US Patent 7510218 Pipe/connector weld joint, and methods of welding same

The present invention is directed to a pipe section (220) and a connector (400) that are adapted to be welded together, wherein each of the pipe and connector have inner and outer beveled surfaces and the joint is comprised of an angular alignment land (60). In one embodiment, an outer beveled surface on the pipe and an inner beveled surface on the connector cooperate to define the angular alignment land (60). In yet another illustrative embodiment, the inner beveled surface of the connector and the outer beveled surface of the pipe have a bevel angle of approximately 30 degrees, while the outer beveled surface of the connector and the inner beveled surface of the pipe have a beveled angle of approximately 45 degrees.