Back to results
US 4,773,946 AGranted
Device for controlling operating gap of cutting head and method of using same
AssigneeCleveland Machine Controls, Inc.
InventorElmer L. Griebeler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeCleveland Machine Controls, Inc.
InventorElmer L. Griebeler
Estimating the term…
There is provided a device for controlling the vertical operating gap between the lower end of a cutting head, such as a frame cutting torch, and a generally flat workpiece positioned below the cutting head as the head and workpiece are moved relative to each other for cutting the workpiece along a preselected cutting path wherein the device includes a plurality of elongated feelers dangling vertically downwardly from the cutting head toward the workpiece with each of the feelers having an upper end and a lower terminal end, means for supporting the feelers at the upper end at positions spaced angularly around the cutting head with the terminal, lower ends at the same vertical height with respect to the lower end of the cutting head, means for allowing free upward movement of the lower ends upon engagement of the lower ends with the workpiece, such as allowed by downwardly hanging chains or loosely held rigid rods, feedback means for driving the motor in a first direction moving the head upwardly from the workpiece and a second direction moving the head downwardly toward the workpiece to maintain the operating gap at a preselected value wherein the feedback means includes sensing means for maintaining all the downwardly dangling feelers spaced from the workpiece while the lower end of the feelers closest to the workpiece is maintained at a preselected distance from the workpiece. This one feeler changes from time-to-time as the sensing device carried by the cutting torch moves along the workpiece to sense impending changes in the height of the workpiece with respect to the present setting of the cutting torch or other cutting head.
A device for automatically controlling the vertical operating gap between the lower end of a cutting head and a generally flat workpiece below said cutting head as said head and workpiece are moved relative to each other with said head moving along said workpiece in a given cutting path and a drive motor for reciprocating said head with respect to said workpiece during said relative movement, said device comprising:
A method for automatically controlling the vertical operating gap between the lower end of a cutting head and a generally flat workpiece below said cutting head as said head and workpiece are moved relative to each other with said head moving along said workpiece in a given cutting path and a drive motor for reciprocating said head with respect to said workpiece during said relative movement, said method comprising:
A unit for a device to control the vertical operating gap between the lower end of a cutting head and a generally flat workpiece below said cutting head as said head and workpiece are moved relative to each other with said head moving along said workpiece in a given cutting path said sensing unit comprising:
A feedback control for use in a device for automatically controlling the vertical operating gap between the lower end of a cutting head and a generally flat workpiece below said cutting head as said head and workpiece are moved relative to each other with said head moving along said workpiece in a given cutting path and a drive motor for reciprocating said head with respect to said workpiece during said relative movement, said device including a plurality of elongated feelers dangling vertically downwardly from said head toward said workpiece, each of said feelers having an upper end and a lower terminal end, means for supporting said feelers at said upper ends at positions spaced angularly around said head with said terminal ends at the same vertical height with respect to said lower end of said head, means for allowing free upwardly movement of said lower ends by engagement of said lower ends with said workpiece and means for applying a high voltage in parallel to said feelers, said feedback control including means for causing said motor to operate in a first direction moving said head upwardly away from said workpiece and a second direction downwardly toward said workpiece to maintain said operating gap at a preselected value, means for measuring an electrical characteristic caused by said high voltage application and means for operating said motor in a direction and for a time in response to said measured characteristic.
A device for automatically controlling the vertical operating gap between the lower end of a cutting head and a generally flat workpiece below said cutting head as said head and workpiece are moved relative to each other with said head moving along said workpiece in a given cutting path and a drive motor for reciprocating said head with respect to said workpiece during said relative movement, said device comprising:
A device for automatically controlling the vertical operating gap between the lower end of a cutting head and a generally flat workpiece below said cutting head as said head and workpiece are moved relative to each other with said head moving along said workpiece in a given cutting path and a drive motor for reciprocating said head with respect to said workpiece during said relative movement, said device comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.