US3779444A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power propelled welding and cutting apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-03-02
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1992-03-02
Abstract
Abstract Power propelled apparatus for welding, cutting and similar work operations, in which a wheel supported carriage attached to an elongate workpiece is movably guided therealong while performing the particular work operation along a desired locus line on the workpiece, the attached carriage having driving elements operable into clamped driving engagement with a portion of the workpiece, for example, the web of an I-member or other structural member. Appropriate tool means, such as one or more cutting torches, welding torches or the like, are mounted on the carriage and are continuously automatically oriented so as to track the locus line during carriage movement and perform the work operation therealong. For arc welding use, the torch has a nozzle into which an appropriate gas is fed, together with a welding electrode wire supplied from a source on the carriage. Adjustable control means provides for variations to meet different operating requirements, and includes means for automatically stopping and shutting off the apparatus upon its reaching the end of the workpiece.
Inventors
- 👤 M Kensrue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:30
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K37/00; B23K37/02; B23K37/0211; B23K37/0217; B23K37/0223; B23K9/00; B23K9/02; B23K9/025; B23K9/0256; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49883; Y10T29/51; Y10T29/5176
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
Power propelled apparatus supported as a unit by a workpiece structure including a first plate member and a second plate member oriented in angular relation to said first plate member, said apparatus being adapted for driving and guided movement therealong while effecting cutting, welding and similar operations along a work operation locus line, comprising: a. a carriage frame structure supported on one of said workpiece members for movement in a guided path determined by said second plate member; b. power means on said frame structure energizable to propel said carriage including a driving member for pressure engagement with one side of said second plate member, said driving member including means coacting with means engaging an opposite side of said second plate member; c. tool means carried by said frame structure positioned on one side of said second plate member, said tool means having a head portion positionable adjacent said locus line and being operative to perform a work operation along said locus line during movement of said carriage; and d. means engaged with at least one of said plate members for continuously orienting the tool head portion with respect to said locus line during the guided movement of said carriage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
Power propelled apparatus supported as a unit by a workpiece structure including a first plate member and a second plate member oriented in angular relation to said first plate member, said apparatus being adapted for driving and guided movement therealong while effecting cutting, welding and similar operations along a work operation locus line, comprising: a. a carriage frame structure supported on one of said workpiece members for movement in a guided path determined by said second plate member; b. power means on said frame structure energizable to propel said carriage including a driving member for pressure engagement with one side of said second plate member, said driving member including means coacting with means engaging an opposite side of said second plate member; c. tool means carried by said frame structure positioned on one side of said second plate member, said tool means having a head portion positionable adjacent said locus line and being operative to perform a work operation along said locus line during movement of said carriage; and d. means engaged with at least one of said plate members for continuously orienting the tool head portion with respect to said locus line during the guided movement of said carriage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tool comprises a cutting torch for performing a cutting operation along said locus line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tool comprises a welding torch for making a seam weld along said locus line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second plate member is straddled by said carriage frame, and the driving member is a wheel engageable with one side of the second plate member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means on the opposite side of said second plate member from said driving member includes a part engageable and disengageable with respect to said second plate mEmber, and in the engaged position coacts with said driving member to clampingly engage and provide a positive driving connection with said second plate member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the clamping engagement is below the center of gravity of the apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the clamping engagement is forward of the tool means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the carriage frame structure is wheel supported.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein second similar tool means are positioned on an opposite side of said second plate member for simultaneously performing a work operation along an adjacent locus line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the tool means on the respective sides of said second plate member are in relative staggered operating positions in the direction of movement of said frame structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power means comprises a fluid actuated motor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, including means for controlling the energization of said power means, said control means including an element normally engaged with the workpiece structure, and upon disengagement being adapted to deenergize said power means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
140 words
Power propelled welding apparatus for guided movement along workpieces to be joined together along a weld line by a weld, one of said workpieces being a first plate member and the other of said workpieces including a second plate member oriented in angular relationship to said first plate member, comprising: a. a carriage frame structure supported for guided movement by said second plate member along said weld line; b. power driving means energizable to propel said carriage frame including a driving wheel and coacting means respectively engaged with opposite faces of said second plate member; c. a welding torch movably supported on said frame structure, said torch having a welding head positioned adjacent the weld line; and d. means for adjusting the position of said torch to vary the relationship of the torch head with respect to said weld line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
140 words
Power propelled welding apparatus for guided movement along workpieces to be joined together along a weld line by a weld, one of said workpieces being a first plate member and the other of said workpieces including a second plate member oriented in angular relationship to said first plate member, comprising: a. a carriage frame structure supported for guided movement by said second plate member along said weld line; b. power driving means energizable to propel said carriage frame including a driving wheel and coacting means respectively engaged with opposite faces of said second plate member; c. a welding torch movably supported on said frame structure, said torch having a welding head positioned adjacent the weld line; and d. means for adjusting the position of said torch to vary the relationship of the torch head with respect to said weld line.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the adjusting means includes parts for selectively adjusting the normal position of the torch in a lengthwise direction, a lateral direction, and a generally arcuate direction about its welding head.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the adjusting means includes at least one pivot supporting the torch for swinging movement, whereby the angular relationship of the axis of the torch head is variable with respect to said weld line.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the adjusting means includes tracking means connected with the torch, said tracking means having an element positioned to continuously bear against one of the workpieces adjacent the weld line, and being operative to continuously orient the torch head by pivotally swinging the torch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said element comprises a wheel resiliently urged towards the weld line, said wheel having beveled circumferentially extending opposite peripheral side edges separated by a circumferentially extending groove adapted to overlie said line of weld.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the wheel is positionable edgewise in the angle formed by two workpieces in right-angled relation, and with its bevelled side edges respectively engaging the workpieces.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the adjusting means includes a torch supporting bracket, said bracket including a part having guided movement in a direction to adjustingly move said torch bodily along said weld line, and means for releasably securing said part in an adjusted position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the adjusting means includes a torch supporting bracket part having a pivot on which the torch is swingable in a plane substantially normal to the weld line, said part having guided adjustable movement in a direction to vary the angular direction of said pivot from said weld line, and means for releasably securing said part in an adjusted position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, including means for feeding an electrode wire to said torch welding head.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said electrode wire feeding means includes a power driven feed wheel having a circumferentially extending groove for tangentially receiving the wire therein, and an idler wheel for retaining said wire within said groove, said idler wheel having a fixed axis of rotation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said groove has radially inwardly converging sidewalls.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the sidewalls of said groove are guidingly supported for movement towards and away from each other, and including adjustable means for resiliently urging said sidewalls towards each other.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the wire feeding means are driven by a motor, and including means for varying the feeding speed of said wire feeding means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the wire feeding means are driven by a motor, and including control means for intermittently energizing said motor to provide inching wire feeding operations.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, including clamping means operable into engaged and non-engaged positions with respect to said other of said workpieces, said clamping means in said engaged position forcibly urging said driving wheel towards the engaged workpiece.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 27, in which the clamping means includes a pair of spaced apart clamping wheels carried by a frame structure; and means for moving said frame structure to engage and disengage the clamping wheels with respect to the workpiece, including a parallel motion linkage support for said frame structure.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 28, wherein a fluid energizable actuator is operably connected with said linkage.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the driving wheel is driven from a motor; and including means for variably controlling the driving speed of said power means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 30, including means operable in response to the apparatus reaching an end of one of the workpieces for deenergizing said motor.
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) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |