Universal welding alignment system for ring-shaped parts
AssigneeTwb Company, LLC
InventorsIsaac LUTHER, Wayne HUISMAN
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A welding alignment system for ring-shaped parts is provided and includes first and second alignment clamps and a lifting device. The first alignment clamp can receive and support a first blank, and the second alignment clamp can receive and support a second blank for joining the first blank and the second blank by welding. The lifting device can lift one or more blanks that have already been welded to the first and second blanks to reduce a gap between the first blank and the second blanks at the first and second alignment clamps.
Claims20
A welding alignment system for ring-shaped parts comprising:
- a first alignment clamp configured to receive a first blank;
- a second alignment clamp arranged adjacent the first alignment clamp and configured to receive a second blank for joining the first blank to the second blank by welding;
- and
- a lifting device configured to lift one or more blanks that have already been welded to the first and second blanks to adjust a gap between the first blank and the second blank at the first and second alignment clamps.
A welding alignment system for ring-shaped parts comprising:
- a single alignment fixture configured to receive a first blank and a second blank and move along an xy-plane;
- a lifting device configured to move in a z-direction normal to the xy-plane;
- and
- an alignment sensor system arranged above the single alignment fixture and configured to collect data on the position of the first and second blanks on the single alignment fixture.
A method of welding two or more blanks together to form a ring-shaped part, the method comprising:
- loading a first blank onto a first clamp of a single alignment fixture;
- loading a second blank onto a second clamp of the single alignment fixture, the first blank comprising a first inner edge facing a second inner edge of the second blank;
- using an alignment sensor system to determine the position of the first and second blanks on the single alignment fixture;
- determining that at least one of the first or second blanks are misaligned on the single alignment fixture based on the positions identified by the alignment sensor system;
- moving at least one of the first or second clamps along an xy-plane to correct the misalignment of the at least one first or second blank on the single alignment fixture;
- and
- welding the first inner edge to the second inner edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.