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 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.
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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.
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Citations
20 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 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, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18)
- (i) an adjustable ring gear mount;
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15. A welding system comprising:
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(a) an adjustable ring gear mount; (b) a ring gear assembly positioned on the adjustable ring gear mount, the ring gear assembly comprising an enclosed, substantially planar circular structure and having an inner diameter and a center point; (c) at least one weld head assembly mounted on the ring gear assembly; and (d) the adjustable ring gear mount moves the center point of the ring gear assembly in at least one dimension within a plane of the ring gear assembly. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 19)
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20. A method 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;(a) 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 the pipe section which enlarges the cross-sectional profile of the pipe section; (b) moving the pipe section through the ring gear assembly in a lateral direction; and (c) 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 remains a closed circular section.
- (i) a base, (ii) an adjustable ring gear mount positioned on the base to allow at least two dimension movement;
Specification