Patent ID: 6335508
Filing Date: 2002-01-01
Classification: B23D,B23K

Abstract:
A pipe handling system comprising:(a) a control computer; (b) a laser cutting head; (c) a pair of parallel rails arranged in a longitudinal axis; (d) a linear actuator system associated with the parallel rails and connected to a third axis of the control computer by a motor for generating lateral movements in association with movements along the longitudinal axis; (e) a transfer linkage for transmitting movement of the linear actuator system to a pipe cutting carriage plate; (f) a cutting carriage assembly for mounting thereon carriage brackets and air cylinder adapter brackets; (g) a pair of carriage brackets integral to the cutting carriage assembly for mounting track rollers; (h) a plurality of track rollers for the cutting carriage assembly for enabling the carriage assembly to ride longitudinally on the parallel rails; (i) a pair of air cylinder adapter plates for adjusting the gap of a bearing yoke by means of air cylinders for handling a range of pipe diameters; (j) a pair of air cylinders, each having thereon a pipe grabber for holding pipe; (k) a pair of air cylinders, each having thereon a bearing yoke with a pair of ball transfer pipe bearings for holding pipe; (l) a chuck carriage assembly for mounting a pair of carriage brackets and a lateral motor; (m) a pair of carriage brackets integral to the chuck carriage plate for mounting track rollers; (n) a plurality of track rollers for the chuck carriage assembly for enabling the chuck carriage assembly to ride on the parallel rails; (o) a pair of chuck carriage stoppers for maintaining a pipe in a fixed position while being cut by the laser cutting head; and (p) a position sensor for detecting correct pipe and carriage position and sending a signal to the control computer.