Patent GB-988201-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to welding
IPC: B23K9/025
Filed: 1963-04-29
Abstract: 988,201. Making beams; welding by fusion; curving. KAISER STEEL CORPORATION. April 29, 1963 [May 14, 1962; Feb. 4, 1963], No. 16792/63. Headings B3A, B3E and B3R. In a machine for welding structural components in which the components are driven past a welding head fixed to the frame of the machine, a roller mounted on the frame is held in constant pressure contact with one component to press the components together. In a machine, Figs. 1 and 2, for fabricating an I-beam the web 20 and the flanges 20<SP>1</SP> are guided into the machine on rollers c<SP>1</SP> and c are supported, fed and held together, as they are joined by submerged arc welding heads 38, by two sets of rollers one set being mounted on one side of the beam on the fixed frame 11 of the machine and the other set being mounted on the other side on a carriage 10 slidable on fixed guides 9 transversely of the beam. Each set comprises a single roller 30 engaging a flange 20 and rotated by a fluid motor to feed the beam, upper and lower pairs of rollers 16<SP>1</SP> mounted on pivoted arms 21, 22 actuated by hydraulic cylinders 29<SP>1</SP>, to bring the rollers 16<SP>1</SP> into engagement with the web 20, and upper and lower pairs of rollers 39, 40 engaging the edges of the flanges 20<SP>1</SP> and adjustable either in similar manner to the rollers 16<SP>1</SP> or as shown by being mounted on studs adjustable located in slots in the frame 11 or the carriage 10. The rollers are symmetrically disposed about the welding position. The carriage 10 is actuated by an hydraulic cylinder which is subjected during welding to a constant pressure so that the clamping force is independent of the web width thus enabling tapered beams to be welded. One welding head 38 is mounted on the frame 11 and the other on the carriage 10. In a modification, Figs. 7 and 8, for bending and welding one or more flanges F 1 , F 2  to a web W curved in its own plane, the upper flange F 1  is engaged by driven rollers 19a, 24a and the lower flange F 2  is engaged by a roller 33a rotatably mounted on a slide 34b which during welding is urged towards the beam by constant hydraulic pressure in a cylinder 48a adjustably mounted on the frame la. The web W is located by a roller 92a connected to the frame la by a screw adjustment and by a roller 90a connected to the piston of an hydraulic cylinder. Bending and locating of the lower flange F 2  is assisted by a roller 65a on arms 66a rotatable on the pivot 59a of the roller 33a. An adjustable abutment 70a on the slide 34b engages and locates the arms 66a during welding. The welding heads 105a are positioned on the outlet side of the rollers. The rollers 19a, 24a and 33a may be interchangeable with others of different size, or they may be built up of varying numbers of rings 28a. If the flanges F 1 , F 2  are not to be at right angles the rollers 19a, 24a and 33a are replaced by conical rollers. A slot 110a in the roller 33a serves to locate the web W when a T-beam is fabricated. An arcuate beam having different curvatures along its length may be fabricated. After welding on one side the beam may be turned round and run through the machine to weld the other side.