Ring gear based welding system
First Claim
1. A method of welding a pipe section in a ring-based welding system, wherein the welding system comprises:
- (i) an adjustable ring gear mount;
(ii) a ring gear assembly positioned on the adjustable ring gear mount, the ring gear assembly having an inner diameter and a center point; and
(iii) at least one weld head assembly mounted on the ring gear assembly;
wherein the method comprises the steps of;
(a) positioning the pipe section within the ring gear assembly, the pipe section having (i) an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the ring gear assembly, (ii) a pipe center point, (iii) a longitudinal axis, and (iv) an object attached to the pipe section which enlarges a cross-sectional profile of the pipe section;
(b) moving the pipe section through the ring gear assembly in a direction substantially parallel to the pipe section'"'"'s longitudinal axis;
(c) operating the adjustable ring gear mount to move the center point of the ring gear assembly relative to the pipe center point in a plane substantially orthogonal to the pipe section'"'"'s longitudinal axis; and
(d) moving the attached object through the ring gear assembly while the ring gear assembly remains an enclosed circular structure.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of welding a pipe section in a ring-based welding system, wherein the welding system comprises: (i) an adjustable ring gear mount; (ii) a ring gear assembly positioned on the adjustable ring gear mount, the ring gear assembly having an inner diameter and a center point; and (iii) at least one weld head assembly mounted on the ring gear assembly. The method includes steps of: (a) positioning the pipe section within the ring gear assembly, the pipe section having an object attached the pipe section which enlarges a cross-sectional profile of the pipe section; (b) moving the pipe section through the ring gear assembly in a direction substantially parallel to the pipe section'"'"'s longitudinal axis; (c) operating the adjustable ring gear mount to move the center point of the ring gear assembly relative to the pipe center point in a plane substantially orthogonal to the pipe section'"'"'s longitudinal axis; and (d) moving the attached object through the ring gear assembly while the ring gear assembly remains an enclosed circular structure.
18 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of welding a pipe section in a ring-based welding system, wherein the welding system comprises:
- (i) an adjustable ring gear mount;
(ii) a ring gear assembly positioned on the adjustable ring gear mount, the ring gear assembly having an inner diameter and a center point; and
(iii) at least one weld head assembly mounted on the ring gear assembly;
wherein the method comprises the steps of;(a) positioning the pipe section within the ring gear assembly, the pipe section having (i) an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the ring gear assembly, (ii) a pipe center point, (iii) a longitudinal axis, and (iv) an object attached to the pipe section which enlarges a cross-sectional profile of the pipe section; (b) moving the pipe section through the ring gear assembly in a direction substantially parallel to the pipe section'"'"'s longitudinal axis; (c) operating the adjustable ring gear mount to move the center point of the ring gear assembly relative to the pipe center point in a plane substantially orthogonal to the pipe section'"'"'s longitudinal axis; and (d) moving the attached object through the ring gear assembly while the ring gear assembly remains an enclosed circular structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18)
- (i) an adjustable ring gear mount;
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6. A method of welding a pipe section in a ring-based welding system, wherein the welding system comprises:
- (i) an adjustable ring gear mount;
(ii) a ring gear assembly positioned on the adjustable ring gear mount, the ring gear assembly having an inner diameter and a center point; and
(iii) at least one weld head assembly mounted on the ring gear assembly;
wherein the method comprises the steps of;positioning the pipe section within the ring gear assembly, the pipe section having (i) an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the ring gear assembly, (ii) a pipe center point, (iii) a longitudinal axis, and (iv) an object attached to the pipe section which enlarges a cross-sectional profile of the pipe section; moving the pipe section through the ring gear assembly in a direction substantially parallel to the pipe section'"'"'s longitudinal axis; operating the adjustable ring gear mount to move the center point of the ring gear assembly relative to the pipe center point in a plane substantially orthogonal to the pipe section'"'"'s longitudinal axis; and moving the attached object through the ring gear assembly while the ring gear assembly remains an enclosed circular structure; wherein the ring gear assembly comprises two half ring sections with a locking mechanism maintaining the half ring sections together; wherein the ring gear mount comprises guide rail and rail carriage assemblies allowing movement of the half ring sections on a base, wherein the adjustable ring gear mount is positioned on the base; wherein the ring gear mount comprises a first guide rail positioned between the base and a mounting plate, and a second guide rail positioned on the mounting plate, wherein the second guide rail is substantially perpendicular to the first guide rail. - View Dependent Claims (7)
- (i) an adjustable ring gear mount;
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15. A welding system comprising:
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an adjustable ring gear mount; a ring gear assembly positioned on the adjustable ring gear mount, the ring gear assembly comprising a substantially planar circular structure and having an inner diameter and a center point; at least one weld head assembly mounted on the ring gear assembly; and wherein the ring gear assembly is in an enclosed position and when a pipe section is positioned within the ring gear assembly, the center point of the ring gear assembly is moveable a distance in at least one dimension within a plane of the ring gear assembly relative to a center point of the pipe section. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23)
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20. A method of welding a pipe in a ring-based welding system, wherein the welding system comprises:
- (i) a base, (ii) an adjustable ring gear mount positioned on the base to allow at least two dimension movement;
(iii) a ring gear assembly positioned on the adjustable ring gear mount, the ring gear assembly having an inner diameter and a center point; and
(iv) at least one weld head assembly mounted on the ring gear assembly, the weld head assembly including a welding torch;
wherein the method comprises the steps of;positioning a pipe section within the ring gear assembly, the pipe section having (i) an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the ring gear assembly, (ii) a pipe center point, and (iii) an object attached to the pipe section which enlarges the cross-sectional profile of the pipe section; moving the pipe section through the ring gear assembly in a lateral direction; and operating the adjustable ring gear mount to move the center point of the ring gear assembly relative to the center point of the pipe section in order to allow passage of the attached object through the ring gear assembly while the ring gear assembly is in an enclosed position.
- (i) a base, (ii) an adjustable ring gear mount positioned on the base to allow at least two dimension movement;
Specification