20140034714 | Ring Gear Based Welding System - A method of welding a pipe section in a ring-based welding system, wherein the welding system comprises: (i) an adjustable ring gear mount; (ii) a ring gear assembly positioned on the adjustable ring gear mount, the ring gear assembly having an inner diameter and a center point; and (iii) at least one weld head assembly mounted on the ring gear assembly. The method includes steps of: (a) positioning the pipe section within the ring gear assembly, the pipe section having an object attached the pipe section which enlarges a cross-sectional profile of the pipe section; (b) moving the pipe section through the ring gear assembly in a direction substantially parallel to the pipe section's longitudinal axis; (c) operating the adjustable ring gear mount to move the center point of the ring gear assembly relative to the pipe center point in a plane substantially orthogonal to the pipe section's longitudinal axis; and (d) moving the attached object through the ring gear assembly while the ring gear assembly remains an enclosed circular structure. | 02-06-2014 |