System, method and apparatus for manipulating a workpiece
AssigneeGeneral Electric Technology GmbH
InventorsRONALD FRANCIS KONOPACKI, ALLAN FERRY
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated system for manipulating a workpiece includes a machining device, a locating device configured to determine a position of a workpiece, and a positioning system operatively connected to the machining device and being configured to adjust a position of the machining device to align a centerline of the machining device with a longitudinal axis of the workpiece, based upon the determined position of the workpiece. The machining device includes a stabilizing mechanism to engage the workpiece to maintain the workpiece in the determined position, and a cutting element for performing a machining operation on the workpiece.
Claims20
An automated system for manipulating a workpiece, comprising:
- a machining device;
- a locating device configured to determine a position of a workpiece;
- and
- a positioning system operatively connected to the machining device and being configured to adjust a position of the machining device to align a centerline of the machining device with a longitudinal axis of the workpiece, based upon the determined position of the workpiece;
- wherein the machining device includes a stabilizing mechanism to engage the workpiece to maintain the workpiece in the determined position, and a cutting element for performing a machining operation on the workpiece.
A method for manipulating a workpiece, comprising the steps of:
- determining a position of a header nipple, including determining a center of the header nipple;
- aligning a machining device with the workpiece in dependence upon the determined position of the workpiece;
- deploying the machining device to engage an interior wall of the header nipple to main the header nipple in the determined position;
- and
- machining a weld preparation on an end of the header nipple with the machining device.
An apparatus for manipulating a workpiece, comprising:
- a stabilizing device configured to physically engage a sidewall of a tubular workpiece;
- and
- a cutting element having at least one cutting insert radially offset from a centerline of the cutting element, the cutting element being configured to rotate about the centerline;
- wherein the cutting element is configured to cut the tubular workpiece to a predetermined length and machine a weld preparation on the end of the tubular workpiece in a single step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.