US3735087A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for adjustable metering
Assignee: R I PATENTS Inc
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Filing: 1971-03-04
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Granted: 1973-05-22
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Expires: 1991-03-04
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to metal metering methods and apparatus such as employed in welding equipment using granular material to form its weld bead; and more particularly, relates to such metering methods and apparatus and the controls therefor. The present invention encompasses the use of methods and control means to provide controlled rates of feed for the granular material, either based on the rate of feed of the electrode or on selected compositions for the weld bead. In addition to the basic method disclosed, a mechanical embodiment of the apparatus is shown which employs a rocker arm or arms and a linkage to transfer motion from a shaft connected to the electrode feed means to the metering wheel. Adjustment is provided for the rocker arm and linkage to adjust the amount of motion that is transferred to each individual metering wheel. An electrical embodiment of the apparatus is also disclosed and this utilizes two controls to limit the current flow to the metering wheel motors, one to adjust the current flow in relation to the rate of feed for the electrode and the second to provide individual control over individual motors, and in turn, over individual metering wheels. The present invention, therefore, provides method and means to give, not only synchronization of the granular feed with the electrode feed, but also over the composition of the total feed by controlling the rate of feed of the individual ingredients.
Inventors
- 👤 R Arnoldy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:15
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/32; B23K9/324
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
Welding apparatus for use in welding with a consumable electrode and granular material including, a weld head, electrode feed means for feeding the consumable electrode to a weld zone at a predetermined rate of feed, granular material metering means for feeding at least one granular material to the weld zone in controlled amounts, linkage means coordinating the rate of feeding of the electrode feed means and the rate of feeding of the granular material metering means whereby the consumable electrode and the granular material are fed to the weld zone in coordinated proportional amounts, and control means operative for varying the coordinated rate of feeding of the electrode feed means and the granular material metering means to the weld zone independently of individual changes in the rate of feed of the electrode and the controlled amounts of granular material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
Welding apparatus for use in welding with a consumable electrode and granular material including, a weld head, electrode feed means for feeding the consumable electrode to a weld zone at a predetermined rate of feed, granular material metering means for feeding at least one granular material to the weld zone in controlled amounts, linkage means coordinating the rate of feeding of the electrode feed means and the rate of feeding of the granular material metering means whereby the consumable electrode and the granular material are fed to the weld zone in coordinated proportional amounts, and control means operative for varying the coordinated rate of feeding of the electrode feed means and the granular material metering means to the weld zone independently of individual changes in the rate of feed of the electrode and the controlled amounts of granular material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of claim 1 where, the linkage means includes means responsive to the rate of feed of the consumable electrode for transmitting motion to the granular material metering means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
The invention of claim 1 where, the linkage means includes, a shaft rotatably carried by the apparatus arranged to rotate in response to the feeding of the consumable electrode to the weld zone, and where, the granular feed means includes, at least one metering wheel arranged to feed the granular material to the weld zone operatively connected to and driven by the linkage means in response to rotation of the shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
The invention of claim 3 where, the linkage means includes, linkage means for each of said metering wheels operatively connecting said wheel to said shaft, whereby the rotation of the shaft imparts movement to each of the linkage means which movement is transmitted to each of the metering wheel, and where, the control means includes, control means connected to each of the linkage means for adjusting the amount of movement transmitted to each of said metering wheels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
106 words
The invention of claim 4 wherein the shaft further includes for each linkage means, a toothed gear secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, and each linkage means is further defined as including, a first plate adjacent said gear and rotatably mounted about the shaft, a rocker arm rotatably mounted on the first plate and being biased against said gear, whereby rotation of the gear will impart a rocking movement to said arm, a free end on said rocker arm, each metering wheel being mounted on a wheel shaft for rotation therewith, a link operatively connecting the rocker arm free end to its respective wheel shaft,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein each linkage means further includes, one way clutch means mounted about the wheel shaft and to which said link is connected for imparting movement from said link to said wheel shaft in one direction only.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
The invention of claim 6 wherein the control means is defined as including, screw means formed to said welding apparatus for rotation relative thereto, and a sleeve threadedly engaging said screw means for translation along the length of the screw means upon rotation thereof, said sleeve being secured to the first plate, whereby the first plate rotates about the shaft as the sleeve translates along the screw means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein said metering means is comprised of, a metering wheel for feeding each granular material by rotation of the wheel, a variable speed motor driving each of the metering wheels, said control means including, power circuit means for supplying current to each of said motors for the operation thereof, the speed of the motors varying with the amount of current supplied, voltage control means for controlling the amount of current supplied to each motor, and signal control means for control of said voltage control means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention of claim 8 wherein, the voltage control means is controlled by signals sent to the voltage control means by the signal producing means, and the signal control means includes, signal producing means responsive to the electrode feed means for supplying a signal to the control means in predetermined proportion to the rate at which the electrode is fed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 9 wherein the signal control means includes, second control means for individually controlling the rate of rotation of each of the metering wheels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention of claim 9 wherein including a voltage control means for each motor, the signal control means further including, means connected to said signal producing means for individually controlling the signals sent to each of said voltage control means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
198 words
Metering equipment for use in welding apparatus utilizing a consumable electrode and granular materials in its welding process including, means for feeding the electrode to a weld zone at adjustable rates of feed, a first shaft rotatably connected to said equipment, the rate of rotation of the shaft varying with the rate of feed of the electrode, toothed gear means mounted on said first shaft for rotation therewith, at least one metering wheel to which granular material is supplied, said metering wheel feeding said material into a conduit for conveyance to the welding zone, a second shaft on which the metering wheel is secured for rotation therewith, a first plate freely rotatable on said first shaft, a first rocker arm rotatably secured to said first plate and biased against said gear means, a protuberance on the first rocker arm maintained in contact with the gear teeth by said bias, whereby rotation of the gear means will impart a rocking movement to the first rocking arm, link means for transmitting said rocking movement to the second shaft for the rotation thereof, and control means for varying the amount of the rocking movement that is transmitted to the second shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
198 words
Metering equipment for use in welding apparatus utilizing a consumable electrode and granular materials in its welding process including, means for feeding the electrode to a weld zone at adjustable rates of feed, a first shaft rotatably connected to said equipment, the rate of rotation of the shaft varying with the rate of feed of the electrode, toothed gear means mounted on said first shaft for rotation therewith, at least one metering wheel to which granular material is supplied, said metering wheel feeding said material into a conduit for conveyance to the welding zone, a second shaft on which the metering wheel is secured for rotation therewith, a first plate freely rotatable on said first shaft, a first rocker arm rotatably secured to said first plate and biased against said gear means, a protuberance on the first rocker arm maintained in contact with the gear teeth by said bias, whereby rotation of the gear means will impart a rocking movement to the first rocking arm, link means for transmitting said rocking movement to the second shaft for the rotation thereof, and control means for varying the amount of the rocking movement that is transmitted to the second shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 12 wherein said link means is further defined as including, clutch means on the second shaft for transferring to the second shaft said rocking movement in one direction only.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of claim 13 wherein said clutch means includes, an upstanding arm, and said link means further includes a link connecting the first rocker arm to the upstanding arm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 13 wherein the control means is further defined as including, means for adjusting the position of said first plate about the first shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention of claim 15 wherein said adjusting means if further defined as including, screw means rotatably secured to the metering equipment, a sleeve rotatably engaging the screw means for translation along said screw means upon rotation thereof, said sleeve being connected to the first plate, whereby said translation of the sleeve rotates the first plate about the first shaft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
134 words
The invention of claim 13 and including, a second plate freely rotatable on said shaft, a second rocker arm rotatably secured to said plate and biased against said gear means, a protuberance on the second rocker arm maintaining contact with the gear teeth by said bias, whereby rotation of the gear means will impart simultaneous rocking movements to the first and second rocking arms, this simultaneous rocking movement of the first and second rocker arms being in opposite directions relative to each other, said link means being further defined as link means for transmitting the rocking movement of the first and second rocker arms to said second shaft for the rotation thereof, and said control means being further defined as control means for varying the amount of rocking movement transmitted to said second shaft.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention of claim 17 wherein, the gear means includes a gear for each of the first and second rocker arms, said gears being offset relative to each other whereby the gear teeth will produce said opposite rocking movement in the rocker arms.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
146 words
Metering apparatus for use in welding with a consumable electrode and granular materials to provide a weld including, a plurality of metering wheels for metering the granular materials to a weld zone by rotation of the wheels, a variable-speed electric motor operatively connected to and rotating each of the wheels, electrode feeding means for feeding the electrode to the weld zone, a power circuit for supplying electrical current to each of said motors, signal producing means responsive to the electrode feeding means for producing an electrical signal proportional to the rate at which the electrode is fed to the weld zone, voltage control means for each motor for controlling the amount of electrical current supplied to its respective motor in response to the electrical signal from the signal producing means, and second control means individually controlling the rate of rotation of each of the metering wheels.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
146 words
Metering apparatus for use in welding with a consumable electrode and granular materials to provide a weld including, a plurality of metering wheels for metering the granular materials to a weld zone by rotation of the wheels, a variable-speed electric motor operatively connected to and rotating each of the wheels, electrode feeding means for feeding the electrode to the weld zone, a power circuit for supplying electrical current to each of said motors, signal producing means responsive to the electrode feeding means for producing an electrical signal proportional to the rate at which the electrode is fed to the weld zone, voltage control means for each motor for controlling the amount of electrical current supplied to its respective motor in response to the electrical signal from the signal producing means, and second control means individually controlling the rate of rotation of each of the metering wheels.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention of claim 19 wherein the signal producing means is operatively connected for supplying the same signal or changes in said signal to all of said voltage control means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 19 wherein the second control means is further defined as, means connected to said signal producing means for individUally adjusting the signals sent to the individual voltage control means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention of claim 20 wherein the second control means is further defined as, means connected to said signal producing means for individually adjusting the signals sent to each of said voltage control means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
155 words
The invention of claim 19 wherein each of said voltage control means is defined as including, switch means for opening the current flow to its respective motor in varying amounts and in selected proportion to the magnitude of the signal received, said voltage control means including a control terminal, said first signal producing means including a, second voltage source, a signal circuit for each voltage control means, each of said control terminals being connected to the second voltage source by its signal circuit, signal adjusting means in each of said signal circuits and operatively connected to the electrode feeding means for controlling and adjusting the signal passing to said control terminals, in predetermined proportion to the rate of feed of the electrode, said second control means including, a manually operated control connected to each of said signal circuits for individual control of the signal passing through its circuit independently of the rate of electrode feed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |