Mobile Waterstop Welding Apparatus

A mobile waterstop welding apparatus includes a first and second support member for supporting a first and second waterstop section, respectively. The second support member is movable between a loading configuration, a heating configuration, and a welding configuration. In the loading configuration, the first and second support members are spaced apart so that the first and second waterstop sections may be loaded onto the first and second support members. In the heating configuration, the first and second support members are spaced apart so that a heating iron may be placed in-between respective welding ends of the first and second waterstop sections. In the welding configuration, the first and second support members are moved towards each other so as to weld the first and second waterstop sections together at their respective welding ends. During the welding process, a spring assembly may urge the first and second support members towards each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to construction tools and, more particularly, to a mobile waterstop welding apparatus specifically configured to weld together two pieces of waterstop that are located at a construction site and positioned in-between or adjacent to rebar.

Waterstop may be used anywhere a fluid, such as water, may seep through a concrete joint. Concrete joints occur when concrete structures are poured in multiple stages. One such example is when a basement's concrete floor is poured and allowed to cure prior to pouring the basement's concrete walls. One or more pieces of waterstop may be embedded into the joint of the wall and the floor to prevent water from seeping into the basement at the wall-to-floor joint. Two pieces of waterstop may be welded together to prevent water from seeping therebetween.

A common practice of welding two pieces of waterstop together includes heating the ends of each piece of the waterstop until they are hot enough to be welded together. A special heating iron may be used in this heating process. Constant pressure may need to be exerted on each piece of waterstop to ensure that each end being heated maintains constant contact with the heating iron during the heating process. When the two ends are properly heated, they are removed from the heating iron and immediately butted together to begin a welding process. To ensure an effective weld, constant pressure may need to be applied to the two pieces as they are welded together.

Care must be taken to ensure that alignment of the two pieces of waterstop is maintained throughout the entire welding process. Maintaining alignment of the two pieces of waterstop can be difficult, especially when the waterstop is located at a construction site and positioned in-between or adjacent to rebar.

Various waterstop welding apparatuses have been proposed in the prior art. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the current devices are not capable of being used for two pieces of waterstop that are positioned in-between or adjacent to rebar and/or they do not effectively maintain alignment of the two pieces of waterstop during the welding process. Existing devices are either too large or cannot be configured into small spaces between rebar in order to quickly and efficiently weld waterstop sections at precisely the location where they are needed.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a welding apparatus that maintains alignment of two pieces of waterstop during the welding process and is capable of being used for two pieces of waterstop that are positioned in-between or adjacent to rebar. Further, it would be desirable to have a welding apparatus capable of applying constant pressure to both pieces of waterstop during the heating process and the welding process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A mobile waterstop welding apparatus according to the present invention includes a first support member for supporting a first waterstop section and a second support member for supporting a second waterstop section. The second support member is operatively coupled to the first support member and is movable between a closed configuration and a variety of open configurations. The open configurations may include a loading configuration, a heating configuration, and a welding configuration. The first support member may also be movable between a closed configuration, a loading configuration, a heating configuration, and a welding configuration.

The mobile waterstop welding apparatus may also include a linkage assembly, a track assembly, and/or a spring assembly. The linkage assembly may move the first and/or second support members; the track assembly may guide the movement of the first and/or second support members; and the spring assembly may urge the first and second support members towards each other.

The mobile waterstop welding apparatus may also include a back plate and a plurality of hanging members. The plurality of hanging members may be used to selectively hang the mobile waterstop welding apparatus from rebar. The back plate may be used to prevent the rebar from interfering with the movement of the first and/or second support members.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a mobile waterstop welding apparatus that is capable of being used to weld together two waterstop sections that are located at a construction site and positioned in-between or adjacent to rebar.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mobile waterstop welding apparatus, as aforesaid, that maintains alignment of two waterstop sections during a welding process.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a mobile waterstop welding apparatus, as aforesaid, that applies constant pressure to two pieces of waterstop during the heating process and the welding process.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a mobile waterstop welding apparatus, as aforesaid, that is easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A mobile waterstop welding apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 8of the accompanying drawings. The mobile waterstop welding apparatus10includes a support assembly20configured to support respective welding ends36of first32and second34waterstop sections. The first waterstop section32and/or the second waterstop section34may be located at a construction site and positioned in-between rebar.

The mobile waterstop welding apparatus10includes first22and second24support members. The second support member24is operatively coupled to the first support member22and movable between a closed configuration (FIG. 1) and a variety of open configurations, including a loading configuration, a heating configuration, and a welding configuration. The first support member22may also be moveable between a closed configuration, a loading configuration, a heating configuration, and/or a welding configuration. In the closed configuration, an inner edge22aof the first support member22may touch an inner edge24aof the second support member24. The distance between respective inner edges22a,24aof the first22and second24support members is measurably greater when the first22and second24support members are in an open configuration (FIG. 2) than when the first22and second24support members are in the closed configuration (FIG. 1).

In the loading configuration, the first22and second24support members are spaced apart so as to allow respective welding ends36of the first32and second34waterstop sections to hang over respective inner edges22a,24aof respective first22and second24support members. Clamping members40may be selectively coupled to the first22and second24support members to secure the first32and second34waterstop sections to the first22and second24support members, respectively. In one embodiment, a clamping member40includes a clamping bar42and at least one clamping connector44coupled to the clamping bar42and selectively and releasably coupled to the first22or second24support member. The clamping connector44may be tightened or loosened with a fastener45such as a wing nut or the like. It is understood that the clamping connects may include clamps, latches, hooks, or other suitable fasteners. In another embodiment, a clamping member40includes a clamping block46and a clamping strap48coupled to the clamping block and the first22or second24support member (FIG. 8).

In the heating configuration, the first32and second34waterstop sections are spaced apart so that their respective welding ends36may be contacted together by the heating iron50(FIG. 3). While in this configuration, the heating iron50heats respective welding ends36of the first32and second34waterstop sections. To ensure constant contact of the welding ends36of the first32and second34waterstop sections with the heating iron50, the second support member24may be urged towards the first support member22, either manually or automatically.

In the welding configuration, respective welding ends36of the first32and second34waterstop sections contact each other (FIG. 4). If the waterstop sections are hot enough, they will be welded together. As the first32and second34waterstop sections are welded together, the second support member24may be urged towards the first support member22, either manually or automatically, so as to create a more effective weld.

A track assembly100, a spring assembly200, and/or a linkage assembly300may be operatively coupled to the first22and second24support members. As will be explained below in more detail, the linkage assembly300may move the first22and second24support members between the loading configuration, the heating configuration, and/or the welding configuration; the spring assembly200may urge the first22and second24support members towards the closed configuration; and the track assembly100may guide the first22and second24support members as they are moved between the loading configuration, the heating configuration, and/or the welding configuration.

The track assembly100may include a first110and second120track member operatively coupled to the first22and second24support members. The first track member110may be displaced from and parallel to the second track member120. The track assembly may also include a first112and third122slide member coupled to the first support member22and a second114and fourth124slide member coupled to the second support member24. The first112and second114slide members may be in communication with the first track member110. The third122and fourth124slide members may be in communication with the second track member120. The slide members enable the first22and second24support members to be moved selectively between open and closed configurations.

The spring assembly200may include first212and third222springs operatively coupled to the first support member22and configured so as to urge the first22and second24support members towards the closed configuration. The spring assembly may also include second214and fourth224springs operatively coupled to the second support member24. A first210and second220plunger may be operatively coupled to the first22and second24support members. The first plunger210may be in communication with the first212and second214springs. The second plunger220may be in communication with the third222and fourth224springs.

The linkage assembly300may include first310and second320linkage members coupled to the first22and second24support members, respectively, such that movement of the first310and second320linkage members causes the first22and second24support members to move along corresponding elements of the track assembly100. A handle350may be coupled to the first310and second320linkage members so as to provide a mechanical advantage for moving the first22and second24support members between the closed configuration, the loading configuration, the heating configuration, and/or the welding configuration. More particularly, a user may utilize the handle350to easily move the support members22,24between the configurations described above.

A plurality of hanging members60may be selectively coupled to the first22and second24support members such that the mobile waterstop welding apparatus10may be selectively hung from a support structure12such as rebar. In one embodiment (shown inFIG. 7), a single hanging member60may be coupled to each support member22,24, respectively and extend away therefrom and configured for selective attachment to the support structure12. A back plate70may be coupled to the first22and second24support members so as to prevent the support structure12from interfering with the movement of the first22and second24support members. More particularly, each hanging member60may include a first end60acoupled to the back plate70, a respective support member, or other suitable structure, and a second end60bhaving a fastener, such as a latch, carabineer, or the like configured to be releasably coupled to rebar.

In use, a person utilizes the handle350to cause the linkage assembly300to move the first22and second24support members to the loading configuration (at which ends22aand24aof respective support members22,24are spaced apart). A spacing member (not shown) may be positioned between respective first22and second24support members to maintain their respective positions. After the first32and second34waterstop sections are loaded onto respective first22and second24support members and secured with clamping members40, the handle350may be used to move the first22and second24support members out of the loading configuration so that the spacing member (not shown) may be removed.

While using the handle350to hold the first22and second24support members in the open configuration, a heating iron50may be placed between respective welding ends36of the first32and second34waterstop sections (FIG. 3). The handle350may then be used to move the first22and second24support members to the heating configuration. Upon releasing the handle350, the spring assembly200may urge the first22and second24support members towards the closed configuration such that respective welding ends36of the first32and second34waterstop sections maintain constant contact with the heating iron50.

Upon heating respective welding ends36of the first32and second34waterstop sections, the handle350may be used to move the first22and second24support members to the open configuration so that the heating iron50may be removed. The handle350may then be used to move the first22and second24support members to the welding configuration (FIG. 4). Upon releasing the handle350, the spring assembly200may urge the first22and second24support members towards the closed configuration so as to create a more effective weld. In addition, the entire apparatus may be hung from rebar or another support structure12at the worksite where a waterstop weld is desired, as described above and shown inFIG. 7.