WELDING WORKPIECE POSITIONER

POSITIONNEUR DE PIECES A SOUDER

English Abstract

Unscannable items
received with this application
(Request original documents in File Prep. Section on the 10th floor)

A welding positioner capable of four degrees-of-freedom: pitch, roll, yaw and
vertical displacement, for the purposes of welding and manipulating multiple
work
pieces and to reduce set-up and preparation time.

Claims

3
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A welding workpiece positioner, comprising:
a base;
a support column extending vertically from the base; and
a workpiece gripping head supported by the support column.
2. The welding workpiece positioner as defined in Claim 1,
wherein the support column is telescopically extendible,
thereby adjusting the working height of the workpiece gripping
head.
3. The welding workpiece positioner as defined in Claim 1,
wherein the workpiece gripping head is capable or orbital
adjustment about the support column.
4. The welding workpiece positioner as defined in Claim 1,
wherein the workpiece gripping head is capable of rotating a
workpiece about an axis of the workpiece.
5. The welding workpiece positioner as defined in Claim 1,
wherein the workpiece gripping head is capable of angular yaw
tilt adjustment from side to side.
6. The welding workpiece positioner as defined in Claim 1,
wherein the workpiece gripping head is capable of angular pitch
tilt adjustment in a downward or upward orientation.

Description

CA 02402180 2002-09-10
4-AX Welding Positioner
ARV
development
Description:
The 4-AX Welding Positioner allows the user to position a piece of work using
four degrees-of-freedom: pitch, roll, yaw and vertical displacement of the
chuck. The
current device also uses a two pedal system in conjunction with DC powered
controllers
to rotate the pipe in either direction at variable speeds during welding. In
addition, by
allowing the chuck to displace vertically through an 18" range, it maximizes
the welder's
comfort by positioning the pipe, or other work pieces, to the most ideal
position for
welding.
The innovation in the 4-AX, is the extra two degrees-of-freedom that the
product
possesses over most other similar products, i.e. yaw and vertical
displacement. The
vertical displacement feature allows the user of the product to customize the
position of
the work head/chuck to his/her height requirements. This is accomplished by a
jack
mechanism that lifts the entire upper section of the 4-AX.
The yaw aspect of the assembly allows the user to position several work pieces
in a 360-degree circle around the 4-AX such that one work piece can be
released and
another one can be installed using only one person by simply yawing the
positioner.
Once multiple work pieces are arranged, the speed at which a work piece can be
changed also ensures that the user is spending more time welding and less time
setting
up. Another innovative aspect of the 4-AX allows the user to change from one
work
piece to another, at a different height and position. This is accomplished by
applying a
vertical displacement and yaw motion simultaneously, thus, saving the user
even more
valuable time.
The pitch and roll features are also integral in the use of the 4-AX Weld
Positioner. The pitch feature allows the user, once the work piece is loaded
on to the
chuck, to move the work piece through 180-degrees. This allows for tack
welding of
flanges to pipes, or simply for welding in an upright angle. The roll feature
allows the
user to weld an entire circumference without stopping to rotate the work
piece. In
September 6, 2002 Page 2 of 11

CA 02402180 2002-09-10
4-AX Welding Positioner
ARV
development
addition, the use of both a direct current (DC) driver and two-foot pedals on
the roll
motion allows the user to control the rolling rate for a proper welding speed.
The foot
pedals allow for hands-free manipulation of the work piece while welding.
The base of the 4-AX has mounting holes drilled out to allow for permanent or
temporary attachment to a floor or trailer deck. This feature increases the 4-
AX's
stability throughout its 360-degree yaw rotation.
In addition, the control box, that actuates the pitch of the chuck and roll
rate, is
mounted on a swivel arm that can also rotate 360-degrees to accommodate the
position
of the welder.
September 6, 2002 Page 3 of 11

CA 02402180 2002-09-10
4-AX Welding Positioner
ARV
development
Summary of Features:
(Please refer to the enclosed Drawings 1 & 2 for Item Number identifications)
1 ) Combined Yaw and Vertical Displacement: - A simultaneous combination of
yawing
and vertical displacement is achieved when a torque is manually applied to the
Outer Tube (Item 8), while the Vertical Hydraulic Jack (Item 50) is activated
(see
Figure A).
2) Yaw Motion: - When a torque is applied to the Outer Tube (Item 8), a yawing
motion
occurs. Two Bulkhead Separation Rings (Item 10) ensures that the Outer Tube
(Item
8) remains concentric to the Inside Pipe Mount (Item 4) (see Figure B).
3) Vertical Displacement: - When the Vertical Hydraulic Jack (Item 50) is
activated, it
pushes on the Jack Shaft (Item 54) which then pushes on the Tube Cap (Item
12).
The Tube Cape (Item 12) is attached to the Outer Tube (Item 8). In turn, the
Outer
Tube (Item 8) is attached to all items undergoing displacement (see Figure C).
4) Swivel Control Box: - The Control Box (Item 66) can pivot 360-degrees in
the Swivel
Arm collar (Item 24) (see Figure C).
5) Mountings Feature: - The Base Plate (Item 2) has 4 holes drilled for
mounting of the
4-AX to a sturdy structure or floor (see Figure D).
6) Pitch Motion: - A torque is applied to the 14-inch Ring Gear (Item 28),
which is
attached to the Gear Box (Item 26). The Gear Box (Item 26) rotates on the 4-
inch
Bearing Block (Item 48) to create a pitching motion. The pitching motion is
activated
by the Control Box (Item 66), which can swivel 360-degrees to accommodate
position of the welder (see Figure E).
September 6, 2002 Page 4 of 11

CA 02402180 2002-09-10
4-AX Welding Positioner
ARV
development
7) Hands-free Roll Motion: - Item 36 applies a torque to Item 34. Item 34
rotates Item
44. Item 44 is attached to Item 72 to produce the desired effect. Item 66
controls the
rate of rotation. Item 68 controls the direction of rotation (see Figure F)
September 6, 2002 Page 5 of 11

Representative Drawing