US3783223A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Welding torch oscillator
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 oscillation 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
- 👤 W Ballis
- 👤 C Churchheus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:53
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/02; B23K9/028; B23K9/0282; B23K9/0286; B23K9/24; B23K9/28; B23K9/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
In a welding machine, a welding head oscillator assembly and a control circuit for oscillating a welding head mounted in said assembly comprising, a support platform, a welding head clamp assembly pivotally mounted on said platform for oscillating movement about its pivot axis, an electrical stepping motor operatively connected to said welding head clamp assembly for oscillating said assembly, and a control circuit for said stepping motor including means for producing a pulse signal at a predetermined frequency, means for counting a predetermined number of pulses in said signal and for producing an output signal when said predetermined number of pulses is counted, and means responsive to said output signal and operatively connected to said stepping motor to drive said motor alternately in first and second directions in response to successive output signals from said counting means thereby to oscillate said welding head clamp assembly about its pivot axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
In a welding machine, a welding head oscillator assembly and a control circuit for oscillating a welding head mounted in said assembly comprising, a support platform, a welding head clamp assembly pivotally mounted on said platform for oscillating movement about its pivot axis, an electrical stepping motor operatively connected to said welding head clamp assembly for oscillating said assembly, and a control circuit for said stepping motor including means for producing a pulse signal at a predetermined frequency, means for counting a predetermined number of pulses in said signal and for producing an output signal when said predetermined number of pulses is counted, and means responsive to said output signal and operatively connected to said stepping motor to drive said motor alternately in first and second directions in response to successive output signals from said counting means thereby to oscillate said welding head clamp assembly about its pivot axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The welding head oscillator assembly and control circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein said control circuit includes means for delaying said output signal for a predetermined incremental time period whereby said output signal responsive means stops said motor for said incremental time period at the end of said oscillation to hold said clamp assembly stationary for said incremental time period at each end of its path of oscillation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The welding head oscillating assembly and control circuit as defined in claim 2 wherein said control circuit includes means responsive to the direction of movement of said clamp assembly for selectively stopping said motor at the center of its path of oscillation only after said motor begins driving said assembly in said second direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
98 words
The welding head oscillating assembly and control circuit as defined in claim 3 wherein said control circuit includes means controlling said counting means during the initial phase of the operation of said circuit for causing said counting means to produce a signal when it has counted one half of said predetermined number of pulses, whereby said motor is activated by said output signal responsive means initially to drive said clamp assembly in said second direction from its stop position at the center of its path of oscillation to the end of its path of oscillation in that direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
140 words
In a welding machine, a welding head oscillator assembly and a control circuit for oscillating a welding head mounted in said assembly comprising, a support platform, a welding head clamp assembly pivotally mounted on said platform for oscillating movement about its pivot axis, an electrical stepping motor operatively connected to said welding head clamp assembly for oscillating said assembly, and a control circuit for said stepping motor including means for producing a pulse signal at a predetermined frequency, means for counting a predetermined number of pulses in said signal, and direction means operatively connected between said signal producing means and said motor for sequentially supplying said pulse signal to said motor in opposite directions in response to counting of a predetermined number of pulses by said counting means, whereby said welding head clamp assembly is oscillated about its pivot axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
140 words
In a welding machine, a welding head oscillator assembly and a control circuit for oscillating a welding head mounted in said assembly comprising, a support platform, a welding head clamp assembly pivotally mounted on said platform for oscillating movement about its pivot axis, an electrical stepping motor operatively connected to said welding head clamp assembly for oscillating said assembly, and a control circuit for said stepping motor including means for producing a pulse signal at a predetermined frequency, means for counting a predetermined number of pulses in said signal, and direction means operatively connected between said signal producing means and said motor for sequentially supplying said pulse signal to said motor in opposite directions in response to counting of a predetermined number of pulses by said counting means, whereby said welding head clamp assembly is oscillated about its pivot axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The welding head oscillator assembly and control circuit as defined in claim 5 including means for varying the frequency of the pulses produced by said signal producing means, thereby to vary the speed of oscillation of said head, and means for varying the number of pulses counted by said counting means, thereby to vary the amplitude of oscillation of said head.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
The welding head oscillator assembly and control circuit as defined in claim 6 wherein said control circuit includes means, responsive to said counting means, for delaying passage of said pulse signal from said signal producing means to said direction means for a predetermined incremental period of time at the completion of each count of said predetermined number of pulses by said counting means whereby said motor is stopped for said incremental time period to hold said clamp assembly stationary for said incremental time period at each end of its path of oscillation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The welding head oscillating assembly and control circuit as defined in claim 7 including operator operable means responsive to the direction of movement of said clamp assembly for selectively and automatically stopping said pulse signal producing means when said motor is at the center Of its path of oscillation, but only after said motor is being operated to drive said assembly in a predetermined direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
The welding head oscillating assembly and control circuit as defined in claim 8 including means operatively connected to said directing means for controlling said counting means during the initial phase of the operation of said circuit, to count only one half of said predetermined number of pulses, whereby said assembly is initially driven in said predetermined direction from the center of its path of oscillation to the end of its path of oscillation in that direction.
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 |