Rail welding apparatus incorporating rail restraining device, weld containment device, and weld delivery unit
AssigneeHolland Company
InventorsRichard L. Thelen, Richard F. Kral
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rail restraining, robotic welding and weld delivery device uses a frame for supporting a welding head with a clamp for restraining a first rail end and a second rail end and a base twist assembly for aligning said first end and second end. An interconnected weld containment apparatus pivotally connects to the clamp by use of a cam actuated linear pin. This arrangement is operable in an environment in clearance between rails and sufficiently compact that it may be operated from and carried in a truck based on a standard over the road truck or from a container.
Claims19
A rail restraining, weld containment, robotic welding apparatus and weld delivery apparatus for enabling the joining of a first rail end and a second rail end, each end being formed in a sectional profile with a rail base, a rail web and a rail head, said apparatus comprising:
- a first frame for supporting a clamp, a robotic welding apparatus and a weld containment apparatus and adapted for aligning a welding head;
- said clamp adapted for restraining the first and second ends;
- said weld containment apparatus connected to said clamp and engageable with said ends by movement having a pivotal and longitudinal component;
- a mobile weld delivery unit delivering materials through an umbilical to said robotic welding apparatus having a welding device proximate said ends so that a weld can be made joining said ends.
A rail restraining apparatus for enabling the joining of a first rail end and a second rail end, each end being formed in a sectional profile with a rail base, a rail web and a rail heads said apparatus comprising;
- a first frame for supporting a clamp and adapted to support a weld containment apparatus and having an alignment fixture;
- said first frame having a fixed downwardly depending arm and a movable downwardly depending arm spaced therefrom defining a rail receiving space therebetween;
- said movable arm being eccentrically pivoted on said first frame to enable capturing of a rail in said space;
- said clamp adapted for restraining the first and second ends;
- said fixture being formed and arranged for receiving and providing a base for a robotic welding apparatus;
- said welding apparatus moves in a selected pattern during the welding operation,
- said movement being automatically controlled.
A rail weld delivery apparatus for enabling the joining of a first rail end and a second rail end, each end being formed in a sectional profile with a rail base, a rail web and a rail head, said apparatus comprising:
- a mobile weld delivery unit delivering a rail restraint, a weld containment apparatus and a robotic welding apparatus having a welding device proximate said ends so that a weld can be made joining said ends;
- said mobile weld delivery unit attachable to a body or container;
- said robotic welding apparatus is connected to said mobile weld delivery unit by use of a coupling;
- said robotic welding apparatus, having a robotic arm, performs a welding operation by starting said robotic arm at a calibrated point and moving said robotic arm in a controlled pattern while welding;
- said robotic arm movement while welding being automatically controlled by a controller through said coupling, said controller calibrating the operation of said weld relative to the location of said rails.
A robotic welding apparatus for enabling the joining of a first rail end and a second rail end, each end being formed in a sectional profile with a rail base, a rail web and a rail head comprising:
- said robotic welding apparatus being connectable to a rail wherein said robotic welding apparatus having a base and main axis, said main axis being aligned with the longitudinal axis of said rail, said robotic welding apparatus having a robotic arm that can be programmed to weld together said first rail end and said second rail end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.