General Electric Company
SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING BOILER TUBES

Abstract:

A method for manufacturing boiler tubes includes the steps of removing end caps from a plurality of tubes, the plurality of tubes including at least a first tube and a second tube, cleaning an outer surface of the first tube and the second tube, forming a weld preparation on an upstream end of the first tube, forming a weld preparation on a downstream end of the second tube, welding the upstream end of the first tube to the downstream end of the second tube to form a butt weld, to produce a long tube, and with an automated device, measuring a parameter of at least the first tube and the second tube. The steps of removing the end caps, cleaning the outer surface of the tubes, forming the weld preparations, welding the first tube to the second tube, and measuring the parameter are performed autonomously.