US 4,381,440 AGranted

Control circuitry for producing variably rifled tubes

AssigneeCombustion Engineering, Inc.

InventorGeorge R. Madewell

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Abstract

An electrical circuit (102, 102') employable in cooperative association with welding means (90) for purposes of effecting the application of a weld deposited rib on the inner wall surface of a boiler tube (10), and through the use of which control is exercised over the size, pitch and pattern of the rib. For purposes of exercising control over the rib size and the rib pitch, the subject electrical circuit (102, 102') includes first (104, 104'), second (106) and third (108) electronic speed controller means that are connected in electrical circuit relation to the rotational motor means (92) of the welding means (90), the linear travel motor means (94) of the welding means (90), and the wire feed motor means (96) of the welding means (90), respectively. Further, the subject electrical circuit (102, 102') includes a dual purpose electronic speed controller means (148) that is connected in electrical circuit relation with each of the first (104, 104'), second (106) and third (108) electronic speed controller means so as to be operative to exercise control over each of the latter by means of a common speed adjusting switch (150) that the former has associated therewith. For purposes of exercising control over the nature of the rib pattern, the first electronic speed controller means (104') and the rotational motor means (94') of the welding means (90) are each of the servo type so that there may occur the rapid reversing thereof, which is required in the course of the formation of the types of rib pattern that are desired to be applied to the boiler tube (10) inner wall surface.

An electrical control circuit, employable in cooperative association with welding means embodying rotational motor means, linear travel motor means and weld wire feed motor means, for purposes of effecting the exercise of control over the deposition by the welding means of ribbing on the inner wall surface of a tubular member comprising:

a. electronic speed controller means connected in electrical circuit relation with the rotational motor means, the linear travel motor means and the weld wire feed motor means of the welding means, said electronic speed controller means being operative to control the rotational, linear travel and weld wire feed of the welding means;
b. motorized clutch means operatively connected to said electronic speed controller means and operative for determining the nature of the mode of operation of said electronic speed controller means;
c. potentiometer means operatively connected to both said motorized clutch means and said electronic speed controller means, said potentiometer means being operative in combination with said electronic speed controller means and said motorized clutch means for effectuating control over the operation of the rotational motor means, the linear travel motor means and the weld wire feed motor means of the welding means;
d. a dual purpose electronic speed controller means operatively connected to said electronic speed controller means, said dual purpose electronic speed controller means possessing the dual capability of being able to operate in either a manual operating mode or an automatic operating mode, and of being able to operate in either an increasing operating mode or a decreasing operating mode;
and
e. a speed adjusting switch means connected in electrical circuit relation with said dual purpose electronic speed controller means, said speed adjusting switch means being operative for purposes of coordinating through said dual purpose electronic speed controller means the speed of operation established by said electronic speed controller means for the rotational motor means, the linear travel motor means and the weld wire feed motor means of the welding means.

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Abstract

Claims11