US3918622A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Metal bellows welder
Assignee: Elsag International BV
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Filing: 1974-03-25
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Granted: 1975-11-11
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Expires: 1994-03-25
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for welding together the circumferential edges of a preselected pair of adjacent metal diaphrams in a stack of diaphrams assembled on a rotatable arbor wherein a beam of light reflected from the weld causes the welding torch to track the circumferential seam or joint between the edges of the diaphrams as the arbor rotates and wherein, upon completion of the circumferential weld, the welding torch is moved to another preselected pair of diaphrams in the stack and the operation repeated.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard R Larsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:04
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/12; B23K9/127; B23K9/1272; B23K9/1274; B23K9/02; B23K9/028; F; F16; F16J; F16J3/00; F16J3/04; F16J3/047; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49877
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
In the formation of welded metal bellows, a machine for automatically welding together the outer circumferential edges of a pair of diaphrams having a rotatable arbor on which said diaphrams are mounted and rotate, a carriage, a welding torch mounted on said carriage and a reversing motor operatively connected to said carriage for positioning said carriage parallel to said arbor in forward and reverse directions, the combination comprising, a radiation source mounted on said carriage, a first optical system mounted on said carriage directing radiation from said source onto the weld bead after having been generated by the welding torch, a phototransducer generating an output signal corresponding to the radiation to which it is exposed mounted on said carriage, a second optical system mounted on said carriage exposing said phototransducer to the radiation from said source which is reflected by said weld bead and means under the control of said output signal operating said reversing motor whereby said carriage is positioned to maintain said torch in lateral alignment with said weld bead as the arbor rotates. Pg,9
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
In the formation of welded metal bellows, a machine for automatically welding together the outer circumferential edges of a pair of diaphrams having a rotatable arbor on which said diaphrams are mounted and rotate, a carriage, a welding torch mounted on said carriage and a reversing motor operatively connected to said carriage for positioning said carriage parallel to said arbor in forward and reverse directions, the combination comprising, a radiation source mounted on said carriage, a first optical system mounted on said carriage directing radiation from said source onto the weld bead after having been generated by the welding torch, a phototransducer generating an output signal corresponding to the radiation to which it is exposed mounted on said carriage, a second optical system mounted on said carriage exposing said phototransducer to the radiation from said source which is reflected by said weld bead and means under the control of said output signal operating said reversing motor whereby said carriage is positioned to maintain said torch in lateral alignment with said weld bead as the arbor rotates. Pg,9
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said phototransducer generates an analog signal having a magnitude corresponding to the magnitude of the lateral displacement of the welding torch from said weld bead and having a sense dependent upon the direction of the lateral displacement of the torch from the weld bead.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for positioning said carriage includes a reversible stepping motor and the means operating said stepping motor includes an analog to digital converter responsive to said analog signal and generating otput pulses having a frequency and sense corresponding to the magnitude and polarity of said analog signal whereby said output pulses operate said reversing motor as required to maintain lateral alignment of said torch with said weld bead.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said welding torch, said first optical system and said radiation source are disposed in a first plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the arbor on which said diaphrams are mounted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination according to claim 1 whereein said second optical system and said phototransducer are disposed in a second plane forming an acute angle with said first plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said phototransducer is a dual element phototransducer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein a stack of pairs of diaphrams are mounted on the arbor and further including means establishing a control signal of predetermined sense and magnitude upon completion of the welding together of the outer circumferential edges of a first pair of diaphrams operating said reversing motor to position said carriage and torch to the next succeeding pair of diaphrams in said stack.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination as set forth in claim 7 further including means for establishing said control signal for a predetermined increment of time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
The combination as set forth in claim 7 further including means causing said control signal upon completion of the welding together of the outer circumferential edges of a predetermined number of pairs of diaphrams in said stack to operate said reversing motor to position said carriage whereby said torch skips the next succeeding pair of diaphrams and a plurality of bellows are formed from said stack of diaphram pairs during a single pass of said torch over said stack.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |