US3668359A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Clamping and welding assembly
Assignee: DSD CO
•
Filing: 1971-01-29
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Granted: 1972-06-06
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Expires: 1991-01-29
Abstract
Abstract An orbital tube welder is provided comprising a pair of tube clamping assemblies having dual clamping areas and an electrode carrying housing adapted for rotation around the clamping assemblies while applying a closing force thereon. The clamping assemblies advantageously accommodate irregular contours along the length of tubing being welded while assuring precise positioning and secure aligned clamping thereof during the welding operation by utilizing clamping jaws adjacent the weld and a spaced resilient aligning and clamping collar having a radial slot extending along the length thereof. Multiple adjustments are incorporated in both the housing and the individual clamping assemblies for precisely controlling alignment of the tubes being welded.
Inventors
- 👤 John O Emmerson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:14
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/02; B23K9/028; B23K9/0282; B23K9/0286; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S117/00; Y10S117/911
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A clamping and welding device for precisely positioning a pair of workpieces and securing the workpiece surfaces in aligned abutting relationship comprising welding means including a welding electrode, a housing adapted for mounting a welding electrode and a pair of workpiece clamping assemblies mounted on the housing for synchronous movement relative thereto, each of said assemblies having clamping means for securely engaging the workpiece adjacent the surface being welded and adjustable aligning and retaining means spaced from said clamping means for precisely positioning said workpiece surfaces, said aligning and retaining means being adapted to accommodate nonlinear contour variations in each workpiece, said housing including means for moving the electrode relative to the clamping assemblies and for applying a closing force to the surfaces being welded during the welding operation and during movement of the housing relative thereto, said clamping assembly being provided with a flexible aligning collar spaced from the surface being welded and adapted for compressively engaging the workpiece despite nonlinear contour variations therein and adjustable aligning means selectively operative on the flexible collar to urge the collar into compressive engagement with the workpiece and effect adjustable positioning thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A clamping and welding device for precisely positioning a pair of workpieces and securing the workpiece surfaces in aligned abutting relationship comprising welding means including a welding electrode, a housing adapted for mounting a welding electrode and a pair of workpiece clamping assemblies mounted on the housing for synchronous movement relative thereto, each of said assemblies having clamping means for securely engaging the workpiece adjacent the surface being welded and adjustable aligning and retaining means spaced from said clamping means for precisely positioning said workpiece surfaces, said aligning and retaining means being adapted to accommodate nonlinear contour variations in each workpiece, said housing including means for moving the electrode relative to the clamping assemblies and for applying a closing force to the surfaces being welded during the welding operation and during movement of the housing relative thereto, said clamping assembly being provided with a flexible aligning collar spaced from the surface being welded and adapted for compressively engaging the workpiece despite nonlinear contour variations therein and adjustable aligning means selectively operative on the flexible collar to urge the collar into compressive engagement with the workpiece and effect adjustable positioning thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The clamping and welding device of claim 1 including interconnecting drive means between the clamping assemblies for assuring synchronous movement thereof relative to the housing, said interconnecting means being operative to obviate the imposition of stress-induced loads across the molten weld bead of the abutting surfaces during the welding operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the interconnecting means includes a rotatable connecting shaft mounted on the housing for movement therewith and synchronous drive means on each clamping assembly cooperating with the shaft to prevent relative movement between the assemblies, said device further including a drive input means operatively connected to the housing for moving the housing relative to the clamping assemblies.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The clamping and welding device of claim 1 wherein the clamping assembly includes a collet, a plurality of clamping jaws movable toward and away from the workpiece adjacent the surface being welded, a support for the jaws movably retained by the collet and jaw drive means interconnecting said collet and said support for imparting to the jaws movement toward and away from the workpiece.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the collar is a resiliently deformable cylindrical member having a radial slot therein along the length thereof extending from its outer surface to adjacent the central axis thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The clamping and welding device of claim 1 wherein the housing and the clamping assemblies are generally cylindrical, axially split members capable of easy removal from the workpiece upon completion of the welding operation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the clamping assemblies are provided with ring-like shoulders projecting from the exterior surfaces thereof and the means for applying a closing force to the workpieces includes bearings eccentrically mounted within the housing and engageable with said shoulders for applying axial pressure to thE assemblies.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The clamping and welding device of claim 1 wherein the housing is a cylindrical member retainably enclosing the clamping assemblies and includes adjustable positioning means for positioning the clamping assemblies relative to each other and to the housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
139 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the clamping assembly includes a tubular collet having an interior camming surface at one end, a plurality of symmetrically spaced clamping jaws having cam follower portions cooperating with the camming surface of the collet to effect radial movement of the jaws, a support ring for the jaws retainably mounted within the collet for limited axial movement therealong, said jaws being secured to the ring for axial movement therewith, and ring drive means on the collet for displacing the ring axially to effect radial movement of the jaws, said clamping assembly further including a flexible aligning collar mounted within the collet at the end thereof opposite said one end in spaced axial relationship to the clamping jaws and a plurality of adjustable screw assemblies for compressively urging the collar into engagement with the workpiece.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
172 words
A clamping and welding device for precisely positioning a pair of workpieces and securing the workpiece surfaces in aligned abutting relationship comprising welding means including a welding electrode, a housing adapted for mounting a welding electrode in fixed relationship therewith and a clamping assembly for movement relative thereto, said assembly having clamping means securely engaging the workpiece adjacent the surface being welded and adjustable aligning and retaining means spaced from said clamping means for precisely positioning the surface of the workpiece held thereby, said housing including means for moving the clamping assembly relative to the housing and for applying a closing force to the surfaces being welded during the welding operation and during movement of the housing relative thereto, said clamping assembly being provided with a flexible aligning collar spaced from the surface being welded and adapted for compressively engaging the workpiece despite nonlinear contour variations therein and adjustable aligning means selectively operative on the flexible collar to urge the collar into compressive engagement with the workpiece and effect adjustable positioning thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
172 words
A clamping and welding device for precisely positioning a pair of workpieces and securing the workpiece surfaces in aligned abutting relationship comprising welding means including a welding electrode, a housing adapted for mounting a welding electrode in fixed relationship therewith and a clamping assembly for movement relative thereto, said assembly having clamping means securely engaging the workpiece adjacent the surface being welded and adjustable aligning and retaining means spaced from said clamping means for precisely positioning the surface of the workpiece held thereby, said housing including means for moving the clamping assembly relative to the housing and for applying a closing force to the surfaces being welded during the welding operation and during movement of the housing relative thereto, said clamping assembly being provided with a flexible aligning collar spaced from the surface being welded and adapted for compressively engaging the workpiece despite nonlinear contour variations therein and adjustable aligning means selectively operative on the flexible collar to urge the collar into compressive engagement with the workpiece and effect adjustable positioning thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The device of claim 10 wherein the clamping assembly is provided with at least one ring-like shoulder projecting from the exterior surface thereof and the means for applying a closing force to the workpiece includes a bearing eccentrically mounted within the housing and engageable with said shoulder for applying axial pressure to the workpiece held by the assembly.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-06 | 1975-12-06 | 1976-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-06 | 1979-12-06 | 1980-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-06 | 1983-12-06 | 1984-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |