Methods and systems for fabricating spiral welded cylinders
AssigneeAmerican Railcar Industries, Inc.
InventorsStephen A. Coughlin, Warner G. Fencl, Robert Shaner, Michael R. Williams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for forming a cylindrical body utilizing a continuous weld is provided. The method includes feeding a source material including a first edge and a second edge from a coil and offsetting at least one of the first edge and the second edge. The method further includes spiraling the material to form a cylinder, welding the first edge and the second edge together forming a continuous weld, and cutting the cylinder to a selected length. To fabricate a jacket, a longitudinal cut is made in the cylindrical body, at least one cutout is cut, and the continuous weld is an outer fillet weld.
Claims6
A method for jacketing a tank car utilizing a first cylinder and second cylinder, each cylinder having a longitudinal cut on a bottom portion defining a first bottom edge and a second bottom edge of each cylinder, said method comprising:
- lifting the first cylinder such that the first and second bottom edges of the first cylinder separate creating a radius greater than a radius of the tank car including a layer of insulation;
- positioning the first cylinder over the tank car;
- lowering the first cylinder such that the first and second bottom edges of the first cylinder are free to wrap around the tank car;
- lifting the second cylinder such that the first and second bottom edges of the second cylinder separate creating a radius greater than a radius of the tank car including a layer of insulation;
- positioning the second cylinder over the tank car;
- lowering the second cylinder such that the first and second bottom edges of the second cylinder are free to wrap around the tank car;
- welding the first cylinder and the second cylinder together;
- and
- welding the first and the second cylinder to at least one inlet nozzle and at least one tank car head.
A method for attaching a spiral welded roof on a hopper car including a plurality of bulkheads and a plurality of sidewalls, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming a spiral welded cylinder;
- cutting the spiral welded cylinder to make at least one spiral welded roof;
- positioning the spiral welded roof over the bulkheads and extending over the sidewalls;
- and
- welding the spiral welded roof to the bulkheads and the sidewalls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.