Electric heating – Metal heating – For deposition welding
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-18
2001-09-04
Shaw, Clifford C. (Department: 1725)
Electric heating
Metal heating
For deposition welding
C219S125110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06284995
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the art of machine repair. More particularly, the invention is related to the welding and repair of beating or bore surfaces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A wide variety of machinery exists in working conditions throughout the world and is exposed to abrasive and stressful conditions. Large work loads, open and corrosive conditions and time all work to wear out bearing surfaces and require replacement and or repair. For large bearing surfaces, there is often a need to buildup material in the inner surface of a bearing bore. Various attempts have been made to provide automated machinery for depositing welding beads in a uniform manner on the inner bores of bearing journals.
For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,527,039 to Fuwesi teaches and apparatus and method for restoring the surfaces blind or through surfaces of metallic workpieces. Fuwesi teaches a method be which tools, including welding torches, can be connected to a rotating spindle. The effective radii of rotational movement of the welding torch in Fuwesi is fixed by combination of a length of the welding attachment itself, and the spindle mechanism. Fuwesi does not disclose a manually adjustable axial positioning mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,899 issued to Acheson teaches an apparatus for restoring the inner surfaces of bores in metallic workpieces that has an adjustment means that relies on fixed pieces connected with a gear mechanism for adjusting the effective radii of the welding torch. This mechanism will be either quite large or will have a small range of adjustable radii. As another embodiment Acheson's apparatus, there is provided two part mechanism for adjusting the radius of the welding arm, a radial arm and an arm parallel to the axis of rotation of the axis of the apparatus. It is clear that Acheson requires several embodiments of the device in order to provide a wide range of radii.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,710 issued to Acheson also teaches an apparatus for building up material in a large bore of a metallic workpiece. In developing the Acheson technology of previous patents, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,873,419; 4,892,990; and 4,925,769; Acheson has relied upon additional setups to provide a greater radii range and has developed and claimed a specific method of sweeping the inner bore that sweeps approximately 359 degrees and then makes a step, effectively equal to the welding bead.
Each of the systems is complicated and requires careful attention to setup parameters in order to insure proper operation. The typical trend has been to make devices that are capable of doing many operations, including building up bore surfaces and little attention has been paid to providing equipment that is responsive to the needs and conditions imposed by day to day operations. However, none of the prior art references are specifically configured to be easy to set up in the field, their primary working condition. Each of the systems is complicated and requires careful attention to setup parameters in order to insure proper operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is designed to allow easy setup and use through means of easy adjustment of the apparatus through manual adjustment of the significant positioning parameters, simple linear controls to adjust process parameters of the buildup process, and, be relatively small in size. The present invention relates to an expandable, automated, welding device and methods used to build up material on the inner surface of a bore so that the bore can be restored to original working order.
The apparatus is characterized in having various improvements over the state of the art devices specifically including an expandable welding extension arm that has a first hollow arm and a expandable welding torch joined with a swivel bearing that allows radial adjustment of an expandable welding torch nozzle that extends from an expandable hollow arm. The apparatus is further characterized in having a unitary mechanical mechanism that coordinates the rotation of the expandable welding extension arm and the axial movement of the expandable welding torch; a manually releasable mechanism for adjusting the initial radial position of the welding arm and readjustment of the same; and a conductive path that provides current flow in external portion of the device is limited to the first hollow arm, the swivel bearing means, and the expandable welding torch. The welding torch is coated with a non-conductive material resulting in a more reliable, effective, longer lasting, and safer device. Further, the present invention joins a threaded guide and an extension tube by a spindle ferrule clamp. This hollow extension tube passes through a control housing that rotates the extension tube assembly by motor and pulley means, thereby effectuating the rotation of the first arm, and the welding arm. The apparatus also employs a compressed air means to force cool air through an air line, into the control housing. The cool air allows the present invention to be used in hostile or hot conditions. The air cooling results in a device that is more reliable.
The method of welding to build up material with automated welding apparatus comprises the steps of: clamping the apparatus to a fixed surface and in position as desired; positioning manually the apparatus axially in line with a radial axis of a desired working surface; adjusting the adjustable support bracket means; disengaging a clutch mechanism; positioning manually and axially an extension tube to a desired length; engaging the clutch mechanism; attaching additional expandable hollow arm segments to an expandable welding torch for additional length as required; expanding manually the radial reach of the expandable welding torch to a desired length; disposing manually and radically and expandable welding torch to a desired length; positioning manually the expandable welding torch of the apparatus near a desired surface; providing and coupling manually a power, wire, and gas source; selecting a rotational direction by engaging a directional controller; selecting a rotational speed by engaging a rotation speed controller; selecting a state of engagement for a clutch control mechanism; engaging the expandable welding torch; manipulating the clutch control mechanism as desired; disengaging the expandable welding torch.
It is an object of the invention to provide an expandable device for uniformly building up the inner surface of a bore, which is easy to setup.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an expandable apparatus that provides a uniform buildup of material on the inner surface of a bore.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an expandable apparatus for the buildup of material that is easy to position and reposition or to change direction of the movement of the apparatus along an axis.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an expandable apparatus that will create a spiral buildup mechanism, simple manual axial position adjustment, and simple manual radial adjustment.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an easily expandable welding torch.
It is also an object of the invention to provide externally non-conductive welding torch.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus capable of performing single plane welds.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an expandable apparatus capable of operating in high temperatures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3430837 (1969-03-01), Hein
patent: 3541298 (1970-11-01), Carkhuff
patent: 3594534 (1971-07-01), Benfield
patent: 3627973 (1971-12-01), Smith
patent: 4381440 (1983-04-01), Madewell
patent: 4527039 (1985-07-01), Füwesi
patent: 4687899 (1987-08-01), Acheson
patent: 4805826 (1989-02-01), Moriki
patent: 4851639 (1989-07-01), Sugitani
patent: 4873419 (1989-10-01), Acheson
patent: 4892990 (1990-01-01), Acheson
patent: 4952769 (1990-08-01), Acheson
patent: 4956540 (1990-09-01), Kohno et al.
patent: 5298710 (1994-03-01), Acheson et al.
patent: 5558268 (1996-09-01), Acheson
patent: 5844201 (1998-12-01), Dibacco
Esslinger Erik Nathan
Esslinger Thomas H.
Bore Repair Systems, Inc.
Davis & Bujold P.L.L.C.
Shaw Clifford C.
LandOfFree
Expandable, automated, welding device for the build up of... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Expandable, automated, welding device for the build up of..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Expandable, automated, welding device for the build up of... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2519281