Reversible weld torch trolley
AssigneeHMT, Inc.
InventorsRichard Paul King, Timothy Kyle Johnston
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trolley includes a body and a side block coupled to the body via a pivot arm and a spring. An adjustment knob adjusts a position of the side block relative to the body. A first plurality of rollers are coupled to the body and roll along a first roller recess on a first side of a length of a cap channel. A second plurality of rollers are coupled to the side block and roll along a second roller recess on a second side of the length of the cap channel. A first welding torch bracket positions a welding torch at a first interface between the first side of the length of the cap channel and a first deck sheet as the trolley traverses the length of the cap channel.
Claims20
A welding system, comprising:
- a welding machine, comprising:
- a first welding torch configured to weld a first deck sheet to a length of a cap channel;
- a plurality of guide wheels configured to roll along a top channel of the length of the cap channel;
- and
- a drive wheel configured to roll along the first deck sheet and to propel the welding machine along the length of the cap channel;
- a trolley, comprising:
- a body;
- a first plurality of rollers coupled to the body and configured to roll along a first roller recess on a first side of the length of the cap channel;
- a side block coupled to the body via a pivot arm and a spring;
- a second plurality of rollers coupled to the side block and configured to roll along a second roller recess on a second side of the length of the cap channel;
- an adjustment knob configured to adjust a position of the side block relative to the body;
- and
- a first welding torch bracket configured to position the first welding torch to perform a first weld at a first interface between the first side of the length of the cap channel and the first deck sheet as the welding system traverses the length of the cap channel;
- and
- a coupling rod extending between the welding machine and the trolley and coupled to the welding machine and the trolley via first and second respective ball and socket interfaces.
A trolley, comprising:
- a body;
- a first plurality of rollers coupled to the body and configured to roll along a first roller recess on a first side of a length of a cap channel;
- a side block coupled to the body via a pivot arm and a spring;
- a second plurality of rollers coupled to the side block and configured to roll along a second roller recess on a second side of the length of the cap channel;
- and
- an adjustment knob configured to adjust a position of the side block relative to the body;
- a first welding torch bracket configured to position a welding torch at a first interface between the first side of the length of the cap channel and a first deck sheet as the trolley traverses the length of the cap channel;
- and
- a socket recess block defining a recess configured to receive a ball of a coupling rod, wherein the coupling rod couples the trolley to a welding machine.
A method, comprising:
- coupling a trolley to a length of a cap channel, comprising:
- aligning a first plurality of rollers coupled to a body of the trolley with a first roller recess on a first side of the length of the cap channel;
- rotating an adjustment knob to move a second plurality of rollers coupled to a side block toward the first plurality of rollers until the second plurality of rollers align with a second roller recess on a second side of the length of the cap channel, wherein the side block and the body are coupled to one another via a pivot arm and a spring;
- coupling a welding machine to the length of the cap channel, comprising:
- placing a guide wheel of the welding machine within a top channel of the length of the cap channel;
- and
- placing a drive wheel of the welding machine on a first deck sheet;
- and
- coupling the trolley to the welding machine via a rod extending between first and second ball and socket interfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.