Inventors:
Abraham Zeewy - University Heights OH
Donald Geringer - Parma OH
Assignee:
The Cecil Equipment Company - Medina OH
International Classification:
G05G 500
Abstract:
A guidance system for seeking, following, and maintaining the position of a welding apparatus with respect to a seam or joint to be welded by sensing changes in the surfaces, hereinafter called reference surfaces, at or adjacent to the seam. The system includes a probe adapted to detect and follow the reference surface(s) and to detect changes and deviations in the vertical and/or horizontal components of these surfaces, respectively. The torch of the welding apparatus is mounted upon and positioned by a motor-driven cross-slide providing both horizontal and vertical movement. The probe is mounted on the torch or on its own slide, which may be either on the torch or separate therefrom. Within the probe are two variable resistors, the resistance of each of which is changed by a displacement, horizontal or vertical as the case may be, of a probe shaft which engages and tracks upon the reference surfaces, either one or more angular surfaces having horizontal and vertical components (as in a V-joint) or a vertical and a horizontal surface (as in a lap joint). A voltage impressed upon each variable resistor is detected and applied, through an amplifier, to a trigger pulse generator, which generates pulses supplied to a silicon-controlled rectifier network through which power is supplied to the corresponding slide positioning motor.