US3775582A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Proximity control using microwave techniques
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1971-12-09
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Granted: 1973-11-27
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Expires: 1991-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A system is disclosed combining an arc welder having an electrode with an electromagnetic wave source including an antenna and an interferometer wherein the electromagnetic waves are reflected off the surface of the welding workpiece and the reflected waves are phase matched with the incident waves to produce a signal whose amplitude is related to the spacing between the surface of the workpiece and the antenna. This signal is used to drive a motor to move the electrode and the antenna in unison to maintain the required spacing.
Inventors
- 👤 W Iceland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:14
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/12; B23K9/126; B23Q; B23Q15/00; B23Q15/20; B23Q15/22; B23Q15/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
An apparatus for maintaining constant spacing between a welding electrode and a workpiece to be welded, said apparatus comprising: welding means having an electrode spaced from the workpiece, means operatively connected to said welding means for moving it towards and away from the workpiece, microwave interferometer means operatively connected to said welding means for setting up a standing electromagnetic wave including an interferometer and an antenna fixed to said welding means for radiating electromagnetic waves toward the surface of the workpiece and receiving back reflected electromagnetic waves, said antenna comprising means coupled to said interferometer whereby any change in phase difference between said radiated and reflected electromagnetic waves will produce a first electrical signal proportional to the change in spacing between said welding means and the workpiece, and means for coupling said first signal to said moving means to move said welding means in a direction to nullify the change in the voltage signal and maintain a constant spacing between the welding means and the workpiece.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
An apparatus for maintaining constant spacing between a welding electrode and a workpiece to be welded, said apparatus comprising: welding means having an electrode spaced from the workpiece, means operatively connected to said welding means for moving it towards and away from the workpiece, microwave interferometer means operatively connected to said welding means for setting up a standing electromagnetic wave including an interferometer and an antenna fixed to said welding means for radiating electromagnetic waves toward the surface of the workpiece and receiving back reflected electromagnetic waves, said antenna comprising means coupled to said interferometer whereby any change in phase difference between said radiated and reflected electromagnetic waves will produce a first electrical signal proportional to the change in spacing between said welding means and the workpiece, and means for coupling said first signal to said moving means to move said welding means in a direction to nullify the change in the voltage signal and maintain a constant spacing between the welding means and the workpiece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrode is of the non-consumable type.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said welding means includes: a tubular cup for conducting inert gas to the weld, a consumable electrode passing through said cup, means within said cup for supporting said electrode and coupling electric welding current thereto to form a welding arc, said antenna being operatively fixed to said cup whereby said means for moving said welding means maintains the spacing between said cup and workpiece constant, means for monitoring the resistance between said electrode supporting means and said workpiece, and means responsive to said resistance monitoring means for feeding said consumable electrode into the arc to maintain a constant arc length.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
139 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: focusing means are provided to focus said electromagnetic waves to a small spot on said workpiece, said workpiece includes two members disposed side by side forming a butt joint, means are provided for oscillating said spot back and forth on said workpiece laterally across said joint, means for adjustably moving said weldiNg means laterally across said joint, means for detecting and comparing the frequency and phase relationship of the waves reflected from said workpiece with the frequency and phase relationship of said spot moving means to produce a signal indicating when the frequencies are in-phase and out-of-phase and when the reflected wave frequency is twice the frequency of said spot moving means, and said means for adjustably moving said welding means being responsive to said signal to maintain the electrode over said joint.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
139 words
The apparatus of Claim 3 wherein: focusing means are provided to focus said electromagnetic waves to a small spot on said workpiece, said workpiece includes two members disposed side by side forming a butt joint, means are provided for oscillating said spot back and forth on said workpiece laterally across said joint, means for adjustably moving said welding means laterally across said joint, means for detecting and comparing the frequency and phase relationship of the waves reflected from said workpiece with the frequency and phase relationship of said spot moving means to produce a signal indicating when the frequencies are in-phase and out-of-phase and when the reflected wave frequency is twice the frequency of said spot moving means, and said means for adjustably moving said welding means being responsive to said signal to maintain the electrode over said joint.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said electrode is of the non-consumable type.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for maintaining constant spacing between a welding means and a workpiece to be welded, said apparatus comprising: an interferometer having means for providing a source of incident electromagnetic waves, an antenna means fixed to said welding means, directed towards said workpiece and coupled to said interferometer to cause the incident electromagnetic waves to radiate towards said surface and to receive reflected electromagnetic waves so that the reflected waves can be coupled back to said interferometer, means for focusing said electromagnetic waves to a small spot on said workpiece, said workpiece including two members disposed side by side to form a butt joint, means for oscillating said spot back and forth on said workpiece across said joint at a given frequency, means for moving said welding means laterally across said joint, and means coupled to said interferometer and to said spot moving means for detecting and comparing the frequency and phase relationship of the waves reflected from said workpiece with the frequency and phase relationship of said spot moving means to produce a signal indicating when the frequencies are in-phase and out-of-phase and when the reflected wave frequency is twice the frequency of said spot moving means, said means for moving said welding means responsive to said signal to maintain the electrode tracking along said joint.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for maintaining constant spacing between a welding means and a workpiece to be welded, said apparatus comprising: an interferometer having means for providing a source of incident electromagnetic waves, an antenna means fixed to said welding means, directed towards said workpiece and coupled to said interferometer to cause the incident electromagnetic waves to radiate towards said surface and to receive reflected electromagnetic waves so that the reflected waves can be coupled back to said interferometer, means for focusing said electromagnetic waves to a small spot on said workpiece, said workpiece including two members disposed side by side to form a butt joint, means for oscillating said spot back and forth on said workpiece across said joint at a given frequency, means for moving said welding means laterally across said joint, and means coupled to said interferometer and to said spot moving means for detecting and comparing the frequency and phase relationship of the waves reflected from said workpiece with the frequency and phase relationship of said spot moving means to produce a signal indicating when the frequencies are in-phase and out-of-phase and when the reflected wave frequency is twice the frequency of said spot moving means, said means for moving said welding means responsive to said signal to maintain the electrode tracking along said joint.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
102 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising: a tubular cup for conducting inert gas to the weld, a consumable electrode passing through said cup, means within said cup for supporting said electrode and coupling electric welding current thereto to form a welding arc, means including said antenna means fixed to said cup and including said interferometer for maintaining the spacing between said cup and said workpiece constant, means for monitoring the resistance between said electrode supporting means and said workpiece, and means responsive to said resistance monitoring means for feeding said consumable electrode into the arc to maintain a constant arc length.
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) | 1976-11-26 | 1977-05-28 | 1977-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-26 | 1981-05-28 | 1981-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-26 | 1985-05-28 | 1985-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |