US3737614A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic arc welding machines
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-10-06
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Granted: 1973-06-05
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Expires: 1991-10-06
Abstract
Abstract Device for performing completely automatic welding operations using fusible or infusible electrode, in accordance with a program directly governed by the path of the electrode, by emission of electric signals corresponding to equal elementary portions of path, such signals being collected by at least one step-by-step motor actuating the programmer. The device is characterized by the fact that the programmer includes means of controlling and adjusting all the welding parameters listed below : welding current strength, current pulsations, wire advance, wire advance pulsations, starting and stopping the unwinding of the wire, the rate of movement of the electrode, variations in such rate, arc fading, the minimum flow of protective gas, adjustment of the position of a torch perpendicularly to the welding wire and parallel to the surfaces to be welded, adjustment of the distance of the torch from the surfaces to be welded, slope of the torch in a plane passing through the welding wire, and slope of the torch in a plane perpendicular to the welding wire. The programmer turns step-by-step under the impulse of the electric signals emitted by the means of moving the torch, so that the angular speed of the programmer is directly proportional to the path travelled by the torch.
Inventors
- 👤 S Paulange
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:32
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/02; B23K9/028; B23K9/0282; B23K9/0286; G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/06; G05B19/063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
322 words
Automatic welding apparatus for welding, for example, two tubes end to end in a continuous welding operation comprising: a. a single welding head supporting a welding torch; b. a crown supporting said welding head and mounted for rotation in the same direction of rotation around at least one full circumference of the tube to be welded; c. means for driving said crown; d. means for generating welding current pulsations; e. means for generating wire advance pulsations; f. means for mounting said welding head on said crown for movement of the torch parallel to the axis of the tube to be welded; g. means for mounting said welding head on the crown so as to permit variations of the distance of the welding torch from the surface to be welded; h. means for mounting said welding head on said crown for permitting variations of the angle of the torch in a plane perpendicular to the welding seam; i. means for mounting said welding head on the crown for permitting variations of the angle of the torch in a plane parallel to the welding seam; j. means responsive to rotation of said crown for generating electric pulses corresponding to equal elementary portions of the path of said torch; k. a step-by-step motor energized by said electric pulses; l. a programmer mounted outside the said welding head and including a shaft driven by said step-by-step motor and upon which are mounted a series of cams, said cams being adapted to control said welding current pulsations, said wire advance pulsations, said movement of the torch parallel to the axis of the tube to be welded, said variations of the distance of the welding torch from the surface of the tube to be welded, said variations of the angle of the torch in a plane perpendicular to the welding seam, and said variations of the angle of the torch in a plane parallel to the welding seam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
322 words
Automatic welding apparatus for welding, for example, two tubes end to end in a continuous welding operation comprising: a. a single welding head supporting a welding torch; b. a crown supporting said welding head and mounted for rotation in the same direction of rotation around at least one full circumference of the tube to be welded; c. means for driving said crown; d. means for generating welding current pulsations; e. means for generating wire advance pulsations; f. means for mounting said welding head on said crown for movement of the torch parallel to the axis of the tube to be welded; g. means for mounting said welding head on the crown so as to permit variations of the distance of the welding torch from the surface to be welded; h. means for mounting said welding head on said crown for permitting variations of the angle of the torch in a plane perpendicular to the welding seam; i. means for mounting said welding head on the crown for permitting variations of the angle of the torch in a plane parallel to the welding seam; j. means responsive to rotation of said crown for generating electric pulses corresponding to equal elementary portions of the path of said torch; k. a step-by-step motor energized by said electric pulses; l. a programmer mounted outside the said welding head and including a shaft driven by said step-by-step motor and upon which are mounted a series of cams, said cams being adapted to control said welding current pulsations, said wire advance pulsations, said movement of the torch parallel to the axis of the tube to be welded, said variations of the distance of the welding torch from the surface of the tube to be welded, said variations of the angle of the torch in a plane perpendicular to the welding seam, and said variations of the angle of the torch in a plane parallel to the welding seam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
Automatic welding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for generating electric pulses comprise a finger operated by said crown through reducing gears so as to generate plural electric pulses during each revolution of the crown in order to permit said cams to continuously control the welding parameters at any moment of the welding operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
Automatic welding apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the shaft supporting the cams is coupled to the motor through a reduction device so as to cause said cams to rotate less than 360* in order to permit each cam to control its associated parameters for the full welding operation even if such welding operation lasts for several revolutions of the torch around the tube to be welded.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
Automatic welding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein additional cams are provided for controlling the following parameters: the average welding current strength, the flow of protective gas, and the speed of rotation of the welding head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
An automatic welding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each cam is made of several discs which may be oriented one with respect to the other and locked laterally together on the shaft by means of quick fastening nuts so as to permit to obtain a large number of combinations of profiles for controlling the welding parameters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
An automatic welding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for varying the position of the torch parallel to the axis of the tube comprises a bracket secured to said crown, an horizontal slide adapted to slide on said bracket, and a motor mounted on said bracket and adapted to move said slide by means of a rack and pinion system under the control of its associated cam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
An automatic welding apparatus as defined in claim 6, further comprising a vertical slide secured to said horizontal slide, an arm secured to said vertical slide, a shaft threaded into the end of said arm, a roller secured to the end of said shaft and bearing against the tube to be welded, and a motor for rotating said shaft under the control of its associated cam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
115 words
An automatic welding apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the means for varying the angle of the torch in a plane perpendicular to the welding seam comprises a rib secured to said vertical slide and having an aperture therein in the shape of an arc of a circle, and a right angle part provided with two studs in one of its right angle portions and sliding in said aperture so that the center of pivotal movement is a point situated on the end of the torch contacting the tube to be welded, and a motor for pivoting said right angle portion through a rack and pinion system under the control of its associated cam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
115 words
An automatic welding apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the means for varying the angle of the torch in a plane parallel to the welding seam comprises the other portion of said right angle part which is also provided with an aperture therein in the shape of an arc of a circle, a support for said welding head provided with studs sliding in said aperture so that the center of pivotal movement is a point situated on the end of the torch contacting the tube to be welded, and a motor mounted on said right angle part and moving said support through a rack and pinion system under the control of its associated cam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
73 words
An automatic welding apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the means for generating welding current pulsations comprises a first cam controlling the average value of the current strength, second and third cams operating suitable potentiometers so as to modulate said average current strength in order to determine the maximum and minimum values of the pulsated current, and fourth and fifth cams controlling the length of time during which said potentiometers are operated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
An automatic welding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for generating wire advance pulsations comprises a wire feeding motor associated with said welding head, an electronic control device for controlling the operation of said motor, a first cam operating said electronic control device for controlling the average speed of said motor, and a second cam operating on said electronic control device for periodically interrupting the rotation of the motor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
An automatic welding apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the current pulsations are synchronized with the wire advance pulsations.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
An automatic welding apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said crown has a U-shaped cross section, and wherein said means for driving said crown comprises a support of U-shaped cross section overlapping said crown and fixed on the tube to be welded, said support carrying gears coupled with said crown and a motor for rotating said gears.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
Automatic welding apparatus as defined in claim 13, further comprising columns secured to said support for permitting winding of flexible pipings and cables feeding the torch from said programmer, thus permitting to wind such pipings and cables plural turns around the support when the welding operation requires plural revolutions around the tube to be welded.
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) | 1976-06-04 | 1976-12-04 | 1977-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-04 | 1980-12-04 | 1981-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-04 | 1984-12-04 | 1985-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |