Automated welding torch positioner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12083630-B2
Application number	US-202016993602-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2020
Priority date	Sep 18, 2019
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

A welding system can include a carriage having a top surface and a bottom surface. A first set of wheels can be coupled to the top surface of the carriage, and a second set of wheels can be coupled to the top surface of the carriage, spaced apart from the first set of wheels to create a first beam channel. The welding system can further include a first beam that includes a rack extending along a side of the first beam. The first beam can extend through the first beam channel and engage with the first and second sets of wheels. The welding system can further include a first positioning motor that includes a pinion gear. The first positioning motor is removeably coupled to the carriage such that the pinion gear is positioned to engage the rack extending along the first beam.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A welding system comprising:
a carriage having a top surface and a bottom surface;
a first set of wheels coupled to the top surface of the carriage;
a second set of wheels coupled to the top surface of the carriage and spaced apart from the first set of wheels to create a first beam channel;
a first beam comprising a rack that extends along a side of the first beam, the first beam extending through the first beam channel and engaging with the first set of wheels and the second set of wheels; and
a first positioning motor comprising a pinion gear;
wherein the first positioning motor is removably coupled to the carriage such that the pinion gear is positioned to engage the rack extending along the first beam, and wherein the welding system further comprises:
a first link pivotally attached at one end to the top surface of the carriage, wherein a first wheel of the second set of wheels is mounted to the first link;
a second link pivotally attached at one end to the top surface of the carriage, wherein a second wheel of the second set of wheels is mounted to the second link;
a first wheel spring coupled to at least one of the first link or the second link such that the first spring outwardly biases at least one of the first link or the second link towards a perimeter of the carriage; and
a first locking lever having a post that extends through overlapping ends of the first link and the second link, wherein the first locking lever is configured to clamp the first link and the second link in place while in a lowered position.

2. The welding system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first motor mount projecting from the top surface of the carriage;
wherein the first positioning motor further comprises a pin aperture, and the first positioning motor is removably coupled to the carriage by a first pin removably inserted through the pin aperture of the first positioning motor and the first motor mount.

3. The welding system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first motor spring coupled to the top surface of the carriage, wherein the first motor spring provides an upward bias to pivot the first positioning motor upward about the first pin to maintain contact between the pinion gear and the rack on the first beam.

4. The welding system of claim 2 , wherein a first wheel of the first set of wheels is mounted on the first motor mount.

5. The welding system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a third set of wheels coupled to the bottom surface of the carriage;
a fourth set of wheels coupled to the bottom surface of the carriage and spaced apart from the third set of wheels to create a second beam channel;
a second beam comprising a rack that extends along a side of the second beam, the second beam extending through the second beam channel perpendicular to the first beam, and engaging with the third set of wheels and the fourth set of wheels; and
a second positioning motor comprising a pinion gear;
wherein the second positioning motor is removably coupled to the carriage such that the pinion gear of the second positioning motor is positioned to engage the rack extending along the second beam.

6. The welding system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a controller configured to provide position control signals to at least one of the first positioning motor or the second positioning motor.

7. The welding system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a second motor mount projecting from the bottom surface of the carriage;
wherein the second positioning motor further comprises a pin aperture, and the second positioning motor is removably coupled to the carriage by a second pin removably inserted through the pin aperture of the second positioning motor and the second motor mount.

8. The welding system of claim 7 , wherein a first wheel of the third set of wheels is mounted on the second motor mount.

9. The welding system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a welding torch holder coupled to a telescoping rail, wherein the telescoping rail extends from the first beam.

10. The welding system of claim 9 , wherein the telescoping rail is configured to be locked in place with respect to the first beam by a locking screw that extends through the first beam.

11. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein when the first locking lever is in a raised position, the first link and the second link are moveable between a first position where the second set of wheels are aligned to engage the first beam, and a second position where the second set of wheels are pivoted outwards towards the perimeter of the carriage.

12. The welding system of claim 11 , wherein when the first link and the second link are in the second position, the second set of wheels are disengaged from the first beam such that the first beam can be removed from the first beam channel.

Assignees

• Lincoln Global Inc

Inventors

• Johannesen Dale Andrew

Classifications

• B23K37/0247

  Driving means · CPC title

• B23K37/0211 Primary

  travelling on a guide member, e.g. rail, track · CPC title

• B23K37/0282 Primary

  Carriages forming part of a welding unit · CPC title