand outside of the tubular article. It also makes possible the planishing of the seam metal immediately after the severing of the flash metal and while the seam metal is still highly heated, thus eliminating tool marks and irregularities, refining the grains, and producing a smooth surface over the seam metal. l

Apparatus embodying and capable of practicingV this invention may be disposed closelyY adjacent to the point of welding, .will automatically at the welded seam duringfrom projecting flash maintain its adjustment with respect to the pipe or tube when irregularities in the latter are encountered thus avoiding removal of too much or too little metal, will possess long cutting tool life Awith longtime use before resharpening is required, and will permit quick removal and replacemen of the cutting tools.

The foregoing, and other advantages of my inv vention and the invention itself will become more apparent from the following description of some embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an improved inside ilash removing device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the device operatively disposed within a length of tube; y l A Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 44 is a vertical section taken on line t-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the tool holding shoe or block used in conjunction with my ash Ar'emovingdevice;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of an outside flash remover embodying my invention, combined' with the inside ash` remover of Figs. l to5;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a part of the apparatus of Fig. 6:

Figs. 8, 9, l0 and llare sectional views of the outside i'lash remover taken on the lines 8 8, y,9-9, iii-lli and iI-II respectively of Fig. 6, Figs. 10 and il being on an enlarged scale.

Throughout the drawings and specifications,

characters.

'I'he device shown in Figs. 1 to 5, comprises a tool carryingl means or plug 5 having itsl end 6 attached to a rod 'I anchored at a point in advance of the welding throat (not shown) 4in any well known manner. The plug 5 is recessed, as at I, to receive a, tool holder or shoes, the extension i0 of recess 8 rproviding a space into which the 'shoe may be moved when it is to be removed from the plug. Radial cylindrical recesses Il and I8, having reduced openings I2 and I9 respectively, are fitted with cylindrical-'blocks il and I8 which rest .on reseilient members I3 and I1 respectively.- These vblocks support the shoe l.

These members I3 and I1 permit slight movement walls which diverge from the outer surface of the' shoe, this opening being enlarged as at 23. A cutting tool 24 is positioned in opening 22 as by a screw 26, and is maintained at the desired cutting angle and position by a wedge 25 in the enlargement 23 of the opening. 'I'he portion 21 of opening 22 serves as an opening thru which hot, severed flash metal may pass thru shoe 9, and communicates with a chamber 29 formed in plug 5. The surface 29 ,of shoe 9 is curved, to conform generally to the inside surface of the tubular article A and is grooved from opening 22 to the forward beveled end to provide a recess 90 ,to straddle andguide the unsevered flash of the seam metal.

The chamber 25 has a discharge opening thru which severed flash metal may pass. A cover-9i pivoted to pin 52 in plug 5 serves to close that discharge opening when the plug is in article A, for the latter keeps the cover in closed position. The weight Aof the cover I and severed ilash metal thereon is such as to cause the cover to swing about the pivot 92 when the article A has moved beyond the device. Such movement permits the severed flash metal to fall out of or be removed from the chamber 25.

'I'he plug 5 is positioned within the article A by a plurality of rollers 55, 55, 51 and 95 mounted on axles 54, 59, 49 and 4I respectively and disposed in recesses in plug 5, so that ,only small portions extend beyond the surface ofthe plug. 'I'hese rollers engage the opposed inner surfaces of the article and position the plug therein relative to those walls.

'Ihe positioning of the cutting tool relative to the welded seam is accomplished byv adjustment of the tool in the tool carrying means and the use of members I5 and I1 of proper thickness. The tool will be automatically maintained in such predetermined position, even when the article A is somewhat irregular, by the resilient members I3 and I1, and will thus leavea predetermined amount of seam metal on the article, that is, it will not remove either too much or not enough of the flash metal. The

rollers

35, 91 and 39 are directly opposed to outsiderollers '42, 43 and 44 which press the pipe against these inside rollers, so that they exert a planishing action on the inner surface of the pipe A, particularly across the heated seam metal from which the flash portion has been removed by the tool 24, thus smoothing' and polishing the metal and refining its grains.

In Figs. 6 to 1l inclusive, is illustrated another embodiment of my invention, particularly adapted to remove hot plastic ilash'metal from the outside of a longitudinal seam weld of a tubular metal article, this embodiment being combined, in Fig. 6, with the apparatus of Figs. 1 to 5' v The outside flash-remover of Figs. 6 to 11 in clusive is described as follows: The housing 55, which anchors the tool carrying means, is attached to a yoke 5I, which may be secured to a ilxed part of a welding machine, for example, to the stand holding rolls F, closely adjacent to the discharge side of the welding electrodes E. The yoke includes horizontally disposed parallel upper and lower arms 52 and 59 respectively, and a vertical threaded post 54. The upper end of the post 54 is reduced in diameter at 55 and is rotatably journaled in the arm 52 with the shoulder of the post adjacent the threaded portionbearingagainst the inside of the upper arm. The lower end of the post is rotatably journalled in the lower arm and is held therein by a clamping member 56 secured tothe yoke by the cap screws 51. The

t upper end o`f the post extends through the yoke arm 52 and is provided with a squared end 59 having a transverse slot therethrough adapted to receive a wedge 59 resting on the upper surface of the yoke arm.

The housing 59 has a threaded boss 59 in which the post 5.4 is threaded. The housing may thus be moved vertically by rotating the post .54. Lateral swinging movement of the housing is prevented when pin 5I is in position in `an aperture vor slot in the end of the arm 52 and in recess 52 of the housing. 'I'he pin 5I may be quickly removed to permit the housing to be swung laterally. l i

4 The body of the housing has an irregular recess 54, as best shown in Fig. 6, in which is disposed a tool holder, about to be described. A pair of bearing or trunnion blocks 55 are mounted for reciprocation in openings 51 inthe walls 55 and 85 of housing 55 and are urged toward one en'd of the openings by helical springs 1I disposed in,l

cylindrical chambers 1l in the side walls, and

posed on the squared end 15 of the shaft 15. 'Ihe amount of rotation oi' the shaft is limited by a second lever 5I also integral with the boss 90 but extending in the opposite direction (Fig. '1) and adapted to contact with a stop 52 secured to die side of thehousing by a cap screw I4. Although but one weight 11 is shown, two such weights may be provided, one being placed -in each end of the Ishaft 15.-

The mid-portion of the shaft 15 is square and carries a tool holder or shoe 55 having a heel portion. The shoe is suiliciently wide to bridge the space between the walls 55 and 55 but has clearance which permits free pivotal and limited lateral movement therebetween. The article engaging surfaces of the shoe and heel are `curved transversely and contoured as best shown in Figs. 'I to 9 inclusive, to conform to the shape of the article. A groove 55 extends longitudinally of the shoe from end'to end and is -of sufllcient depth andwidth to span Athe flash metall projecting from the seam. The heel portion of the shoe is curved longitudinally on the are of a circleand the surface is knurled or roughened for a purpose later to be described.

An opening through the tool holder 55 is :formed by diverging walls opening toward the top of the shoe. A guideway 59 in the rear wall of the openingililga 6 and 9), adjustably supports a cutting tool 55, which tool is retained in the guideway by wedge 55 extending through a transverse keyway in the shoe. f

The lshoe `has a transverse, rearwardly opening slot 9i which permits the shoe to be slipped on -the shaft. The shoe may be locked thereon byanangularkeepersecuredtotheshoeby a cap screw 95. y. f

The tool carrier is recessed to form a chamber 94 partly enclosed by the

walls

65 and 36, and by a curved lid orclosure member 99 pivoted to the toe of the shoe at 96 and having an integral arm 91 extending across the bottom of the chamber.

'I'he end ofthe arm 91, is slotted at 91' to register' shoe contacts with the article therewill be a slight gap between the bearing blocks 69v and ends of the guideways 6l opposite to the springs. This adjustment insures maintenance of the predetermined adjustment of the cutter relative to the article even when small irregularities are present in the tube.

`The already described inside ash remover shown in Figs. 1 to 5 is shown in Fig. 6 in assem bled position with respect to both the outside flash I remover and the welding means indicated by roller electrode E. It will be noted that the

rollers

36 and 31 are opposed respectively to rollers Y42 .and 43, which are the same as

rollers

42 and 43 of Fig. 2. It will further be noted that both the outside cutter 89 and the inside cutter- 24 are positioned closely adjacent to the place, represented `by electrode E where the seam welding takes place. The 'location of each cutter with respect to the place of welding is dependent to some extent on the speed `of travel of the pipe or tube, but is within the space traveled by the pipe or tube while the flash metal is hot and plastic.

The operation f the above described apparatus is substantially as follows:

After the devices have been adjusted. just as described, a tubular article, such as a pipe or tube, is welded as by the electric resistance butt weld means indicated, burr or ash being formed on the inside and outside of the pipe or tube article and these devices is produced. Preferably the welded articlev is moved axially past these devices. The leading'end of the article contacts with the knurled heel oi shoe 85 and rotatesthe shoe clockwise until the shoe engages the article as shown in Fig. 6 on each side of the seam, with the outside flash metal running thru the groove 96, and with the cutting tool 89 infthe path of travel of the hot plastic iiash metal. As the tube passes the shoe, the cutting edge of the tool severs the hot plastic 'ilash metal from the seam and directs the severed flash metal through the opening 8l in the tool holder and into the chamber 94. The planlshing'roll 42 smoothes out any irregularities left by the ,tool and on the seam metal and works and renes the grains. 'Ihe severed, hot flash metal accumulates and curls up in chamber 9,4. When the article has passed completely beyond the shoe, the weight /11 rotates the shoe counter clock-wise in the housing and carries the toe portion away from the article, under control of rollers 93 traveling in the guldeway 99. When the rollers reach'the straightportion 99 lof the guideways, the direction of travel of the rollers 98 is changed. This change moves the` lid into open position' and the arm 91 connected thereto kicks the ilash metal out of the chamber. Rotation of the shoe is stopped by the arm 8| engaging the stop 82; the final position taken by the lid being best shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 6. 'I'he device is now in condition for repetition or those operations on A any other article.

While the outside flash is being removed, as just described, the inside ilash is also being removed. As the welded article with hot plastic fl'ashlmetal passes over the plug 5, its opposite walls are 'engaged by the rollers and by the surface 29 of the shoe 9. The flash is guided by groove '38 to the tool 24 which severs the flash and directs it thru opening 22. This severed metal is collected in chamber 28`from which it may be removed after the pipe has passed' therebeyond by swinging cover 3| on pin 32 and allowing the metal to fall out, or by pulling it out. The pianishing rolls 36 and 42 roll the seam and remove tool marks or irregularities in the seam metal surfaces.

When hot plastic metal is severed from both the outside andinside oi the welded seam, as by the apparatus oi' Fig. 6, the

rollers

42 and 43 simultaneously planish both the outer and inner surfaces of the highly heated weld metal from which the hot plastic ash metal has been removed, thereby smoothing the metal, eliminating tool marks and iregularities, polishing the metal and reining the grain.

Although I have shown the flash removers as operating simultaneously on a pipe, 'it will 'be understood that `either device may bev used in the absence of the other device and that, with` slight obvious mechanical changes, the devices.

maybe used to sever flash from a seam disposed at other places than' in the top part of a pipe or tube, as shown.

The operation ofthe inside flash remover of Figs.- 1 to 5, as above described, is substantially the same whether used with the outside 'flash remover' or separately. In other words, when used separately, the device of Figs. 1 to 5 is assembled with a welder substantially as shown in Fig.v 6 and inside a tube welded by the Welder as shown in Figs. 2 and tl. When Vthe leading end of the tube being welded` reaches the cove;` 3l it moves that cover to the position lshown in Fig. 2, if not already there, then the still hot,

plastic iiash metal is progressively severed fromy be opened manually, and the collected flash may be removed from chamber 2li.,

It will beobvious, from the foregoing disclosure, that the hot, plastic severed flash metal, .has no tendency to clog the cutting tools but on the contrary ls directed thru vthe progressively enlarged opening just in front o! the tool so that clogging is prevented. Moreover, the tool is caused to follow the pipe and thereby to remove all but a predetermined amount of flash metal from the 'seam metal. The rollers in plug 5 roughly position the tool in the pipe while the blocks I4 and I8', washers I3 and I1 and shoe 9 produce andmaintain the fine adjustment of the tool and cause it to follow irregularities in the pipe while preventing removal of too much or not enough flash metal. 'I'he shoe, tool and counterweight of the outside device, act to accomplish a similarresult on the outside of the seam.

The tools of both devices are readily removed andreplaced and have long cutting life because the hot ilash metal is rapidly removed from contact with them and does not cover and cool on them. f

Additional apparatus broadly embodying the present invention is disclosed and specifically claimed in the patent to Lawrence H.Park, No. 2,025,422 issued December 24 1935.

Having thus described my invention so that those skilled in the art may understand the same, I have set forth what I desire to secure by Letters Patent in the claims.

I claim:

l. A device yfor removing welding tiaslimetal from a tubularmetalarticle comprising a tool holder having an opening therethru donned by diverging walls, a cutting tool adjacent to theopening, means for maintaining the tool in a predetermined position relative to a longitudinal welded seam o! an axially moving, substantially cylindrical. tubular metal article to sever hot, plastic, welding ash metal from said article, and means including an uninterrupted surface lof the tool for directing the hot, plastic, severed ilash metal thru said opening. f

' 2. A device for removing welding dash metal from a longitudinally welded, tubular metal article comprising a tool holder having an open-j ing therethru deilned by diverging walls and disposed in predetermined position relative to such an article, the tool holder having a groove to span hot, plastic, flash metal on said article and to permit the holder to engage the article adjacent to the ilash metal, a cutter carried by the tool holder for removing all but a predetermined amount of the hot plastic ilash metal from the article while the latter is in substantially undeformed condition, said tool holder having an opening therethru deilned by diverging walls, and means including an uninterrupted surface of the tool to pass the hot plastic metal severed by the tool thru said opening.

3. A device for removing Ywelding ilash'metal from the seam of a longitudinally welded, tubular metal article comprising'a tool holder shaped and positioned to engage such anarticle, while substantially cylindrical,adiacenttov the. ilash metal. and having an opening therethru denned by diverging walls, ya cutting tool positioned in said 4opening to sever hot, plastic, welding flash metal from the article, and meansincluding an interrupted surface of the tool for the hot, plastic severed flash metal thru said opening. l4. A ldevice for removing welding nash metal from the seam of a longitudinally welded, tubular metal article comprising a tool holder shaped land positioned to engage such an article, while substantiallyv cylindrical, adjacent to the ilash metal and having'anv opening therethru deilned by diverging walls. a cutting tool positioned. in said opening to sever hot, plastic, welding tlash metal from the article, means yincluding an uninmeans havinaan opening therethru into said chamber and denned bydiverging walls. a cutting tool positioned in said opening to sever longltudinally extending hot,`plastic, welding flash metal from such an article, and means to ldirect such metal thru said opening into said chamber, the chamber having a discharge opening thru which collected severed dash metal may pass.

from a longitudinally welded tubular metal article, lcomprising tool carrying means havingv a ash collecting chamber, a tool holder in said meansl having an opening therethru into said chamber and denned by diverging walls, a cutting tool positioned in said opening to sever longitudinally. extending. hot, plastic, welding ash metal from such an article, means to direct such metal thru said opening into said chamber, the

6. .A device for removing welding flash metal chamber having a discharge opening thru which severed collected ilash metal may pass, and a movable closure for said opening.

'7. A device for removing welding dash metal from a longitudinally welded tubular metal article, comprising tool carrying means having a ash collecting chamber, a tool holder in said means having an opening therethru into said chamber and dened by diverging walls, a cutting tool positioned in said, opening to sever longitudinalLv extending hot, plastic, welding ash metal from such anv article, means to direct such vcarried by said plug in one wall of the chamber to sever longitudinally extending hot, plastic, welding ash metal from the weld of such an article and direct the severedplastic metal into said chamber, the chamber having a discharge opening for the severed metal collected 'therein, and meansl engageable with the article to close said discharge opening. g

9. A device for removing, hot welding flash metal from a longitudinally welded, tubular metal article comprising a tool carrier having a chamber and disposed to engage the outside oi.' such an article adjacent to the flash metal thereon,l a toolin said carrier positioned to sever longitudinally .extending hot, plastic, ash metal from said article and direct it into said chamber'l said carrier including means actuated by the article for electing severed flash metal i'roml saidv cham- 10. A device for removing welding ilash'metal from a longitudinally welded. tubular, metal article, comprising a plug, means associated therewith for positioning the plug in such an article. a cutter in the plug positioned to sever longitudinal hot, plastic, welding ash from the said article, and means including opposed rollers, one of which is in the plug and adjacent to the cutter for planishing the portion of the article from ilash metal has been severed of such an a'rticle, a cutting tool in said means I disposed in a predetermined position relative to longitudinally extending welding flash metal on the exterior of said article. and means actuated by the exterior surface` of said article for maintaining the predetermined: position of the cutting tool relative to the article and' to its metal.

12. A device for removing welding flash metal from a longitudinally welded tubular metal f and defined by divergent walls, a cutting tool holder comprising a shaft for supporting the tool positioned in said opening to sever flash metal from the article, said severed metal being directed by the tool and the divergent walls of the tool holder into thechamber, a discharge opening from said chamberv and a closure for said opening, said closure adapted to be maintained closed during a severing operation by the metal article and adapted after the severing operationto be opened to discharge the severed metal. y

13. A device for removing welding flash metal "from a longitudinally welded tubular' metal arsupported by the plug and adapted to engage the inside surface of the article for positioning the plug in the article, a tool holder resiliently supported in the plug over said chamber and having an opening therethrough into said chamber and defined by divergent walls, a longitudinal groove in the surface of the tool holder to permit the tool holder to engage the tubular article adjacent the flash metal, a cutting tool positioned in said opening to sever ash metal from the article, said severed metal being directed by the tool and the divergent walls of the tool holder into the chamber, a discharge opening from said chamber and a. closure for said opening, said closure adapted to be maintained closed during a severing operation by the metal article and adapted after the severing operation to be opened to discharge the severed metal from the chamber.

i4. A device for removing flash metal from av longitudinally welded tubular metal article, comprising a housing pivotally supported adjacent the article, a tool holder resiliently and pivotally supported by the housing adjacent the ilash metal and having an opening therethrough defined by divergent walls, a cutting tool positioned in said opening for severing the flashmetal from the article, said tool holder and said housing providing a chamber for receiving the severed flash metal, a closure for the chamber opened by pivotal movement `of said tool holder to permit the ash to be ejected and having a kick-out member extending across the bottom ofthe chamber adapted to eject they material from the chamber upon opening of the closure; means to pivot the tool holder, a lever connected to the shaft and means connected to the lever to movethe same.

v15. A device for removing flash `metal from -a longitudinally welded tubular metal article, comprising a housing pivotally supported adjacent to the article, a tool holder resiliently and pivotally supported by the housing adjacent the ash metal and' comprising a shoe having a longitudinali! 'extending surface adapted to engage the surface of the article and an -arcuate friction surface for engagement with the article, said longitudinally extending portion having an opening therethrough defined by divergent walls, a cutting tool positioned in said opening for severing the flash metal from the article, said tool holder and said housing providing a chamber for receiving the severed flash metal, a closure for the chamber adapted to be opened by pivotal movement of said tool holder to permit the flash to be ejected and acaso M ticle,l 'comprising a plug having a chamber, rotatable members supported by thelplug Aand having a kick-out member extending across the bottom of the chamber adapted to eject the material from the chamber upon opening of the closure, said shoe adapted to be pivoted to a flash severing position by engagement of the article with ,the arcuate friction surface, means to pivot the tool holder to a non-cutting position comprising'a shaft for supporting the tool holder, a lever connected to theshaft and means connected to the lever to move the same.

16. The combination with electrical welding means for progressively forming aweld extending longitudinally of a tubular metal article, of means disposed within the article and closely adjacent to said welding means for severing iiash metal from said weld inside of the article. 17. 'I'he combination. with electrical welding means, including parts engaging the outside of a tubular metal article,for progressively forming a weld extending longitudinally of such article, of means-disposed within the article and closely adjacent to said Welding means for severing flash metal from said weld inside of the article while said metal is still hot ,and plastic from the welding operation.,

18. The combination with electrical welding means, including rotary electrodes, for forming a weld extending longitudinally of a tubular metal article, of means disposed within the article and closely adjacent to said electrodes for severing s iiash metal from said weld inside of the article whlesaid metal-is still hot and plastic from the welding operation.

19. The combination with electrical means for progressively forming a weld extending longitudinally ofa tubular metal article, of means disposed within the article and closely adjacent to said welding means for progressively severing ash metal from said Weld inside of the article, and means disposed utside of the article and closely adjacent to said welding means for procent to said welding means for severing hot plastic flash metal from said weld outside of the article, each of said iiash removing means being disposed closely adjacent to said welding means, and means disposed on the inside and outside of the article closely adjacent to the said ash severing means for simultaneously planishing the inner and outer surfaces of the still highly heated weld metal immediately after said iiash metal has been removed.

2i. The combination with electrical means for progressively formingfa weld extending longitudinally of a'tubular metal article, of means engageable.A with the article and disposed closely yadjacent to the electrical means for severing hot plastic flash weld metal from the said article, and means operatively associated with said flash severing means for collecting the flashas it is severed from said weld.

` 22. The combination with electrical means for progressively forming a weld extending longitudinaliy of a tubular metal article. oi' means disposed respectively inside of and outside o! said article' and closely adjacent to said electrical means ior severing ilash metal from said weld,

5 while still hot and plastic from the welding operation, and means engaging the inner and outer surfaces of the weld immediately alter the severance of said flash i'or planishing said surfaces. 23. The combination with electric welding lo means for progressively -forming a weld extending longitudinally oi a tubular metal article, oi cutting means disposed within the article and closely adjacent to said welding means for severing ilash metal from the weld inside of the ar- 15 ticle, and means on either side of said cutting means for maintaining said cutting means in predetermined position relative to the article.

. 24. The` combination with electric welding means for progressively forming al weld .extend- 20 ing longitudinally of a tubular metalarticle, 0f means-including a cutter. disposed within the article and closely adjacent to said welding means for severing hot. plastic iiash metal from the weld rinside of vthe article. and punishing means for working the-weld metal immediately after removal ot metal therefrom by said cutter means. a Y

25. The combinationl with electric welding means for progressively forming a weld extending longitudinally o! a tubular metal article, of means. including a cutter. disposed Vwithin the article and closely adjacent to said welding means for severing hot, plastic ash metal from the weld inside of the article, and means operatively associated with said cutter for collecting ash metal severed from the article by said cutter.

` 26. The combination with electric welding means for progressively forming a weld extending longitudinally of a tubular metal article, of means disposed within the article closely radjacent to said welding means and including a. cutter i'or severing ilash metal from the weld inside of the article and supporting means for maintaining the cutter in predetermined position with respect to the article.

e T C. RIPPEL.