Machine for automatic in situ welding according to a curvilinear section profile and having programmable extrapolation control

An automatic machine for the in situ assembly of at least two metallic parts by welding along a profile (P) common to the parts and comprising a support stationary with respect to the parts, a carriage movably mounted on the support and guided along a feed path of travel (T), welding equipment with a torch movably mounted and guided on the carriage, a displacement system for the displacement of the carriage and the torch with respect to the support, means for the detection of the position of the torch with respect to the parts, and a programmable control device connected to the detection means and operating the displacement system and the welding equipment such that welding is effected by the torch along the common profile (p), the detection means comprising a locating telemeter supported by the carriage independently of the torch for measuring a chosen distance between the machine and one of the parts, the profile having at least one curvilinear portion (TC) at the level of which the chosen distance is outside a given range, the control device being provided with a memory wherein are recorded the coordinates of points of passage on the profile as a function of the locating telemeter, the control device including means for defining through circular extrapolation between the neighboring points of passage a series of curves connecting these points and coinciding substantially with the curvilinear portion (TC) in order that the displacement system makes one of the successive positions of the torch at the level of the curvilinear portion (TC) correspond to a given number of curves.