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Ring gear based welding system

  • US 8,916,791 B2
  • Filed: 02/02/2010
  • Issued: 12/23/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A welding system for welding a pipe joint between two pipe sections, the welding system comprising:

  • a. a traveling base carriage;

    b. a carriage positioning mechanism engaging the traveling base carriage;

    c. a ring gear assembly mounted on the traveling base carriage, the ring gear assembly comprising;

    i. half ring sections, each including at least one gear track;

    ii. a ring gear mount attaching the half ring sections to the traveling base carriage, the ring gear mounts allowing the half ring sections to separate and guiding the half ring sections into mating engagement;

    d. at least one weld head assembly mounted on the ring gear assembly, the at least one weld head assembly including;

    i) a welding torch;

    ii) a torch positioner, and ii) a position sensor;

    e. a system controller programmed to control at least the carriage positioning mechanism and the at least one weld head assembly to perform the following steps;

    i. setting a velocity of the traveling base carriage to approximate a pipe joint'"'"'s lateral movement in a direction along a length of the pipe sections, in order to maintain a position of the at least one weld head assembly approximately at the pipe joint;

    ii. adjusting a path of the welding torch to accommodate a geometry of the pipe joint as detected by the position sensor; and

    iii. allowing the traveling base carriage to maintain the velocity approximate the pipe joint'"'"'s lateral movement while adjusting the path of the welding torch to weld the pipe joint.

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