US 4,052,040 AGranted

Cutting torch and guide assembly

OwnerRalph Ogdeninventor

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Abstract

A cutting torch apparatus comprising a cutting torch arranged to be mounted on a movable frame for movement over the workpiece with the torch comprising a torch body and support therefore integrated into a double acting hydraulic cylinder and piston device in which the torch body is equipped as a piston and is reciprocably mounted in a cylinder through which the torch body extends to dispose the torch nozzle for application to the workpiece. The torch body is equipped with a feeler or guide member mounted for a lost motion movement range axially of the nozzle and having a plurality of feeler elements in coplanar relation that ride on the workpiece in spaced apart relation about the nozzle. The piston and cylinder device are incorporated in a hydraulic system, that includes a hydraulic pressure liquid and a hydraulic pressure liquid flow orienting or directional control valve of the mechanical servo type, for supporting the torch body and moving same axially of its nozzle. The feeler member and servo valve are operably connected for translating the movement of the feeler member in its lost motion range, due to elevational changes in the workpiece, as the torch moves across same, into adjustment of the servo valve to maintain the torch nozzle at the desired predetermined spacing above the workpiece, as the cutting proceed.

Claims8

Dependent claims

In a cutting apparatus comprising a cutting torch mounted on a wheeled frame riding on a trackway for torch cutting of a work piece positioned for torch cutting along the path of movement of the frame and means for moving the frame along the trackway, the improvement wherein said torch comprises:

a cylinder structure including means for mounting same in a vertical position on the frame,
a torch body mounted in said cylinder structure for reciprocating movement axially and vertically of said cylinder structure and including a nozzle at the lower end of said torch body,
a sensing device carried by said torch and comprising:
a feeler member having a plurality of feelers disposed in uniformly spaced apart relation about said nozzle,
said feeler member being mounted for a lost motion movement range axially of said cylinder structure relative to said nozzle,
and hydraulic means for supporting said torch body from said cylinder structure and for moving same axially of said cylinder structure,
said hydraulic means including a hydraulic system for positioning said torch body relative to said cylinder structure to dispose said nozzle at a predetermined spacing above the work piece with said feelers resting on the work piece and said feeler member disposed in its said lost motion range to provide the operative position of said torch body for torch cutting purposes,
and means for translating movement of said feeler member in its said lost motion range due to elevational changes in the work piece into adjustment of said flow orienting means to maintain said nozzle at said spacing above the work piece, on movement of the frame along the trackway for torch cutting purposes,
said cylinder structure and said torch body comprising a hydraulic cylinder and piston device forming a part of said hydraulic means with said cylinder and piston device being connected in double acting relation in said hydraulic system for said positioning of said torch body relative to said cylinder structure.

6 more elements

In a cutting apparatus comprising a cutting torch mounted on a frame movable along a trackway for torch cutting of a work piece positioned for torch cutting along the path of movement of the frame and means for moving the frame along the trackway, the improvement wherein said torch comprises:

a cylinder structure including means for mounting same in a vertical position on the frame,
a torch body mounted in said cylinder structure for reciprocating movement axially and vertically of said cylinder structure and including a nozzle at the lower end of said torch body,
a sensing device carried by said torch and comprising:
a feeler member having a plurality of feelers disposed in spaced apart relation about said nozzle,
said feeler member being mounted for a lost motion movement range axially of said cylinder structure relative to said nozzle,
and hydraulic means for supporting said torch body from said cylinder structure and for moving same axially of said cylinder structure,
said hydraulic means including a hydraulic system for positioning said torch body relative to said cylinder structure to dispose said nozzle at a predetermined spacing above the work piece with said feeler member resting on the work piece and disposed in its said lost motion range to provide the operative position of said torch body for torch cutting purposes,
said hydraulic system including a hydraulic pressure liquid and hydraulic pressure liquid flow orienting means controlling the flow of the hydraulic pressure liquid to effect said supporting, moving and positioning of said torch body,
and means for translating movement of said feeler member in its said lost motion range due to elevational changes in the work piece into adjustment of said flow orienting means to maintain said nozzle at said spacing above the work piece, on movement of the frame along the trackway for torch cutting purposes,
said cylinder structure and said torch body comprising a hydraulic cylinder and piston device forming a part of said hydraulic means with said cylinder and piston device being connected in double acting relation in said hydraulic system for said positioning of said torch body relative to said cylinder structure.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.