Automatic feedback control for wire saw
AssigneeElberton Granite Association, Inc.
InventorRoy Lynnard Tessner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
To maintain a constant cutting pressure in the cutting wire of a stone cutting wire saw for efficient sawing, the sensor of a radio frequency inductive proximity switch is mounted near the bowed section of the sawing wire to monitor its degree of bow. When the bow of the wire is reduced after cutting down into the stone, modification of the sensor signal activates an output circuit of the proximity switch control module which turns on a wire down feed means to quickly reestablish the proper degree of bow and wire cutting pressure. The activation distance is so small that, for practical purposes, constant wire cutting pressure is maintained.
Claims7
In a wire saw having a support frame, a dolly for supporting and guiding a stone cutting wire movably mounted on the support frame, motor winch means and associated suspension cable means for moving said dolly on said frame, an automatic feedback control comprising:
- an rf inductive proximity switch electrically coupled to said motor winch means, said switch including a feedback sensor mounted on the dolly near a bowed section of the wire and responsive to changes in wire bow curvature during cutting for activating the motor winch means to move the dolly in a direction to correct wire bow curvature to an optimum degree for most efficient stone cutting.
A method for maintaining a substantially constant cutting pressure and bow curvature on the stone cutting wire of a wire saw having a support frame and a wire supporting and guiding dolly mounted for movement on the support frame relative to a stone being cut by the wire, there being motor winch means to control the movement of the dolly on said frame, said method comprising the steps of:
- projecting an rf sensing field from a sensor on said dolly toward said bowed portion of said cutting wire;
- sensing deviations in the bow curvature of the cutting wire during cutting from an optimum degree of bow curvature during cutting;
- and
- feeding back to the motor winch means a control signal for activating the motor winch means to move said dolly in a direction to return the cutting wire to the optimum degree of bow curvature necessary to maintain said constant cutting pressure for most efficient stone cutting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.