Gas tungsten arc welding machine with infinite rotating welding head and torch tilt
AssigneeFerranti Sciaky, Inc.
InventorsWalter A. Nelson, Jr., Gerald A. Kraatz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to a machine for practicing the gas tungsten arc welding process which includes means for rotating the welding torch continuously while welding. Means are provided for feeding the shielding gases, feed wire and electric current to the rotating torch while welding. Means are also provided for tilting the torch about the point of welding. This invention makes it possible to weld continuously along a spiral path about a cylindrical object or on a flat or irregular surface.
Claims9
An automatic machine for practicing the gas tungsten arc welding process comprising:
- a welding torch;
- means for supporting the said welding torch;
- means for rotating the welding torch about its longitudinal axis an infinite number of degrees;
- means for tilting the said welding torch about its welding tip over a predetermined angle;
- means associated with said means for tilting the said weld torch, for guiding the said welding torch along an arcuate path;
- means for supplying the said torch with a cooling medium and one or more gases;
- and
- means for simultaneously rotating and tilting the said welding torch, a wire feed and straightening mechanism and conduits for supplying a cooling medium to the welding torch and arc shielding gases to the welding torch area.
An automatic gas tungsten arc welding machine carrying a torch manipulator which is movable so as to weld along three mutually perpendicular axes, the said torch manipulator comprising:
- a support plate on said torch manipulator provided with an arcuate track;
- a carriage supported by and movable on said track;
- a means for supporting a welding torch on said carriage;
- means mounted on said carriage for feeding filler wire to a weld area and means for moving a filler wire guide and a welding torch along lines parallel to the said welding torch's longitudinal axis, mounted on said carriage;
- an arcuate rack mounted on said movable carriage;
- a spur gear mounted rotatably on a shaft supported on the aforementioned support plate and meshed with said rack;
- a set of miter gears arranged to drive the said spur gear;
- and
- a means for driving the said miter gears by a shaft passing through the center of a rotatable union, so as to cause the said carriage to tilt about an arc whose center is at the point of welding, the said rotatable union having a stationary part and a rotatable part to which the first-mentioned support plate is fixed;
- and a means for driving the said support plate and its attachments by a hollow shaft passing through the center of the union through which the first-mentioned shaft passes, so as to cause the said first-mentioned support plate and its attachments to rotate about the vertical axis of the rotatable union.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.