US3883956A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Proportional control for guidance system
Assignee: POWCON INCORPORATED A CORP OF DE
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Filing: 1972-12-26
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1992-12-26
Abstract
Abstract A guidance system for seeking, following, and maintaining the position of a welding apparatus with respect to a seam or joint to be welded by sensing changes in the surfaces at or adjacent to the seam. A probe is included for detecting changes in the vertical and/or horizontal components of surfaces. A torch and the probe are mounted upon and positioned by motor-driven crossslides, both horizontally and vertically. Within the probe are two resistors, variable in accordance with the displacement of a probe shaft engaging the surfaces. A voltage impressed upon each resistor is detected, amplified and applied to a trigger pulse generator, supplying power to the corresponding slide positioning motor through a silicon-controlled rectifier network. Variations in resistance change the time of the pulses generated and supply a voltage to the positioning motors corresponding in magnitude and polarity to the deviation. The motors are thereby enabled to correct the position of the probe and torch, both vertically and/or horizontally, simultaneously and at speeds proportional to the rates of change of the path. Braking action for each correction in proportion to the speed of correction is applied. A circuit for disabling the motors when the cross-slides reach their limits, unaffected by electromagnetic radiation, noise, transients and other pulses in the circuit, incorporates optical transistors and diodes which disable the circuit and brake the corresponding positioning motors when the normally closed limit switches open and permit current to flow through the diode to activate the transistor.
Inventors
- 👤 Abraham Zeewy
- 👤 Donald Geringer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:42
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/004; G01B7/008; G01B7/012; B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/12; B23K9/127; B23K9/1272; B23K9/1274; B23Q; B23Q35/00; B23Q35/04; B23Q35/08; B23Q35/12; B23Q35/121; B23Q35/123; B23Q35/124
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A probe for detecting the direction and its rate of change of an elevation upon a surface in motion with respect to the probe, comprising: a body, a probe shaft carried within said body and having a longitudinal axis with a surface portion at the end thereof, said probe shaft being pivotable in all directions about a point eccentric of said axis by one or more forces acting upon said surface contacting portion, means for presenting continuous variable electrical resistance changeable by said pivoting of said probe shaft, thereby presenting a resistance change proportional to said pivoting of said probe shaft, and rotatable to the direction and its rate of change of said elevation with respect to the direction of motion between said probe and said elevation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A probe for detecting the direction and its rate of change of an elevation upon a surface in motion with respect to the probe, comprising: a body, a probe shaft carried within said body and having a longitudinal axis with a surface portion at the end thereof, said probe shaft being pivotable in all directions about a point eccentric of said axis by one or more forces acting upon said surface contacting portion, means for presenting continuous variable electrical resistance changeable by said pivoting of said probe shaft, thereby presenting a resistance change proportional to said pivoting of said probe shaft, and rotatable to the direction and its rate of change of said elevation with respect to the direction of motion between said probe and said elevation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The probe of claim 1, wherein said body is disposed at an angle with respect to said surface, whereby the variable resistance presented is changed by forces upon said probe shaft horizontal and vertical to said surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
The probe of claim 2 further comprising: first frame means mounted upon said probe shaft remote from said surface contacting portion, second frame means carried upon said probe body, and said means for presenting a continuous electrical condition including two variable electrical resistors mounted upon said second frame means, each having a rod extending therethrough and at 90* to each other to vary the resistance thereof, each of said rods extending in operable location with said first frame means and being moved thereby in accordance with said pivoting of said probe shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
109 words
The probe of claim 3 wherein said body is disposed at an angle of approximately 45* with respect to the surface, whereby when the surface contacting portion of said probe is pivoted in a direction parallel to the surface, the resistance of one of said two variable resistors is changed and when the surface contacting portion of said probe is pivoted in a direction perpendicular to the surface the resistance of the other of said resistors is changed and wherein said surface contacting portion is pivoted in a direction intermediate or the vector combination of said first two stated directions, said resistors are moved in the same vector proportions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
109 words
Means for continuously transmitting the response of a surface detecting device to a continuously variable source of electrical information wherein said source is mounted on a plate in a fixed position relative to said means and is varied by an actuating rod having ends disposed in operable relation to said means and said device has a shaft which is pivoted in proportion to the change in said surface, said means comprising yoke means carried by said shaft and engaging at least one end of said actuating rod to displace the same to vary said electrical information the displacement of said yoke being limited by the plate mounting said source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
109 words
Means for continuously transmitting the response of a surface detecting device to a continuously variable source of electrical information wherein said source is mounted on a plate in a fixed position relative to said means and is varied by an actuating rod having ends disposed in operable relation to said means and said device has a shaft which is pivoted in proportion to the change in said surface, said means comprising yoke means carried by said shaft and engaging at least one end of said actuating rod to displace the same to vary said electrical information the displacement of said yoke being limited by the plate mounting said source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The means according to claim 5 wherein said plate further functions as a stop to limit the movement of said actuating rod.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The means according to claim 5 in which said yoke means engages both ends of said rod to positively displace the same in each direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The means according to claim 5 with two such sources of variable information mounted at 90* to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The means according to claim 7 in which said yoke means engages both ends of said rod to positively displace the same in each direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The means according to claim 9 in which said yoke means including electrical insulating means intermediate said rod and said shaft to electrically isolate said source of variable information from said shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The means according to claim 10 in which said source of variable information is a continuously variable resistor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The means according to claim 8 in which each said rod is Biased in one direction by spring means and said yoke includes means engaging each said rod at the end in the direction of said bias.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The means according to claim 11 in which said yoke means includes electrical insulating means intermediate said rod and said shaft to electrically isolate said source of variable information from said shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The means according to claim 13 in which each said engaging means is an electrical insulator and comprises said electrical insulator means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The means according to claim 12 in which said source of variable information is a continuously variable resistor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The means according to claim 5 in which said rod is biased in one direction by spring means and said yoke includes means engaging said rod at the end in the direction of said bias.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
105 words
In a probe having a housing, a shaft with an end for contacting and detecting a surface and a pivot point, the improvement of means to bias the probe shaft in a predetermined direction and to overcome the affects of friction on the response thereof, said means comprising spring means acting between said housing and shaft at a point more remote from said end than said pivot point to urge said shaft in a predetermined direction, tension means interconnecting said shaft and said housing to oppose said spring means, and means operable from without said housing for adjusting the effective length of said tension means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
105 words
In a probe having a housing, a shaft with an end for contacting and detecting a surface and a pivot point, the improvement of means to bias the probe shaft in a predetermined direction and to overcome the affects of friction on the response thereof, said means comprising spring means acting between said housing and shaft at a point more remote from said end than said pivot point to urge said shaft in a predetermined direction, tension means interconnecting said shaft and said housing to oppose said spring means, and means operable from without said housing for adjusting the effective length of said tension means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The means according to claim 17 with means whereby said shaft is pivotable in a direction at 90* to said tension means without interference therefrom within the degree of pivoting allowed for.
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) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |