US3783222A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Welding torch oscillator and positioner
Assignee: Columbia Gas System Service Corp
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Filing: 1972-05-16
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Granted: 1974-01-01
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Expires: 1992-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A welding head clamping and oscillating assembly is disclosed for use in a welding machine having means for supporting and moving the assembly along a joint to be welded. The assembly includes a support platform connected to the assembly supporting means of the welding machine and a support plate slidably mounted on the support platform for reciprocal movement in a direction transverse to the joint to be welded. A welding head clamp is pivotally mounted on the support plate for arcuate oscillating movement in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the slidable mounting of the support plate and a reversible stepping motor is operatively connected to the clamp for oscillating the clamp about its pivot axis. An electrical control circuit is also provided for the stepping motor and includes logic circuitry for producing a pulse signal at a predetermined frequency and a binary counting circuit for counting a predetermined number of pulses from the signal and producing an output signal when the predetermined number of pulses is counted. The circuit includes means responsive to the output signal and operatively connected to the motor to drive the motor alternately in first and second directions in response to successive output signals from the binary counter thereby to oscillate the welding head clamp assembly about its pivot axis.
Inventors
- 👤 R Gwin
- 👤 B Hutt
- 👤 W Ballis
- 👤 C Churchheus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:28
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/24; B23K9/28; B23K9/30; B23K9/02; B23K9/028; B23K9/0282; B23K9/0286
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
The method of aligning the welding tip of each of a pair of welding heads in a pipe welding machine with the joint in a pipeline to be welded, said welding heads being mounted on a frame in generally spaced relation to each other and being selectively slidable with respect to said frame parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline, said frame being adapted to be seated on said pipeline and tilted with respect thereto about an axis adjacent one of said heads, said method comprising the steps of moving said one head parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline until the welding tip thereof is in alignment with said joint, while simultaneously moving the other of said heads in an equal and opposite direction, thence moving a guide pointer mounted on said other head to a position adjacent said joint to determine the alignment of the welding tip of said other head with respect to said joint, and tilting said frame about said axis with said welding heads and guide pointer secured thereto and moving therewith until said guide pointer is in alignment with said joint, said one head remaining relatively stationary adjacent said joint during tilting of said frame due to its proximity to said axis while said other head moves with respect to said joint during tilting of the frame thereby to move said guide pointer into alignment with said joint.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
236 words
The method of aligning the welding tip of each of a pair of welding heads in a pipe welding machine with the joint in a pipeline to be welded, said welding heads being mounted on a frame in generally spaced relation to each other and being selectively slidable with respect to said frame parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline, said frame being adapted to be seated on said pipeline and tilted with respect thereto about an axis adjacent one of said heads, said method comprising the steps of moving said one head parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline until the welding tip thereof is in alignment with said joint, while simultaneously moving the other of said heads in an equal and opposite direction, thence moving a guide pointer mounted on said other head to a position adjacent said joint to determine the alignment of the welding tip of said other head with respect to said joint, and tilting said frame about said axis with said welding heads and guide pointer secured thereto and moving therewith until said guide pointer is in alignment with said joint, said one head remaining relatively stationary adjacent said joint during tilting of said frame due to its proximity to said axis while said other head moves with respect to said joint during tilting of the frame thereby to move said guide pointer into alignment with said joint.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
251 words
Apparatus for aligning the welding tip of each of a pair of welding heads in a pipe welding machine with the joint in a pipeline to be welded, said apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be seated on said pipeline, a pair of welding heads mounted on the frame in generally spaced relation to each other, said welding heads each including welding tips, means for selectively sliding said heads with respect to said frame parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline, means for moving one of said heads parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline until the welding tip thereof is in alignment with the joint to be welded, means for simultaneously moving the other of said heads in an equal and opposite direction to said first head, said other head having a guide pointer mounted thereon and adapted to be moved into a position adjacent said joint to determine the alignment of the welding tip of said other head with respect to said joint, and means for tilting said frame about an axis adjacent to said one head, with said welding heads and guide pointer secured thereto and moving therewith, until said guide pointer is in alignment with said joint, whereby said one head remains relatively stationary adjacent said joint during tilting of said frame due to its proximity to said axis while said other head moves with respect to said joint during tilting of the frame thereby to move said guide pointer into alignment with the joint.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
251 words
Apparatus for aligning the welding tip of each of a pair of welding heads in a pipe welding machine with the joint in a pipeline to be welded, said apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be seated on said pipeline, a pair of welding heads mounted on the frame in generally spaced relation to each other, said welding heads each including welding tips, means for selectively sliding said heads with respect to said frame parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline, means for moving one of said heads parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipeline until the welding tip thereof is in alignment with the joint to be welded, means for simultaneously moving the other of said heads in an equal and opposite direction to said first head, said other head having a guide pointer mounted thereon and adapted to be moved into a position adjacent said joint to determine the alignment of the welding tip of said other head with respect to said joint, and means for tilting said frame about an axis adjacent to said one head, with said welding heads and guide pointer secured thereto and moving therewith, until said guide pointer is in alignment with said joint, whereby said one head remains relatively stationary adjacent said joint during tilting of said frame due to its proximity to said axis while said other head moves with respect to said joint during tilting of the frame thereby to move said guide pointer into alignment with the joint.
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) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |