TRACKING TRANSDUCER FOR WELDING APPARATUS

• US 3,594,540 A
• Filed: 07/07/1969
• Issued: 07/20/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Pandjiris Weldment Company
• Original Assignee: Edward J. Weinfurt
• Inventors: Weinfurt, Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US04/839,392
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• US Class Current: 219/105
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1274 Using non-contact, optical means, e.g. laser means

Abstract

A tracking transducer for welding apparatus having a sensing means carried by a welding head, the sensing means including a follower that engages the workpieces to be joined together and follows the edge contour, means that oscillatively mounts a follower housing so that the angle of the follower can be varied transversely of the edge, and a variable resistor, responsive to angle of tilt, that is carried by and oscillatively movable with the follower housing as the follower engages the workpiece. Means operatively connect the variable resistor to a motor means for moving the welding head transversely of the edge in a direction to hold the head on the edge in response to any transverse deviation sensed by the follower and at a speed proportional to the deviation. The variable resistor is of a type that causes an increased voltage output proportional to the degree of angle tilt in either direction from a substantially null position. The relative angular position of the variable resistor and follower can be adjusted, whereby the resistor can be located in a substantially null position in any angular position of the follower.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for welding work having at least one edge formed by the pieces to be joined together:

a. a welding head for forming a seam along the edge, b. means for relatively moving the work and welding head while forming the seam, c. electrically operated motor means for adjusting the position of the welding head transversely of the edge, d. sensing means carried by the welding head, the sensing means including;

1. a follower engaging the workpieces and following the edge contour, 2. a housing attached to the follower, 3. means oscillatively mounting the housing so that the housing and follower oscillate together about a common axis and so that the angle of the follower can be varied transversely of the edge, and 4. a variable resistor responsive to angle of tilt, carried by and oscillatively movable with the follower housing about the said common axis as the follower engages the workpieces, and e. means operatively coNnecting the variable resistor to the motor means for moving the welding head transversely of the edge in a direction to hold the welding head on the edge in response to any transverse deviation sensed by the follower and at a speed proportional to the deviation

2. a housing attached to the follower,

3. means oscillatively mounting the housing so that the angle of the follower can be varied transversely of the edge, and

4. a variable resistor responsive to angle of tilt, carried by and oscillatively movable with the follower housing as the follower engages the workpieces, and e. means operatively connecting the variable resistor to the motor means for moving the welding head transversely of the edge in a direction to hold the welding head on the edge in response to any transverse deviation sensed by the follower and at a speed proportional to the deviation, f. the means oscillatively mounting the housing defines a first pivot axis so that the variable resistor can tilt transversely relative to the edge engaged by the follower and welding head, and defines a second axis angularly related to the first axis, and g. switching means connected to the means for relatively moving the work and head and carried by the housing, the switching means being actuated when the housing moves to one limit about the second axis whereby to deenergize the work and head moving means.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which:

f. the housing includes two parts interconnected to turn together about the said common axis as the follower angle changes, the follower being attached to one part and the variable resistor being carried by the other part, the connection between the housing parts enabling relative angular adjustment of the housing parts about the said common axis so that the variable resistor can be located in a substantially null position in any angular position of the follower, and g. means provided on the follower and resistor housing which tends to maintain the resistor in a substantially null position.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which:

f. the variable resistor is of a type that causes an increased voltage output proportional to the degree of angle tilt in either direction from a substantially null position, and the variable resistor is located to tilt transversely relative to the edge engaged by the follower and welding head.

7. In an apparatus for welding work having at least one edge formed by the pieces to be joined together;

a. a welding head for forming a seam along the edge, b. means for relatively moving the work and welding head while forming the seam, c. electrically operated motor means for adjusting the position of the welding head transversely of the edge, d. sensing means carried by the welding head, the sensing means including;

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, in which:

h. the housing includes a first part that carries the follower and the variable resistor, and a second part that is fixed to the welding head, i. the mounting means defining the second axis is carried by the second housing part, the second axis being disposed substantially horizontally transversely of the edge engaged by the follower, and the first axis being disposed substantially at a right angle to the second axis and generally in the direction of relative movement of the follower and edge, and j. the first housing part is oscillatively mounted about both the first and second axes.

9. In an apparatus for welding work having at least one edge formed by the pieces to be joined together:

a. a welding head for forming a seam along the edge, b. means for relatively moving the work and welding head while forming the seam, c. electrically operated motor means for adjusting the position of the welding head transversely of the edge, sensing means carried by the welding head, the sensing means including;