US 4,577,796 A · Method and apparatus for tracking seam welds on pipes and the like

Abstract

Apparatus and method for accurately aligning and applying the outside longitudinal weld seam, with the weld seam of a section of large diameter thick gauge steel pipe generally after the inside weld has already been made, including support means for maintaining the pipe section in a stationary position, a plurality of adjustable scanning and tracking assemblies mounted at spaced measured stations along the length of the apparatus, each of which include optical scanning means whereby the scanning and tracking assemblies can be centered with respect to the seam weld of the pipe section at the point of scan, guide means connected to each scanning assembly so that the movement thereof causes said guide means to assume a contour corresponding to the longitudinal weld seam, and a welding machine which follows the path of said guide means to thereby apply the outside weld seam in alignment with the weld seam as the pipe is held stationary and the welding machine travels along the length thereof.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method for automatically tracking an inside weld seam of a large diameter thick guage steel pipe in order to apply an outside weld seam thereto in precise alignment with said weld seam which comprises,

optically scanning said weld seam at intermediate stations along the length of said pipe section,
adjusting the position of said optical scanning means for precise positioning with respect to the center of said intermediate weld seam as scanned at a particular point by adjusting the position of the support for said optical scanner and thereby moving a flexible girder guide means attached to said support and extending generally parallel to said pipe section to thereby deflect said beam sufficiently to enable said guide means to assume a contour corresponding to the contour of said weld seam,
and thereafter applying the outside weld over said weld seam by causing a welding machine to traverse the length of said pipe section by using said flexible box beam as a guide for said outside weld seam path.

Apparatus for accurately aligning and applying the outside longitudinal weld seams with the weld seam and the corresponding inside weld of a section of large diameter thick gauge steel pipe comprising,

means for maintaining said pipe section in a stationary position,
a plurality of adjustable scanning and tracking assemblies mounted on rigid fixed supports at measured stations along the length of said apparatus and extending parallel thereto,
each of said adjustable scanning and tracking assemblies, including,
(i) optical-scanning means mounted on a frame member above said pipe section at each of said stations for scanning an area of said weld seam immediately therebelow, and
(ii) means for adjusting the horizontal position of each said assembly as required to assure that said optical scanning means at each said station is positioned immediately above the center of said weld seam, and
guide means connected to each of said assemblies and extending the length of said apparatus and parallel to said pipe section comprising a spring steel girder which is adapted to move in response to adjustment of the horizontal position of said scanning assembly to thereby enable the longitudinal contour thereof to correspond to the longitudinal contour of said inside seam weld.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for tracking seam welds on pipes and the like

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for tracking seam welds on pipes and the like

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9