Narrow groove welding method and system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10953484-B2
Application number	US-201414481624-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2014
Priority date	Sep 16, 2013
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

Abstract

A system includes a welding torch assembly configured to establish a welding arc between an electrode and workpieces separated by a narrow groove utilizing power from a power supply while moving the electrode radially in a desired pattern by a motion control assembly within the welding torch assembly. The welding torch assembly includes a nozzle through which the electrode is fed and within which the electrode is radially moved.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a welding torch assembly configured to establish a welding arc between an electrode and workpieces separated by a narrow groove utilizing power from a power supply, the welding torch assembly comprising:
a motion control assembly configured to actuate a contact element through which the electrode is fed to move the electrode radially in a desired pattern during welding within the narrow groove;
a nozzle through which the electrode is fed and within which the electrode is radially moved by the motion control assembly via the contact element, wherein the motion control assembly is configured to move the electrode radially with respect to the nozzle;
a welding torch body that comprises the nozzle;
a first gas delivery tube configured to delivering shielding gas proximate the welding arc via the nozzle; and
a trolley assembly configured to align the welding torch assembly within the narrow groove during welding within the narrow groove, the trolley assembly comprising a trolley that comprises:
a plurality of wheels arranged to interface with top surfaces of workpieces separated by the narrow groove, to facilitate aligning and movement of the nozzle along the narrow groove; and
an aperture through which the welding torch body is insertable and retractable during welding, to facilitate insertion and extraction of the nozzle into and out of the narrow groove.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle comprises two separate wall sections disposed on opposite sides of the nozzle and out of contact with the electrode.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle comprises a forward wall section, an aft wall section, a first side wall section connecting a first end of the forward wall section to a first end of the aft wall section, and a second side wall section connecting a second end of the forward wall section to a second end of the aft wall section.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the forward wall section and the aft wall section are both generally arcuate, and the first and second side wall sections are both generally straight and parallel to each other.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is retractable with respect to the welding torch assembly.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the welding torch assembly comprises a plurality of gas delivery tubes, including the first gas delivery tube, configured to deliver shielding gas proximate the welding arc.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first gas delivery tube is configured to deliver shielding gas to the welding arc via a forward cavity between the electrode and a forward wall section of the nozzle, and further comprising a second gas delivery tube configured to deliver the shielding gas to the welding arc via an aft cavity between the electrode and an aft wall section of the nozzle.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of gas delivery tubes are each disposed on a side of the wall sections of the nozzle opposite the electrode.

9. The system of claim 1 , comprising an insulative material disposed on an exterior of the contact element.

10. The system of claim 1 , comprising a nozzle changing station having a plurality of substitute nozzles, wherein the welding torch assembly is configured to substitute the nozzle with one of the substitute nozzles.

11. A system comprising:
a welding torch assembly configured to establish a welding arc between an electrode and workpieces separated by a narrow groove utilizing power from a power supply, the welding torch assembly comprising:
a motion control assembly configured to actuate a contact element through which the electrode is fed to move the electrode radially in a desired pattern during welding within the narrow groove;
two separate shielding arms disposed on opposite sides of the electrode and out of electrical contact with the electrode, the motion control assembly configured to move the electrode radially with respect to the shielding arms; and
a trolley assembly configured to align the welding torch assembly within the narrow groove during welding within the narrow groove, the trolley assembly comprising a trolley that comprises:
a plurality of wheels arranged to interface with top surfaces of workpieces separated by the narrow groove, to facilitate aligning and moving of at least one component of the welding torch assembly along the narrow groove during the welding; and
an aperture through which at least part of the at least one component of the welding torch assembly is insertable and retractable during the welding;
wherein the at least one component of the welding torch assembly applies the welding within the narrow groove.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the shielding arms are configured to pivot upward away from the contact element.

13. The system of claim 11 , comprising an insulative material disposed on an exterior of the contact element.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the contact element is retractable with respect to the narrow groove.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the welding torch assembly comprises a plurality of gas delivery tubes for delivering shielding gas proximate the welding arc.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of gas delivery tubes comprises a first gas delivery tube for delivering shielding gas between the electrode and a forward shielding arm, and a second gas delivery tube for delivering shielding gas between the electrode and an aft shielding arm.

17. The system of claim 2 , wherein the two separate wall sections are configured to reduce a flow of shielding gas away from the welding arc within the narrow groove.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the shielding arms are configured to reduce a flow of shielding gas away from the welding arc within the narrow groove.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the welding torch assembly comprises a gas delivery tube configured to deliver the shielding gas proximate the welding arc from a location between the shielding arms.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Pagano Kevin
• Marschke Bryan Dustin
• Jaeger Thomas Roger
• Basit Nauman
• Dobson Kenneth S

Classifications

• B23K9/0213 Primary

  Narrow gap welding · CPC title

• B23K9/295

  using consumable wire electrodes · CPC title

• B23K9/073 Primary

  Stabilising the arc · CPC title

• B23K9/173

  and of a consumable electrode · CPC title

• B23K9/0216

  Seam profiling, e.g. weaving, multilayer · CPC title