WELDING APPARATUS

• US 3,609,289 A
• Filed: 12/11/1969
• Issued: 09/28/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kenneth J. Hathaway
• Original Assignee: Kenneth J. Hathaway
• Inventors: Hathaway, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truhe, J. V.
• Application Number:
  US04/884,074
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 219/125,130,124
• US Class Current: 219/124.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/126 Controlling the spatial relationship between the work and the gas torch between wire tip and piece B23K9/073

Abstract

An automatic welding apparatus includes a housing that is pivotably and slidably mounted to a base and a spindle, adapted for reception of a workpiece, is rotatably and slidably mounted to the housing. A carriage having a torch, a heat sink and a finger slidably and rotatably mounted thereto is slidably supported by the shafts affixed o the housing. The working end of the torch is formed with an opening and a plurality of ports are radially disposed about the opening. An electrode extends through the opening and an inert gas exhausts through the ports. A voltage sensor generates a signal representative of the spatial relationship between the torch and the workpiece, the slidable movement of the torch being responsive to the voltage sensor signal. Programmable cam means, preset for tacking or continuous welding, is provided for switching the arc current, and means are provided for ejecting the workpiece out of the spindle upon completion of the welding cycle.

Claims

1. voltage sensing means for providing a signal representative of the distance between said torch and said workpiece;

m. means responsive to said distance representative signal for sliding said carriage, n. means for providing an arc current to said electrode; and

o. means for ejecting said workpiece from said spindle.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a heat sink slidably mounted to said carriage for engagement with said workpiece.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a cam means is operatively connected to said arc current providing means for controlling said arc current.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a. a finger rotatably mounted to said carriage, said finger generating a signal to said locking means for controlling said locking means;

and b. means for engaging and disengageing said finger, said finger being engaged when rotated into planar relationship with said workpiece and disengaged when rotated away from said workpiece.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrode is tungsten.

6. An arc welding apparatus comprising:

a. a base;

b. a housing pivotably mounted on said base;

c. a carriage slidably mounted to said housing;

d. a spindle rotatably and slidably affixed to said carriage for receiving a workpiece, said spindle being at ground potential;

e. means for rotating said spindle;

f. means for sliding said spindle;

g. locking means affixed to said spindle for engagement and disengagement of said workpiece, said workpiece being engaged when securely held in said spindle and being disengaged when removably seated in spindle;

h. a heat sink slidably mounted within said carriage for engagement with said workpiece;

i. a torch slidably mounted to said carriage, said torch having an opening and a plurality of ports positioned about said opening;

j. an electrode projecting through said opening;

k. means for exhausting an inert gas through said ports;

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said electrode is tungsten and said inert gas is a mixture of argon and helium.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said spindle rotating means is servo means.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said spindle sliding means is pneumatic means.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said torch sliding means is pneumatic means.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein cam means is operatively connected to said arc current means for controlling said are current.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said ejecting means is pneumatic means.

13. An arc welding apparatus comprising:

a. a base;

b. a housing pivotably mounted on said base;

c. a carriage slidably mounted on said base;

d. a spindle rotatably and slidably affixed to said housing for receiving a workpiece, said spindle being at ground potential;

e. servo means for rotating said spindle;

f. pneumatic means for sliding said spindle;

g. locking means affixed to said spindle for engagement and disengagement of said workpiece, said workpiece being engaged when securely held in said spindle and being disengaged when removably seated in said spindle;

h. a heat sink slidably mounted within said carriage for engagement with said workpiece;

i. a torch slidably mounted to said carriage, said torch having an opening and a plurality of ports positioned about said opening;

j. means for projecting an electrode through said opening;

k. means for exhausting an inert gas through said ports;

l. switch means responsive to the movement of said torch for controlling said inert gas exhausting means;

m. a finger rotatably mounted to said carriage for controlling said locking means;

n. means for engaging and disengaging said finger, said finger being engaged when in juxtaposition with said workpiece and disengaged when rotated away from said workpiece;

o. voltage sensing means for providing a signal representative of the distance between said torch and workpiece;

p. pneumatic means responsive to said distance representative signal for sliding said carriage;

q. means for providing an arc current to said electrode;

r. cam means operatively connected to said arc current providing means for controlling said arc current; and

s. pneumatic means for ejecting said workpiece from said spindle.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 in combination with a servo follower.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said servo follower comprises:

a. a table having a pattern conforming to the dimensional characteristics of a weld to be applied to the workpiece;

b. a first servo amplifier connected to said rotating spindle servo means;

c. servo means electrically connected to said first servo amplifier for rotating said table synchronously with said spindle;

d. photo-electric means;

e. a second servo amplifier electrically connected to said photo-electric means;

f. table servo means electrically connected to said second servo amplifier for sliding said table; and

g. torch servo means electrically connected to said second servo amplifier for sliding said torch, said torch and table being synchronously slidable, said photo-electric means tracing the outline of the pattern on said table.