Method and apparatus for flame cutting a workpiece
AssigneePeddinghaus Corporation
InventorJames M. Magnuson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for cutting an elongate workpiece. A conveyor is provided for supporting the workpiece lengthwise along an X-axis in a mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z-axis coordinate system. An X-axis positioner is provided for moving the workpiece along the X-axis on the support conveyor. A torch is mounted on a guide ring with the flame in an orientation to impinge upon the workpiece along the cutting path. The torch revolves on, or with, the guide ring at least partially around the workpiece to position the torch in a selected orientation. The guide ring is also movable along the Z-axis and along the Y-axis by means of linear positioning tables.
Claims19
A method for cutting an elongate workpiece along a cutting path in at least two planes seriatim with a flame from a single cutting torch, said method comprising the steps of:
- (A) in a mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z-axis coordinate system, supporting said workpiece oriented lengthwise along said X-axis;
- (B) mounting said torch adjacent said workpiece and positioning said torch with said flame in a first orientation to impinge upon said workpiece at a first location on said cutting path;
- (C) while maintaining the impingement of said flame on said workpiece, moving said workpiece along said X-axis during at least one of the following steps (D) and (F);
- (D) moving said torch with said flame in said first orientation so as to include a component of flame motion along at least one of said Y and Z axes and to move said flame to a second location along said cutting path for cutting said workpiece between said first and second locations;
- (E) while maintaining the impingement of said flame on said workpiece, swinging said torch in a circular arc to move said flame to a second orientation by pivoting said flame about the arc central axis which passes through said second location and which is parallel to said X-axis;
- and
- (F) while maintaining the impingement of said flame on said workpiece, moving said torch with said flame in said second orientation so as to include a component of flame motion along at least one of said Y and Z axes and to move said flame to a third location along said cutting path for cutting said workpiece between said second and third locations.
A method for cutting an elongate workpiece along a cutting path in at least two planes seriatim with a flame from a single cutting torch, said method comprising the steps of:
- (A) in a mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z-axis coordinate system, supporting said workpiece oriented lengthwise along said X-axis to provide a clearance region around at least a major portion of the periphery of the transverse cross section of said workpiece;
- (B) mounting said torch in said clearance region to position said flame in a cutting plane generally normal to said X-axis and to position said torch with said flame in a first orientation to impinge upon said workpiece at a first location on said cutting path;
- (C) while maintaining the impingement of said flame on said workpiece, moving said torch with said flame in said first orientation so as to include a component of motion along at least one of said Y and Z axes and to move said flame to a second location along said cutting path for cutting said workpiece between said first and second locations;
- (D) while maintaining the impingement of said flame on said workpiece, swinging said torch on a circular arc guide to pivot said flame in said cutting plane about said second location to a second orientation;
- and
- (E) while maintaining the impingement of said flame on said workpiece, moving said torch with said flame in said second orientation so as to include a component of motion along at least one of said Y and Z axes and to move said flame to a third location along said cutting path for cutting said workpiece between said second and third locations.
A method for cutting an elongate workpiece along a cutting path in at least two planes seriatim with a flame from a single cutting torch, said method comprising the steps of:
- (A) in a mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z-axis coordinate system, supporting said workpiece oriented lengthwise along said X-axis;
- (B) mounting said torch adjacent said workpiece and positioning said torch with said flame in a first orientation to impinge upon said workpiece at a first location on said cutting path;
- (C while maintaining the impingement of said flame on said workpiece, moving said torch with said flame in said first orientation so as to include a component of motion along at least one of said Y and Z axes and to move said flame to a second location along said cutting path for cutting said workpiece between said first and second locations;
- (D) while maintaining the impingement of said flame on said workpiece, swinging said torch on a circular arc guide to move said flame to a second orientation by pivoting said flame about the arc central axis which passes through said second location and which is parallel to said X-axis;
- and
- (E) while maintaining the impingement of said flame on said workpiece, moving said torch with said flame in said second orientation so as to include a component of motion along at least one of said Y and Z axes and to move said flame to a third location along said cutting path for cutting said workpiece between said second and third locations.
An apparatus for cutting an elongate workpiece along a cutting path in at least two planes seriatim with a flame from a single cutting torch, said apparatus comprising:
- (A) support means for supporting said workpiece oriented lengthwise along an X-axis in a mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z-axis coordinate system;
- and
- (B) torch mounting means for mounting said torch with said flame in an orientation to impinge upon said workpiece on said cutting path, said torch mounting means including:
- (a) arcuate positioning means for supporting and moving said torch in a circular arc locus relative to a central axis parallel to said X-axis,
- (b) Z-axis linear positioning means for supporting and moving said arcuate positioning means along said Z-axis, and
- (c) Y-axis linear positioning means fixed relative to said support means for supporting and moving said Z-axis linear positioning means along said Y-axis.
An apparatus for cutting an elongate workpiece along a cutting path in at least two planes seriatim with a flame from a single cutting torch, said apparatus comprising:
- (A) support means for supporting said workpiece oriented lengthwise along an X-axis in a mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z-axis coordinate system;
- (B) X-axis positioning means for moving said workpiece along said X-axis on said support means;
- and
- (C) torch mounting means for mounting said torch with said flame in an orientation to impinge upon said workpiece on said cutting path in a cutting plane perpendicular to said X-axis, said torch mounting means including:
- (a) arcuate positioning means for supporting and moving said torch in a circular arc locus relative a central axis parallel to said X-axis to pivot said flame in said cutting plane about said central axis,
- (b) Z-axis linear positioning means for supporting and moving said arcuate positioning means along said Z-axis, and
- (c) Y-axis linear positioning means fixed relative to said support means for supporting and moving said Z-axis linear positioning means along said Y-axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.