Claims:WE CLAIM:

1. Manual TIG joint feeding apparatus comprising
a tube supporting arm assembly (26) is provided for supporting tube, which is fixed in tube supporting arm carrier assembly (27) by using fastener including bolt and nuts, wherein the tube supporting arm carrier assembly (27) is arranged with guide assembly (28) with guide wheels for the flexible longitudinal movement, wherein the Lower guide (14) is welded with fixed stand (29) and upper (13) guide is mounted with fastener including bolt and nut, in which the fixed stand (29) is fabricated as single component with welding joints.

2. The manual TIG joint feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising pitch correction tool having two legs (L) with adjustable mechanism mounted on a flat base (B) supporting a holder (H) which are integrally connected to each other so as to constitute a single piece.

3. The manual TIG joint feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixed stand (29) forms the bottom portion of the apparatus.

4. The manual TIG joint feeding apparatus as claimed in claims 1-3, wherein the guide assembly comprises Upper guide for the carrier (13) and Lower guide for the carrier (14) connected to each other by guide clamping screw (12),in which the guide assembly is provided for entire width of the panel to ease the joint feeding, wherein Stationary guide way is made of channel for good strength and Roller mechanism is provided for movement over the guideway.

5. The manual TIG joint feeding apparatus as claimed in claims 1-4, wherein the supporting arm carrier comprising a supporting arm clamping screw (15), which is used for clamping of supporting arm assembly, supporting arm Locking bolts(16), which is provided for the locking of the carrier to the required position, guide wheel (17) containing two wheels for each shaft, guide wheels’ roller shaft (18), in which two shafts are assembled for smooth movement of the carrier, wherein each of the shafts is connected to one wheel at the end.

6. The manual TIG joint feeding apparatus as claimed in claims 1-5, wherein the supporting arm assembly comprises a vertical arm (20), an inclined arm (21) adjustable to any degree, a tube supporter (22) used for holding the tube and is made with longitudinal slot to accommodate the tube supporting guide (24) with flexible movement, drilled holes (23) for clamping of the tube supporter, which is fixed by fasteners mounted in the tube supporting arm carrier, wherein the tube supporting guide (24) is used for width adjustment of joint feeding tube, in which the vertical and inclined arms (20, 21) are connected to each other, each of which is having multiple holes along their length.

7. A method of manual TIG joint feeding and pitch correction at panel fabrication area of high pressure steam generator comprising steps of:
? placing the angle setting apparatus in the 90-degree bend tubes joint feeding area (TIG welding zone);
? placing the 90-degree bend tube on the inclined arm (22) with help of tube supporting clamp (24) of the apparatus;
? fix the bend tube at tube supporting clamp (24) with the inclined arm (21) to the required angle;
? checking the root gap and straightness of the tube for the manual TIG joint;
? tack welding by TIG welding operation with the TIG joint feeding apparatus;
? moving the apparatus tube supporting arm assembly (26) for tack welding of another tube;
? maintaining the required pitch by using the pitch correction tool;
? ensuring the apparatus to reach entire width of the panel for all tubes joint feeding;
? tack welding of all the tubes followed by removal of the complete assembly of the apparatus from TIG welding zone.
8. The method of manual TIG joint feeding and pitch correction at panel fabrication area of high pressure steam generator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pitch of the tool is corrected according to the panel pitch requirements and it is inserted when the second terminal tube is tacked, in which the tool is being kept for the entire TIG welding operation that the pitch never deviates according to the welding distortion.
, Description:MANUAL TIG JOINT FEEDING APPARATUS AND METHOD AT PANEL FABRICATION AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE STEAM GENERATOR

FIELD OF INVENTION:
[001] This invention relates to manual TIG joint feeding apparatus and method at panel fabrication area of high pressure steam generator.
[002] The present invention generally relates to water wall panel fabrication for high pressure Steam generators. The present invention more particularly relates to steam cooled super heater panel fabrication. Still more particularly the present invention relates to the manual TIG joint feeding mechanism of steam cooled superheater panels. The invention further relates to simplification of manual TIG joint feeding method by replacing the conventional method which is complicated and inaccurate. It also eliminates the material handling risk, ensures job accuracy by facilitating the straightness of the welding tubes, and safety of workers. The new process there by eliminates excess man power, ensures the product quality and eliminates material wastage of the water wall panels in high pressure steam generators.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION:
[003] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[004] Tubular product plays major role in boiler manufacturing. The Applicant (BHEL) is manufacturing water wall panels for furnace, super heater, re heater and economizer coils. This invention is related to the water wall panels for furnace of the super critical boilers. There are different types of water wall panels according to the function. Like First pass panels and second pass panels. First pass panels are located in the furnace walls were the amount of heat transfer is more than 500°C.Second pass panels are designed for low heat transfer a maximum up to 300°C.
[005] This invention is related to the second pass panels. These panels are having an angle 15-20° at the top end which is a design requirement. These panel bends are either towards left or right direction. According to the direction of bend, these panels are categorized. If the bend angle is towards left side means it is called LHS panels or if the bend direction is towards the right side means it is called RHS panels.
[006] Panel dimensions like pitch of the panel, length and diagonal should be maintained accurately. A small variation will affect the performance of the boiler and also it is difficult to weld the panel at elevated position at site. It is important with the LHS/RHS bend panels; these panels are the different kind in design while comparing with the other panels and these panels are located at the elevation of 70-75 meter from the ground level.

Panel fabrication process
[007] These panels are made as straight panels in the panel processing machines. Then the panel end is being prepared and the terminal bend joint is being fed manually.

Existing Process
[008] Once the straight panel is formed in the panel processing machines, it is fed to the fit up area for fabrication process. At the fabrication stage the 15-20° LHS/RHS panels are fabricated by following the step by step operations. Reference may be made to Figure 1A.
[009] Diagonal correction: Diagonal correction is the important step in fabrication. First the panel transverse and longitudinal bow has to be corrected manually by heating method to ensure both diagonals are equal.
[0010] Terminal end gas cutting: The location of the terminal joints to be fed is identified as per the drawing. According to the dimension mentioned in the drawing, the length of the panel is being marked and a punch mark is being given. Then the gas cutting operation is performed.
[0011] End Chamfering operation: It is an edge preparation operation for TIG joint feeding purpose. It is being performed in a special purpose chamfering machine. Three fitters are required to complete the operation.
[0012] The chamfering tool may get damaged due to the hard gas cut surface in end chamfering. So it is a time consuming operation. Usage of tool for edge preparation is quite many.
[0013] Joint feeding operation: Once the joint is prepared, 3 fitters and 1 TIG welder have to feed the joints one by one. Root gap is an important criterion for manual TIG welding. It should be perfect otherwise the joint will not be acceptable at Radiographic test.
This is a bottle neck operation. Because of the following reasons.
a) The bend tubes are heavy having weight of 20-30 kg.
b) 3 Fitters have to hold the tubes till the TIG tacking is done.
[0014] One “L” angle prism support has to be given to eliminate the distortion while manual welding of fin and tubes. These “L” angle prism cannot be used further.
[0015] The Joint feeding operation is having following problems.
1) More manpower, more fatigue and poor safety
2) Pollution is more due to additional operations such as rework.
3) The dimensional deviation and pitch correction is more leading to poor quality.
4) Chances of accidents are more.
5) Product cycle time is more.
6) More material usage, resources wastage
[0016] Mainly Pitch deviation occurs due to manual holding of the tubes while welding. Hence manual TIG joint feeding and welding is the bottle neck operation in the LHS/RHS panel fabrication.
[0017] Joint welding: Manual TIG welding is performed after the tack welding. This process takes 4 shifts to complete the welding joints.
[0018] Radiographic Test: After completion of manual TIG welding all the joints to undergo 100% Radiographic test to ensure the welding quality. After evaluation, according to the result further operation is carried out.

Challenges in extended floor panel fabrication

[0019] The individual pitch of the tubes needs to be maintained accurately: If the pitch is not accurate, the panel cannot be welded with the matching panel at site which is located at 70 Meter height in the boiler. This will end in huge time wastage and manpower wastage also safety issue at the site. It is clear that the width correction operation to maintain the pitch is a bottle neck in fabrication stage.
[0020] Angle of the bend should be maintained accurately: The angle of the bend specified in the drawing should be maintained accurately in the panel. Otherwise the panel cannot be accurately fixed at the second pass panel passage at the site at the correct elevation.
[0021] Finning operation and Rework: After completion of above activities, the void closing (finning) operation is carried out. The panel needs to be placed in vertical position for void closing work. Finning is based on the design requirement as per the drawing. The tubes and fins are joined by manual metal arc welding. There will be more heat distortion due the manual TIG welding and manual metal arc welding while joining the tube and fin. Due to the welding distortion and work hardening the tube to tube pitch will change. So one needs to correct the distorted bend area manually by using the iron crowbar which is unsafe method. The crowbar may slip and cause accident. For hot correction one needs acetylene and oxygen gases. Hence this is an additional operation.

[0022] Requirements for one panel correction
? Oxygen cylinder requirement=1 no’s
? Acetylene cylinder requirement=1 no’s
? Manpower needed=4 fitters,1 semi-skilled
? Welder needed=2 welders

[0023] More manpower and more fatigue:
? Three Fitters have to correct the individual pitch according to the drawing requirement manually by hot correction and pressing the tube with a long iron rod.
? After completing the finning operation, next the finning welding is completed. And the pitch is being checked by quality control. If the pitch is not according to the requirement again the rework has to be done for correcting it. This will again a direct loss.
? During TIG welding, fitters need to be holding the heavy tube till the joint tack welding is completed. So more fatigue to the workers. Also the process is performed over the table of height 1.5-2 meters. There are chances of falling down.
? For finning operation, it takes more manpower and more resources wastage to complete the operation. Also this operation is unsafe and awkward.

[0024] Hence there is a need to design a new method for manual TIG joint feeding with accurate pitch maintaining mechanism in water wall panels of the high pressure steam generators.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[0025] Primary object of the present invention is to provide manual TIG joint feeding apparatus and method at panel fabrication area of high pressure steam generator.
[0026] Another object of the present invention is to make the manual TIG joint feeding operation with less human effort.
[0027] Still another object of the present invention is to reduce the manpower utilization for manual TIG joint feeding operation.
[0028] Yet another object of the present invention is to enhance the workplace safety by eliminating adverse operations.
[0029] Further another object is to improve the quality of the product by avoiding the rework.
[0030] Still further object of the invention is to propose a new apparatus for manual TIG joint feeding for ensuring 100% welding for the entire length of the tubes in water wall panels, wherein the apparatus could perform the joint feeding effortlessly and simply also ensure the safety of the fitters and welder working in the panel.
[0031] Still further object of the invention is to introduce an entirely simplified new method and eliminates pitch correction work, ensures the straightness of the fitting in manual TIG joint feeding at water wall panels since the entire length of the panel is being welded with guide roller support.
[0032] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present invention is illustrated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[0033] One or more drawbacks of conventional systems and process are overcome, and additional advantages are provided through the apparatus/composition and a method as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be part of the claimed disclosure.
[0034] Accordingly, experiments were conducted to find a simplified and an effective method for joint feeding as well as the maintaining of the pitch accurately. In the new method the heavy tube needs not to be held at the time of joint feeding. The tube can be placed at the appropriate apparatus area and ensure the root gap, this is the first step. Then the fitters can stand nearby till the TIG tack welding by the welder in the terminal bend. Once the tack welding of terminal bend is comfortably done, the mobile arms can be kept parallel to the next tube to do the tack welding on another terminal bend. Likewise, the joint feeding can be proceeded one by one till the entire span of length. This process is Simple and effortless.
[0035] According to the invention, there is provided Manual TIG joint feeding apparatus comprising a tube supporting arm assembly (26) is provided for supporting tube, which is fixed in tube supporting arm carrier assembly (27) by using fastener including bolt and nuts, wherein the tube supporting arm carrier assembly (27) is arranged with guide assembly (28) with guide wheels for the flexible longitudinal movement, wherein the Lower guide (14) is welded with fixed stand (29) and upper (13) guide is mounted with fastener including bolt and nut, in which the fixed stand (29) is fabricated as single component with welding joints.
[0036] Further according to the invention, there is provided a method of manual TIG joint feeding and pitch correction at panel fabrication area of high pressure steam generator comprising steps of:
• Placing the angle setting apparatus in the 90-degree bend tubes joint feeding area (TIG welding zone);
• Placing the 90-degree bend tube on the inclined arm (22) with help of tube supporting clamp (24) of the apparatus;
• Fix the bend tube at tube supporting clamp (24) with the inclined arm (21) to the required angle;
• Checking the root gap and straightness of the tube for the manual TIG joint;
• Tack welding by TIG welding operation with the TIG joint feeding apparatus;
• Moving the apparatus tube supporting arm assembly (26) for tack welding of another tube;
• Maintaining the required pitch by using the pitch correction tool;
• Ensuring the apparatus to reach entire width of the panel for all tubes joint feeding;
• Tack welding of all the tubes followed by removal of the complete assembly of the apparatus from TIG welding zone.

[0037] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

[0038] It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

[0039] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS :
[0040] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and processes that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:-
Figure. 1 Shows the process flow diagram of LHS/RHS bend panel formation in prior art.
Figure. 2 Shows the joint feeding operation in existing method.
Part no.1. Shows the table provided for standing of workers while joint feeding
Part no.2. Shows the joint feeding of bend tube to straight panel
Part no.3. Shows the straight extended floor panel
Figure. 3 Shows the finning operation at the terminal end of the panel.
Part no.4. Shows the crow bar used for pitch correction
Figure. 4 Shows the hot correction process for maintaining the required pitch.
Part no.5. Shows the heating torch used for hot correction
Part no.6. Shows the bend tube area which needs hot correction
Figure. 5 Shows typical pitch correction process using ‘C’ clamp
Part no.7. Shows the C clamp used for pitch correction
Part no.8. Shows the straight fin used for void closing
Part no.9. Shows the L angle plate welded to ensure the uniform pitch
Part no.10. Shows the iron bar used for closing the gap between tube and fin
Part no.11. Shows the wooden block used for lifting tubes
Figure. 6 Shows the manual TIG joint feeding with the invented joint feeding apparatus.
Figure. 7 Shows the TIG tack welding operation with the new apparatus.
Figure. 8 Shows the invented pitch correction tool used for eliminating pitch deviation.
Figure. 9 Shows the invented apparatus fixed stand.
Figure. 10 Shows the invented Guide assembly, wherein
Part no.12 is the guide clamping screw
Part no.13 is the upper guide for the carrier
Part no.14 is the lower guide for the carrier
Figure. 11 Shows the apparatus supporting arm carrier, wherein
Part no.15 shows the tube supporting arm clamping screw
Part no.16 shows the tube supporting arm Locking bolts
Part no.17 shows the Guide wheel
Part no.18 shows the guide wheels’ roller shaft
Part.no.19 shows the guide wheel with ball bearing
Part.no.20 shows the invented tube supporting arm carrier mainframe
Figure. 12 Shows the invented apparatus tube supporting arm assembly, wherein
Part no.21 shows the vertical arm
Part no.22 shows the inclined arm
Part no.23 shows the drilled holes for clamping
Part no.24 shows the tube supporter
Part no.25 shows the tube supporting guide
Figure. 13 Shows the complete assembly of invented apparatus according to the present invention, wherein
Part no.26 shows the invented tube supporting arm assembly
Part no.27 shows the invented tube supporting arm carrier assembly
Part no.28 shows the invented guide assembly
Part no.29 shows the invented fixed stand
Figure. 14 Shows the invented pitch correction tool in accordance with the present invention.

[0041] The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:

[0042] While the embodiments of the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof have been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.
[0043] The present invention makes a disclosure regarding a technology pertaining to manual TIG joint feeding apparatus and method at panel fabrication area of high pressure steam generator.
[0044] This new apparatus unit designed and invented to simplify the manual TIG joint feeding in the water wall panel welding by avoiding the width deviation as well as the tube level problem. In existing method, manual TIG joint feeding, rectifying the pitch by hot correction method and tube levelling with iron bars were time consuming processes and unsafe.
[0045] Referring to Figure 1 showing the total process involved in LHS/RHS bend panel fabrication. Referring the figure 2, the manual TIG joint feeding operation in existing method after the water wall panels formation. A table (part no.1) is provided for standing of workers while joint feeding. The bend tube used for joint feeding (part no.2) to straight panel (part no.3) needs 2 manpower. Once the tube fed to the TIG welding, the tubes will not be in position to the pitch due to heat distortion of the welding and deviate from the required dimension. In order to correct the pitch deviation and levelling of tube in the panel, the tools like crow bar (part no.4), and heating torch (part no.5) are used at bend tube area (part no.6). In existing method, the manpower deployment as well as the resources wastage is more. Figure 4 shows the hot correction of the deviated tube to maintain the required pitch by the workers. Referring figure 5, it shows the C clamp (Part no.7) is used for pitch correction, straight fin (Part no.8) is used for void closing and L angle plate (Part no.9) is welded to ensure the uniform pitch. After checking the required dimension by the fitter, tube is tack welded at L angle plate by the welder. Likewise, all the tubes are being corrected in conventional method. The iron bar (Part no.10) of length of 2000 mm and the wooden block (Part no.11) of length of 2000 mm also used for lifting tubes for closing the gap between tube and fin. On completion of the pitch correction work, next the finning work is being carried out. For finning work 3 fitters and 1 welder is required. After completion of finning work, manual stretch welding is done by the welders on both top and bottom sides of the panel. Before welding, the gas cut areas to be grinded for good weld finish. Hence TIG joint feeding and welding is the bottle neck operation in the LHS/RHS panel fabrication. The Joint feeding operation is having following problems.
1) More manpower, more fatigue and poor safety
2) Pollution is more due to additional operations such as rework.
3) The dimensional deviation and pitch correction is more lead to poor quality.
4) Chances of accidents are more.
5) Product cycle time is more.
6) More material usage, resources wastage.

[0046] In order to avoid the rework in the panels and to reduce the wastage in the panel fabrication process, the present invention has been proposed
• To make the joint feeding operation effort less
• To reduce the manpower utilization.
• To improve safety by eliminating some undesirable operations.
• To improve the quality of the product by avoiding the rework.
• To eliminate the additional cost over the resources by improving the utilization.

[0047] Due to the problems faced in the old method it is planned to find an alternative method which is efficient and less time consuming for the pitch correction and manual TIG joint feeding operation in water wall panel tubes. It is planned to fabricate an apparatus, that it could perform the joint feeding effortlessly and simply by ensuring the safety of the fitters and welder working in the panel. The New apparatus operation, is quite simple and efficient method to manual TIG joint feeding as well as the pitch deviation problem. The new design does not affect the regular working of the procedure. The workers do not need to do any extra work or do not need to put effort for the joint feeding by following the new method.

[0048] This new method is having advantage over the old method since there is no requirement of manual holding of heavy tube and pitch correction work. It requires no manpower for correcting the pitch and tube levelling. So the cycle time of the panel fabrication operation improves by this invention. Figure.6. Shows the manual TIG joint feeding with the invented joint feeding apparatus. In the new method the heavy tube need not hold at the time of joint feeding. The tube can be placed at the appropriate apparatus area and ensure the root gap, this is the first step. Then the fitters can stand nearby till the welder make a TIG tacking in the terminal bend. Once one bend tacking is comfortably done then the movable stand can be kept parallel to the next tube and get the tacking. Likewise, the feeding can be proceeded one by one and till the entire joint feeding is done. This process is Simple and effortless.
• No need to hold the heavy bend tube
• No distortion
• No pitch change.

[0049] Checking Points
• Ensures the root gap.
• Keeps the bend at correct position in the 15° arm and lock it.

[0050] Figure.7 Shows the TIG tack welding operation with the new apparatus. After placing the tube on the apparatus in which the angle of the tube is already fixed
• No need of manual tube holding.
• No chance of distortion.
• No fatigue.
• Safety ensured.
Likewise, all the joint feeding is completed effortlessly.

Pitch correction tool
[0051] In order to eliminate the pitch correction in the after stages of panel fabrication a pitch correction tool has been devised. This tool is having two legs with adjustable mechanism. The two legs (L) are mounted on a flat base (B) supporting a holder (H). The holder (H) is having substantially U section for ease in holding. All the parts of the pitch correction tool are integrally connected to each other so as to constitute a single piece. The pitch of the tool is corrected according to the panel pitch requirements and it is inserted when the second terminal tube is tacked. The tool is being kept for the entire TIG welding operation so that the pitch will never deviate according to the welding distortion.

Advantages of the Invention
[0052] The proposed apparatus for manual TIG joint feeding operation is quiet simple and there is a huge savings in material utilization, manpower engagement and in cycle time of panel fabrication. It ensures 100 % quality and safety in water wall panel fabrication of high pressure steam generators.
[0053] Stationary guide way is made of channel for good strength. The total set up is being fixed to the stand. This total mechanism is made as portable so that the apparatus can be moved near the panel as per the requirement.

The detail of invented apparatus is as below:
[0054] The invented TIG joint feeding apparatus is having mainly five parts, namely (a) Fixed stand (b) Guide assembly (c) Supporting arm carrier (d) Supporting arm assembly (e) pitch correction tool. The same can be discussed herein below:
1. Referring to Figure 9 regarding the fixed stand, which is the bottom portion of the apparatus. The apparatus set up is being attached to the fixed stand for mounting purpose. The stand shown in the figure is exemplary. Thus, any other shape/type of stand can be used for supporting the apparatus.
2. Referring the figure 10, there is guide assembly for entire width of the panel to ease the joint feeding. Stationary guide way is made of channel for good strength. Roller mechanism is provided for movement over the guideway. It ensures the panel joint feeding at entire width. This guide assembly comprises of guide clamping screw (12), Upper guide for the carrier (13) and Lower guide for the carrier (14). Here, the Upper guide for the carrier (13) and Lower guide for the carrier (14) are connected to each other by the guide clamping screw (12).
3. Reference may be made to Figure.11 showing supporting arm carrier. The supporting arm carrier ensures the total assembly to move entire panel width. Movable stand is provided with rollers with tight fit arrangement with bearings, that ensures the ply less movement over the stationary guide way. This supporting arm carrier is made of five parts as follows:
a) Part no.15 shows the supporting arm clamping screw. It is used for clamping of supporting arm assembly.
b) Part no.16 shows the supporting arm Locking bolts. It is provided for the locking of the carrier to the required position.
c) Part no.17 shows the guide wheel. It contains two wheels for each shaft.
d) Part no.18 shows the guide wheels’ roller shaft. Two shafts are assembled for smooth movement of the carrier, wherein each of the shafts is connected to one wheel at the end.
e) Part.no.19 shows the guide wheel with ball bearing.

4. Referring the figure 12 indicating the supporting arm assembly. The supporting arm assembly avoids many near misses like manual holding of heavy tube tubes for joint feeding. Hence Safety is ensured. The supporting arm assembly indicates the following:
a) Part no.20 shows the vertical arm. It is fixed to 90° angle.
b) Part no.21 shows the inclined arm. It can be fixed to 15° as well as it is made as adjustable to any degree. The vertical and inclined arms (20, 21) are connected to each other, each of which is having multiple holes along their length.
c) Part no.22 shows the tube supporter. It is used for holding the tube rigidly. It is made with longitudinal slot to accommodate the tube supporting guide (24) with flexible movement.
d) Part no.23 shows the drilled holes for clamping. It is used for clamping of the tube supporter firmly. It is fixed by means of nut and bolts mounted in the tube supporting arm carrier.
e) Part no.24 shows the tube supporting guide. It is used for width adjustment of joint feeding tube.

[0055] Reference may be made to Figure 13 Showing the complete assembly of invented manual TIG joint feeding apparatus indicating the following features:

- Part no.26 shows the invented tube supporting arm assembly used for supporting the tube. It is fixed in the tube supporting arm assembly (27) by using fastener including bolt and nuts.
- Part no.27 shows the invented tube supporting arm carrier assembly. It is arranged with guide assembly (28) with guide wheels for the flexible longitudinal movement
- Part no.28 shows the invented guide assembly. Lower guide (14) is welded with fixed stand and upper (13) guide is mounted with bolt and nut.
- Part no.29 shows the invented fixed stand. It is fabricated as single component with welding joints.

[0056] Reference may be made to Figure 14 Showing the invented pitch correction tool. Safety problems of the operation is eliminated here because it was an unsafe operation due to the wooden block and iron bar.

[0057] Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the “invention” may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the “invention” will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims.

[0058] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all groups used in the appended claims.

[0059] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particulars claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogues to “at least one of A, B and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B”.
[0060] The above description does not provide specific details of manufacture or design of the various components. Those of skill in the art are familiar with such details, and unless departures from those techniques are set out, techniques, known, related art or later developed designs and materials should be employed. Those in the art are capable of choosing suitable manufacturing and design details.
[0061] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.
[0062] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.
[0063] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.