Cutting torch height control apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus (10) for controlling the distance of at least one cutting torch (12) from an associated reference point (14), comprising: means (24, 26) for moving the torch (12) toward and from the reference point (14); means (16) for generating a position signal representative of the distance the torch (12) is spaced from the reference point (14); means (64) for generating a reference signal representative of a preselected distance between the torch (12) and the reference point (14); means (18) for comparing the position and reference signals and energizing the moving means (24, 26) for moving the torch (12) until the actual torch position substantially equals the preselected torch position, said torch (12) moving at a variable speed according to the difference between the actual and desired torch positions; and means (68, 70, 72) for indicating a loss of cut when said torch is positioned relative to a workpiece such as to cut the same, and yet is not causing a cut.

Claim 2

An apparatus (10) for controlling the distance of at least one cutting torch (12) from an associated reference point (14), comprising: means (24, 26) for moving the torch (12) toward and from the reference point (14); means (16) for generating a position signal representative of the distance the torch (12) is spaced from the reference point (14); means (64) for generating a reference signal representative of a preselected distance between the torch (12) and the reference point (14); means (18) for comparing the position and reference signals and energizing the moving means (24, 26) for moving the torch (12) until the actual torch position substantially equals the preselected torch position, said torch (12) moving at a variable speed according to the difference between the actual and desired torch positions; and means (68, 70, 72) for indicating a loss of cut when said torch is positioned relative to a workpiece such as to cut the same, and yet is not causing a cut.

Claim 3

An apparatus (10) for controlling the spacing of at least one cutting torch (12) from an associated workpiece (14), comprising: means (24,26) for moving the torch (12) toward and from the workpiece (14); means (16) for generating a signal representative of the resistance of the cutting torch flame; means (64,66) for generating a signal representative of a preselected torch position; means (52) for operating the cutting torch (12) in a manual mode in which the torch (12) is free for movement toward and from the workpiece (14) at the control of an operator; means (56) for operating the cutting torch (12) in a semi-automatic mode in which the torch (12) is free for movement toward and from the workpiece (14) at the control of an operator and in which the torch (12) automatically moves a maximum distance from the workpiece (14) in response to an operator command and in which the torch (12) automatically moves to a preselected position in response to an operator command; means (56) for operating the cutting torch (12) in a fully automatic mode in which the cutting torch (12) is automatically maintained at a preselected position; and means (18) for receiving the cutting torch flame resistance signal, comparing said signal with the signal representative of a preselected torch position, and energizing the moving means (24,26) and moving the torch (12) until said signals are substantially equal, said signals being substantially equal in response to the actual torch position being substantially equal to the preselected torch position.

Claim 4

An apparatus (10) for controlling the spacing of at least one cutting torch (12) from an associated workpiece (14), comprising: means (24,26) for moving the torch (12) toward and from the workpiece (14); means (16) for generating a signal representative of the resistance of the cutting torch flame; means (64,66) for generating a signal representative of a preselected torch position; means (52) for operating the cutting torch (12) in a manual mode in which the torch (12) is free for movement toward and from the workpiece (14) at the control of an operator; means (56) for operating the cutting torch (12) in a semi-automatic mode in which the torch (12) is free for movement toward and from the workpiece (14) at the control of an operator and in which the torch (12) automatically moves a maximum distance from the workpiece (14) in response to an operator command and in which the torch (12) automatically moves to a preselected position in response to an operator command; means (56) for operating the cutting torch (12) in a fully automatic mode in which the cutting torch (12) is automatically maintained at a preselected position; and means (18) for receiving the cutting torch flame resistance signal, comparing said signal with the signal representative of a preselected torch position, and energizing the moving means (24,26) and moving the torch (12) until said signals are substantially equal, said signals being substantially equal in response to the actual torch position being substantially equal to the preselected torch position.

Claim 10

An apparatus (10) for controlling the spacing of at least one cutting torch (12) from an associated workpiece (14), comprising: motor means (24) for moving the torch (12) toward and from the workpiece (14); drive means (26) for directing the motor means (24) to move the torch (12) toward and from the workpiece (14); means (16) for generating a signal representative of the resistance of the cutting torch flame; means (52) for operating the cutting torch (12) in a manual mode in which the torch (12) is free for manual movement toward and from the workpiece (14) by the operator; means (56) for operating the cutting torch (12) in a semi-automatic mode in which the torch (12) is free for movement toward and from the workpiece (14) at the control of an operator and in which the torch (12) automatically moves a first distance from the workpiece (14) in response to an operator command and in which the torch (12) automatically moves to a preselected position in response to an operator command; means (56) for operating the cutting torch (12) in a fully automatic mode in which the cutting torch (12) is automatically maintained at a preselected position relative to the workpiece (14); and means (18) for receiving the signal representative of the cutting torch flame resistance, comparing the actual torch position as represented by said signal with a preselected reference torch position in the automatic mode, and energizing the drive means (26) and moving the torch (12) until the actual torch position is substantially equal to the preselected reference torch position in the automatic mode.

Claim 11

An apparatus (10) for controlling the spacing of at least one cutting torch (12) from an associated workpiece (14), comprising: motor means (24) for moving the torch (12) toward and from the workpiece (14); drive means (26) for directing the motor means (24) to move the torch (12) toward and from the workpiece (14); means (16) for generating a signal representative of the resistance of the cutting torch flame; means (52) for operating the cutting torch (12) in a manual mode in which the torch (12) is free for manual movement toward and from the workpiece (14) by the operator; means (56) for operating the cutting torch (12) in a semi-automatic mode in which the torch (12) is free for movement toward and from the workpiece (14) at the control of an operator and in which the torch (12) automatically moves a first distance from the workpiece (14) in response to an operator command and in which the torch (12) automatically moves to a preselected position in response to an operator command; means (56) for operating the cutting torch (12) in a fully automatic mode in which the cutting torch (12) is automatically maintained at a preselected position relative to the workpiece (14); and means (18) for receiving the signal representative of the cutting torch flame resistance, comparing the actual torch position as represented by said signal with a preselected reference torch position in the automatic mode, and energizing the drive means (26) and moving the torch (12) until the actual torch position is substantially equal to the preselected reference torch position in the automatic mode.

Claim 13

An apparatus (10) for controlling the distance of a device (12) from a reference point (14), comprising: first means (24) for moving the device (12) toward and from the reference point (14); second means (26) for directing the first means (24) to move the device (12) toward and from the reference point (14); third means (16) for generating a position signal representative of the distance of the device (12) from the reference point (14); means (18) for storing the distance information represented by the position signal; means (64,66) for producing a reference position for the device (12); computing means (18), interfaced with the storing means (18) and second means (26), for comparing the actual position of the device (12) as indicated by the distance information in the storing means (18) with the reference device position and controllably delivering a signal to the second means (26); means (52) for operating the apparatus (10) in a manual mode in which the reference position is set manually and the computing means (18) blocks the signal to the second means (26); means (56) for operating the apparatus (10) in a semi-automatic mode in which the device (12) is free to be manually moved to any position, moved to the reference position on command by an operator, and moved a first distance from the reference point (14) on command by the operator, said computing means (18) blocking the signal to the second means (26) except on command by the operator; means (56) for operating the apparatus (10) in an automatic mode in which the computing means (18) is free to deliver the signal to the second means (26) and exercise control over the position of the device (12).

Claim 14

An apparatus (10) for controlling the distance of a device (12) from a reference point (14), comprising: first means (24) for moving the device (12) toward and from the reference point (14); second means (26) for directing the first means (24) to move the device (12) toward and from the reference point (14); third means (16) for generating a position signal representative of the distance of the device (12) from the reference point (14); means (18) for storing the distance information represented by the position signal; means (64,66) for producing a reference position for the device (12); computing means (18), interfaced with the storing means (18) and second means (26), for comparing the actual position of the device (12) as indicated by the distance information in the storing means (18) with the reference device position and controllably delivering a signal to the second means (26); means (52) for operating the apparatus (10) in a manual mode in which the reference position is set manually and the computing means (18) blocks the signal to the second means (26); means (56) for operating the apparatus (10) in a semi-automatic mode in which the device (12) is free to be manually moved to any position, moved to the reference position on command by an operator, and moved a first distance from the reference point (14) on command by the operator, said computing means (18) blocking the signal to the second means (26) except on command by the operator; means (56) for operating the apparatus (10) in an automatic mode in which the computing means (18) is free to deliver the signal to the second means (26) and exercise control over the position of the device (12).

Claim 17

An apparatus (10) for controlling the distance of at least one cutting torch (12) from an associated reference point (14); comprising: means (24, 26) for moving the torch (12) toward and from the reference point (14); means (16) for generating a position signal representative of a the distance the torch (12) is spaced from the reference point (14); means (64) for generating a reference signal of a preselected distance between the representative torch (12) and the reference point (14); and means (18) for comparing the position and reference signals and energizing the moving means (24,26) for moving the torch (12) until the actual torch position substantially equals the preselected torch position, said torch (12) moving at a variable speed according to the difference between the actual and desired torch positions, said comparing means being operable to cause said moving means to move the torch toward said preselected position (a) at a relatively rapid velocity when there is a difference between the actual and desired torch positions in excess of a preselected value, and (b) in small increments when there is a relatively small difference between the actual and desired torch positions less than said preselected value.

Claim 18

An apparatus (10) for controlling the distance of at least one cutting torch (12) from an associated reference point (14); comprising: means (24, 26) for moving the torch (12) toward and from the reference point (14); means (16) for generating a position signal representative of a the distance the torch (12) is spaced from the reference point (14); means (64) for generating a reference signal of a preselected distance between the representative torch (12) and the reference point (14); and means (18) for comparing the position and reference signals and energizing the moving means (24,26) for moving the torch (12) until the actual torch position substantially equals the preselected torch position, said torch (12) moving at a variable speed according to the difference between the actual and desired torch positions, said comparing means being operable to cause said moving means to move the torch toward said preselected position (a) at a relatively rapid velocity when there is a difference between the actual and desired torch positions in excess of a preselected value, and (b) in small increments when there is a relatively small difference between the actual and desired torch positions less than said preselected value.

Claim 24

An apparatus for controlling the distance between at least one cutting torch and an associated reference point comprising: means for moving the torch toward and away from the reference point; means for causing the moving means to pre-position the torch at a first pre-selected distance from the reference point; means for generating a signal representative of the actual distance between the torch and the reference point; and means connected to at least one of said causing means and said generating means for directing said moving means to move the torch to a second pre-selected distance from the reference point when the moving means has not moved the torch to said first pre-selected distance within a predetermined time period.

Claim 25

An apparatus for controlling the distance between at least one cutting torch and an associated reference point comprising: means for moving the torch toward and away from the reference point; means for causing the moving means to pre-position the torch at a first pre-selected distance from the reference point; means for generating a signal representative of the actual distance between the torch and the reference point; and means connected to at least one of said causing means and said generating means for directing said moving means to move the torch to a second pre-selected distance from the reference point when the moving means has not moved the torch to said first pre-selected distance within a predetermined time period.