Method and machine for axially aligning and welding continuous rail

Claim 2

In combination with a machine for butt welding together the end surfaces of adjacent end sections of like elongated members in an end to end relation to form a continuous single elongated unit comprised of a plurality of said like members and wherein adjacent end sections are releasably locked in a welding zone by linearly adjustable pressure applying mechanisms during a welding operation and then released for movement out of the welding zone, of an: a. apparatus for automatically axially aligning adjacent end sections of said like members for butt welding together the end surfaces thereof including a frame structure, b. means movably mounting said frame structure on the machine for horizontal movement to an operating position adjacent said welding zone and to a rest position remote from said welding zone, c. a pair of carriage units corresponding to the adjacent end sections of said like members, d. means movably supporting each of said carriage units on said frame structure for horizontal movement transversely of and toward and away from a corresponding side surface of said end sections, when the frame structure is in the operating position therefor, e. a pair of surface sensing switches on each carriage unit spaced longitudinally of an end section and facing the corresponding side surface thereof when the frame structure is in said operating position, said sensing switches having surface engaging portions in a common vertical plane defining a laterally aligned co-planar position of said side surfaces, f. means for independently reciprocally moving said carriage units to move said sensing switches into and out of contact engagement with the side surfaces of corresponding end sections, g. means responsive to the contact engagement of a single sensing switch for controlling the pressure applying mechanisms to progressively laterally move the end sections a predetermined increment distance to said laterally aligned positions, and h. means responsive to the simultaneous contact engagement of all of the sensing switches with corresponding end sections for controlling said pressure applying mechanisms to vertically move said adjacent sections into axial alignment.

Claim 3

In a machine for butt welding together the adjacent end sections of like elongated members to form a continuous multi-member assembly wherein adjacent end sections of said elongated members are releasably locked in a welding zone by linearly adjustable pressure applying mechanisms for welding and then released for movement out of the welding zone: a. apparatus for automatically positioning said elongated members in axial alignment for welding together said adjacent end sections including an electrical sensing unit for controlling said pressure applying mechanisms to linearly align said adjacent end sections in response to a lateral misalignment thereof comprising a horizontal frame, b. means movably mounting said horiZontal frame on the machine for horizontal movement transversely thereof to an operating position, wherein one end of said horizontal frame is opposite one of the sides of said adjacent end sections, and to a rest position remote from said one sides of the end sections, c. said sensing unit including a pair of like contact switch structures corresponding to each of said end sections, d. means mounting said switch structures on said horizontal frame for independent relative movement in parallel paths, each of said switch structures including a pair of normally open sensing switches, e. means on said horizontal frame for reciprocally moving said contact switch structures for contact engagement of one or the other of the sensing switches thereof into and out of contact engagement with a corresponding end section, f. means operable in response to the contact engagement of a single sensing switch for controlling said pressure applying means to progressively laterally move a corresponding end section toward said laterally aligned position, g. means responsive to a simultaneous engagement of all of said sensing switches with the end sections corresponding thereto for controlling said pressure applying mechanisms to vertically move said end sections into axial alignment, h. means for rendering said sensing unit inoperative when all of said sensing switches are in simultaneous engagement with the one sides of said adjacent sections to define the laterally aligned positions thereof, and i. means for moving said sensing unit to the rest position thereof when said end sections are in said axially aligned position.

Claim 4

In a machine for butt welding together the adjacent end sections of like elongated members to form a continuous multi-member assembly wherein adjacent end sections of said elongated members are releasably locked in a welding zone by linearly adjustable pressure applying mechanisms for welding and then released for movement out of the welding zone: a. apparatus for automatically positioning said elongated members in axial alignment for welding together said adjacent end sections including an electrical sensing unit for controlling said pressure applying mechanisms to linearly align said adjacent end sections in response to a lateral misalignment thereof comprising a horizontal frame, b. means movably mounting said horiZontal frame on the machine for horizontal movement transversely thereof to an operating position, wherein one end of said horizontal frame is opposite one of the sides of said adjacent end sections, and to a rest position remote from said one sides of the end sections, c. said sensing unit including a pair of like contact switch structures corresponding to each of said end sections, d. means mounting said switch structures on said horizontal frame for independent relative movement in parallel paths, each of said switch structures including a pair of normally open sensing switches, e. means on said horizontal frame for reciprocally moving said contact switch structures for contact engagement of one or the other of the sensing switches thereof into and out of contact engagement with a corresponding end section, f. means operable in response to the contact engagement of a single sensing switch for controlling said pressure applying means to progressively laterally move a corresponding end section toward said laterally aligned position, g. means responsive to a simultaneous engagement of all of said sensing switches with the end sections corresponding thereto for controlling said pressure applying mechanisms to vertically move said end sections into axial alignment, h. means for rendering said sensing unit inoperative when all of said sensing switches are in simultaneous engagement with the one sides of said adjacent sections to define the laterally aligned positions thereof, and i. means for moving said sensing unit to the rest position thereof when said end sections are in said axially aligned position.