Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02832796 2013-11-14
WELDING SPINNERS, AND RELATED METHODS AND DEVICES
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This document relates to welding spinners, and related methods and
devices.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Welding spinners are used to spin an implement during welding.
Welding
spinners permit the implement, such as a pipe spool, to be moved while the
torch itself may
remain stationary while completing the weld.
SUMMARY
[0003] A welding spinner is disclosed comprising: a base; a wheel with a
mounting
face for an implement to be welded; and a cam arm laterally connecting the
wheel to the base
and mounted to rotate between the base and the wheel to adjust the height of
the wheel
relative to the base. A method of using the welding spinner is disclosed
comprising rotating
the cam arm relative to the base to adjust the height of the wheel relative to
the base.
[0004] A welding spinner is disclosed comprising: a base; a wheel with an
axle and a
mounting face for an implement to be welded, in which the axle is mounted for
rotation to
the base; a belt brake secured to the base and wrapped at least partially
around the axle; and a
tensioner connected to the belt brake for adjusting the tension of the belt
brake about the
axle.
[0005] A combination is disclosed comprising: a welding spinner having a
wheel
with a mounting face; and a chuck detachably secured to the mounting face. A
method is
also disclosed comprising connecting to the chuck an implement to be welded.
[0006] A counterweight device is disclosed for a welding spinner having a
wheel
with an axle mounted for rotation to a base, the counterweight device
comprising: a shaft;
and an axle clamp at or near an end of the shaft. A method is also disclosed
of retrofitting a
welding spinner with the counterweight device by connecting the axle clamp to
the axle.
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[0007] In various embodiments, there may be included any one or more of
the
following features: One or more fasteners are provided for securing the cam
arm to the base
against rotation. The base comprises a sleeve receiving a shaft of the cam
arm. The shaft has
a plurality of apertures spaced radially at least partially about a
circumference of the shaft for
selective alignment with one or more apertures in the sleeve to receive the
one or more
fasteners. The one or more fasteners comprise a set screw mounted in the base
for contacting
a shaft of the cam arm. The base comprises a vise for gripping the sleeve. The
cam arm is
mounted to rotate about a first axis relative to the base; the wheel is
mounted to rotate about
a second axis relative to the cam arm; and the first axis and the second axis
are parallel and
offset to one another. The first axis and the second axis are adapted to be
oriented
horizontally in use. The belt brake comprises a chain. The chuck is detachably
secured to the
mounting face using one or more fasteners. The axle clamp comprises clamp jaws
adapted to
pivot relative to one another to grip the axle in use; and the shaft further
comprises weight
mount spaced from the axle clamp. Connecting to the mounting face an implement
to be
welded; and balancing the center of gravity of the combination of the welding
spinner, the
pipe, and the counterweight device such that the center of gravity falls along
an axis of
rotation defined by the axle. Methods of using the devices disclosed here.
[0008] These and other aspects of the device and method are set out in the
claims,
which are incorporated here by reference.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0009] Embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures, in
which
like reference characters denote like elements, by way of example, and in
which:
[0010] Fig. 1 is a side elevation partially expanded view of a welding
spinner with a
pipe spool.
[0011] Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation view taken along the view lines 2-2
from Fig. 1.
[0012] Fig. 3 is a section view taken along the section lines 3-3 from
Fig. 1.
[0013] Fig. 4 is a section view taken along the section lines 4-4 from
Fig. 1 and with
a chain brake added.
[0014] Fig. 5 is a section view taken along the section lines 5-5 from
Fig. 1.
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[0015] Fig. 6 is a side elevation view of the chain brake bracket and
chain separated
from the welding spinner of Fig. 4.
[0016] Figs. 7 and 8 are section views taken along the section lines 7-7
and 8-8,
respectively, from Fig. 1.
[0017] Fig. 9 is a top plan view, partially in section, of the base from
the welding
spinner of Fig. 1.
[0018] Fig. 10 is a side elevation view of a pivot pin for use with the
welding spinner
of Fig. 1.
[0019] Fig. 11 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of a sleeve
embodiment
of a base for the welding spinner of Fig. 1.
[0020] Fig. 11A is a side elevation view of a vice gripping the base of
Fig. 11.
[0021] Fig. 12 is a section view of a chuck mounting plate taken along the
section
lines 12-12 from Fig. 1.
[0022] Fig. 13 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of a
counterweight device
connected to the spindle of the welding spinner of Fig. 1.
[0023] Fig. 13A is a top plan view of one of the jaws of the axle clamp of
the device
of Fig. 13.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Immaterial modifications may be made to the embodiments described
here
without departing from what is covered by the claims.
[0025] Pipe welding fixtures or mounts may be used to secure a length of
pipe so that
the pipe may be manipulated during welding. It is sometimes desirable for a
welder to have
the capability to apply a weld so that the welder's torch is placed on top of
the joint to be
welded, and then to rotate the workpiece around the position of the torch. If
a welder is
required to physically move the torch around the curved surface of the pipe,
this may
increase the difficulty for the welder to produce a consistent bead.
Additionally, requiring the
torch to be moved may also increase the time in which it takes to produce the
weld, and may
raise safety concerns when a welder's helper or apprentice must hold the
section of pipe
being welded.
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[0026] One common device used to rotate a workpiece during welding is a
welding
spinner. A welding spinner secures the workpiece, and enables the welder to
rotate the
workpiece by use of a wheel or handle that spins the workpiece about an axis
of rotation. In
some cases a welder may join various sections of pipe wherein one section has
an offset
created by a 90 or other degree bend in the section of pipe. Since such a pipe
section is not
centered about the axis of rotation, the spinner tool may be difficult to
manipulate because
the section of pipe is imbalanced.
[0027] Referring to Fig. 1, a welding spinner 10 is disclosed having a
base 12 and a
wheel 14. Wheel 14 has a mounting face 16 for an implement such as a pipe
spool 18 to be
welded. A cam arm 20 may laterally connect the wheel 14 to the base 12. Cam
arm 20 is
mounted to rotate between the base 12 and the wheel 14 to adjust the height of
the wheel 14
relative to the base 12. Cam arm 20 is illustrated as comprising a bent arm 21
extended
between a wheel mounting end portion 22 and a base mounting end portion 24.
[0028] Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, wheel end 22 of cam arm 20 may
comprise a
hub 26 with a bearing assembly 27 for mounting an axle shaft 28 of wheel 14.
Hub 26 may
be a wheel hub for a trailer, for example a utility trailer. Hub 26 may extend
into a spindle 33
for connecting, for example by lug nuts 30 through lug holes 31, to hub
mounting plate 32 of
cam arm 20. Hub plate 32 may connect to bent arm 21 through a concentric
reducer sleeve
34, which may have lateral windows 36 for accessing lugs 30.
[0029] Referring to Figs. 1, 5, and 7 - 10, base mounting end portion 24
of cam arm
20 may comprise a shaft 38 receivable by a sleeve 40 of base 12. The shaft 38
may have a
plurality of apertures 42 spaced radially at least partially about a
circumference 44 of the
shaft 38 (Figs. 1 and 7). Apertures 42 are provided for selective alignment
with one or more
apertures 46 in the sleeve 40 (Figs. 1, 5, 7, 9). One or more fasteners, such
as a pivot pin 48
(Fig. 10) may be provided for securing the cam arm 20 to the base 12 against
rotation. In one
case at least one pair of apertures 42 and 46 align to receive the pivot pin
48. In the example
shown pivot pin 48 slides through one side and out the opposite side of sleeve
40 through
two pairs of aligned apertures 42' and 46' (Figs. 5, 7, 10). Pivot pin 48 may
have an eyelet 50
at one end for receiving a cotter pin or other device to lock the pin 48, and
hence the cam
arm 20, in place (Fig. 10).
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[0030] Referring to Figs. 1, 5, and 9 the one or more fasteners may
include a set
screw such as a bolt 52 mounted in the base 12, for example in a threaded
aperture 54. Bolt
52 may be advanced to contact an internal or external surface of shaft 38 when
shaft 38 is in
sleeve 40, for fine adjustment of the pivot angle of shaft 38 in sleeve 40. In
some cases bolt
52 is vertically mounted as shown to permit the shaft 38 to be leveled by
advancing the bolt
52 to contact shaft 38. Sleeve 40 may be sized with dimensions sufficient to
permit shaft 38
to have some play within sleeve 40 to allow for leveling adjustments.
[0031] Referring to Figs. 1, 5, and 9 an embodiment of a base 12 is shown
where the
base 12 is adapted to be connected to an external surface (not shown) such as
a truck bed or a
table. Thus, sleeve 40 forms part of a structural frame 56 that may include a
base plate 58, a
stiffener plate 60 extended between the sleeve 40 and base plate 58, and one
or more support
plates 62 extended between sleeve 40 and base plate 58 at angles relative to
the stiffener
plate 60. Bolt holes 64 or other connection devices may be provided in base
plate 58 for
connection to the external surface.
[0032] Referring to Figs. 11 and 11A another embodiment of a base 12 is
shown
where the base 12 includes the combination of sleeve 40 and a vise 66 for
selectively
gripping the sleeve 40 in use. Such an embodiment permits sleeve 40 to be
retrofitted to a
suitable vise that is already located at a work site.
[0033] Referring to Fig. 1, shaft 38 may define a first axis of rotation
68 about which
cam arm 20 is mounted to rotate about base 12. As well shaft 28 of wheel 14
may define a
second axis of rotation 70 about which the wheel 12 is mounted to rotate about
the cam arm
20. The first and second axes 68 and 70 may be parallel and offset to one
another as shown.
One way to achieve such a configuration is to form bent arm 21 by connected
two forty five
degree elbow pipe fittings 72 with and a straight pipe fitting 74 as shown.
The first and
second axes 68 and 70 may also be adapted to be oriented horizontally in use,
as shown, such
that rotation of cam arm 20 results in vertical height adjustments of wheel 12
while
maintaining wheel 12 in a vertical plane.
[0034] Height adjustment of the wheel 14 may be understood with reference
to Figs.
1 and 2. As cam arm 20 is rotated about axis 68, wheel 14 travels around a
path 76 defined
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around axis 68 (Fig. 2). The end result is that with each amount of rotation
about axis 68, the
height of wheel 14 is adjusted.
[0035] Referring to Figs. 4 and 6, the welding spinner 10 may comprise a
belt brake
78. Brake 78 may comprise a chain 80. Brake 78 may be secured to the base 12
and wrapped
at least partially around the wheel axle 28. Belt brake 78 may have a first
end 82 connected
to a bracket 84, which for example extends laterally from the hub mounting
plate 32. A
second end 86 of belt brake 78 may also connect to bracket 84 after wrapping
one or more
times around axle 28. A tensioner 87 may be connected to the belt brake 78 for
adjusting the
tension of the belt brake 78 about the axle 28 (Fig. 4). Second end 86 of
chain 80 may
comprise a fastener such as a bolt 88 that passes through an aperture 90 in
bracket 84. The
tensioner 87 in the latter embodiment may comprise a nut 92 or threading (not
shown) in
aperture 90. When the nut 92 is tightened, the brake 78 is tightened and
friction against
rotation of axle 28 is increased. At above a certain tension level rotation of
axle 28 may not
be possible, and a full lock will be achieved. Below such a tension level
tension may be
adjusted to provide rotational resistance but not a full rotational lock upon
axle 28. Such
partial lock tension may be used to permit the wheel 14 to be rotated in a
controlled fashion.
[0036] Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 12, a welding spinner 10 may be
combined with a
chuck 94. The chuck 94 may be detachably secured to the mounting face 16 of
wheel 14, for
example using one or more fasteners such as bolts 96 (Fig. 1). Bolts 96 may
pass through
apertures 98 in a chuck attachment plate 100 connected to the chuck 94 (Figs.
1 and 12).
Bolts 96 may also pass through positioning slots 102 that are aligned in use
with apertures 98
and that are present in the mounting face 16 of wheel 14 (Fig. 2). Thus, chuck
94 may be
retrofitted to an existing wheel 14 and easily removed once work is complete
or if no longer
needed. Two or more for example three jaws 104 may be provided on chuck 94 for
mounting
an implement such as pipe spool 18 to be welded (Fig. 1). Chuck 94 may be a
lathe chuck.
[0037] Referring to Figs. 13 and 13A, a counterweight device 106 is shown
for use
with welding spinner 10. Device 106 comprises a shaft 108 and an axle clamp
110 at or near
an end 112 of shaft 108 (Fig. 13). The axle clamp 110 may comprises clamp jaws
114 and
116 adapted to pivot relative to one another, for example about pivot axis
118, to grip the
axle 28 in use. One or more fasteners such as a bolt 120 may be connected to
the shaft 108 to
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secure the counterweight device 106 in place. For example, bolt 120 may be
mounted in an
aperture 122 in jaw 116, and may have a nut or flanged end 124 that is
received and locked
in a slot 126 or aperture in jaw 114 so that the axle 28 is locked between the
shaft 108 and
the bolt 120 in use. Use of a slot 126 allows bolt 120 to be laterally removed
from slot 126
on loosening to open the jaws and release the axle 28 (Figs. 13 and 13A). A
seat 128 may be
provided in jaw 114 to lock end 124 in place on tightening bolt 120. The
device 106 may be
retrofitted to an existing welding spinner 10 by connecting the axle clamp 110
to the axle 28.
[0038] Counterweight device 106 may comprise a weight mount such as a
flange 130
spaced from the axle clamp 110. One or more weights 132 may be added to weight
mount
130 and secured in place for example with a nut 134. The weight mount may be
adjustable,
for example reposition able along the length of shaft 108 to adjust the centre
of gravity of the
device 106. Once an implement such as a spool 18 is mounted to wheel 14, an
initial centre
of gravity 136 of the combination of the spinner 10, the device 106 and the
spool 18 may be
adjusted to a balanced centre of gravity 138 along the axis of rotation 70 of
the wheel axle
28. Balancing the centre of gravity may be done by repositioning one or both
the
counterweight device 106 or spool 18 relative to one another, and by adding,
repositioning,
or removing weights 132 from device 106. Once balanced, welding may be
commenced.
[0039] The examples disclosed are for example purposes only, and suitable
variants
may be used for various components. For example, instead of male-female
connection
between the cam arm 20 and sleeve 40, respectively, a female-male connection
may be used,
for example with shaft 38 provided as a sleeve and sleeve 40 provided as a
shaft. Other
connections that do not require a shaft and sleeve may be used. Similar
variants may be used
with wheel mounting end 22. When an item is mounted or connected to another
item, the
mounting or connection may be accomplished through intermediate parts, such as
plates and
washers. For example, belt brake 78 is connected to base 12 through cam arm 20
and sleeve
40. Connection between items may be through suitable fastening devices such as
bolts,
screws, welding and clamps, unless the context otherwise dictates. Wheel 14
may be
powered by manual rotation or by a motor. Although pipe spool 18 is shown in
the figures,
other implements may be welded with spinner 10, including non pipe implements.
A motor
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may be provided for motorized rotation of cam arm 20 and hence height
adjustment of wheel
14.
[0040] In the claims, the word "comprising" is used in its inclusive sense
and does
not exclude other elements being present. The indefinite articles "a" and "an"
before a claim
feature do not exclude more than one of the feature being present. Each one of
the individual
features described here may be used in one or more embodiments and is not, by
virtue only
of being described here, to be construed as essential to all embodiments as
defined by the
claims.
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