Cl B23k 37/00 [58] Field of Search 228/2, 15; 72/112, [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,226,852 12/1940 Dobrick 172/317 2,998,646 9/l961 Hitz ..,29/47O 3,002,871 l0/l96l Tramm et al 223/2 X l2b Q 12b Primary Examiner-Richard B. Lazarus 5 7 ABSTRACT v A welding apparatus and method are provided which are particularly applicable to the welding of aligned and abutted sections of pipe and