Patent GB-932057-A (GB)
Title: Welding apparatus
Inventor: COOPER JOSEPH HULETT
IPC: B23K11/06
Filed: 1959-07-24
Abstract: 932,057. Making strip; welding by pressure; shearing. TAYLOR-WINFIELD CORPORATION. July 24, 1959, No. 25428/59. Classes 83 (2) and 83 (4). Welding apparatus for welding adjacent ends of metal strips comprises a frame having an opening therein, clamps on opposite sides of the frame to grip and preposition the end of the strips, a carriage vertically reciprocable within the opening towards the clamps, a shear blade carrier between the carriage and the clamps and connected to the carriage by power-operated linkage and welding electrodes drivable across the opening between the clamps to weld the ends trimmed by the shear carrier and overlapped by the clamps. Apparatus for welding the overlapped ends of sheet or strip travelling on a path 23 comprises a shearing and gauging assembly 20, a pair of spaced clamping and overlapping assemblies 21 and a welder 22. The shearing and gauging assembly comprises a large housing 24 having a window 25 spanning the path 23 and slidably supporting an upper carriage 27 connected to the piston-rod 31 of a fluid cylinder 32 pivoted to an upper support 33 of the housing. The carriage carries guide rods 36 which may pass through apertures 37 in the support 33 or be prevented from doing so depending on the position of a locking-plate 39 transversely movable across the support 33 by a fluid cylinder 40. An upper shear carrier 45 slidable in the window carries a pair of spaced raked blades 46 and is connected to the carriage 27 by toggle linkage 47, 49 coupled by a rod 52 to a fluid cylinder 54 mounted on the carriage. The carrier of U-section carries a gauge bar 56 therein supported by the piston-rods of fluid cylinders 57 mounted on the carrier 45 and the carriage 27 and carrier 45 are guided by channels 61 on a plate 60 secured to the housing. Lower shear blades 65 are carried on a support 66 guided in the window and movable by a fluid cylinder 32<SP>1</SP>. Each clamping and overlapping assembly 21 comprises a rectangular hollow platen 70, Fig. 7, with a channel 71 attached thereto and with a bracket 72 at each end thereof forming a support for an upper clamping member 80 with a projecting foot 81 and carrying a fluid cylinder 77 whose piston-rod is connected to the member 80. The platen 70 and clamping member 80 carried thereby are movable longitudinally, transversely and vertically, the platen 70 being movable longitudinally on an intermediate member 84 by a fluid cylinder 85. The member 84 is mounted for transverse movement on a member 86 by a fluid cylinder 90 and a pad 95 attached to the member 86 has a clevis 96 pivoted to the piston-rod of a cylinder 97 pivoted to a stationary housing 98, a pair of brackets 100 secured to the housing 98 pivotally supporting arms 101 extending from the member 86 so that the platen may be vertically pivoted. The amount of longitudinal movement of the platen is adjustable, apertured blocks 105 on member 84 through which rods 110 on the platen extend carry a member 70 having steps 109, the appropriate one of which may be brought into position for engagement by nuts 111 on the rods. The welding assembly comprises a base 120, Fig. 12, movable transversely of the strip path by a threaded shaft 135 rotated by a motor 133 and engaging a nut 136 on the base, the latter carrying electrode rollers 123 on brackets 124 pivoted on the base and connected to fluid cylinders 126. Pinch rolls 140, 141 and looper tables 142, 143 with parts pivoted by fluid cylinders 144 are provided on opposite sides of the apparatus. In operation with the shear carriages 27, 45, 66 retracted, clamp members 80 raised and welder withdrawn, the cylinder 32 is actuated to move the upper carriage 27 and carrier 45 into the position shown in Fig. 4 and cylinder 40 is actuated to move the locking-plate 39 and so prevent upward movement of the carriage. The trailing end of a strip is moved past the centre of the apparatus and cylinders 57 are actuated to lower the gauge bar into the position shown in Fig. 4. The pinch roll 140 reverses and causes the trailing end to abut the bar 56, cylinders 77 of the left-hand assembly 21 are actuated to clamp the strip and the cylinder 144 is actuated to form a loop in the strip. The cylinder 32<SP>1</SP> is actuated to move the carrier 66 into position and its locking-plate 39<SP>1</SP> is moved to the locking position. The leading end of a new strip is advanced to abut gauge bar 56 and right-hand clamping member 80 is lowered, and cylinder 144 actuated to form a loop in the strip. The cylinder 54 is actuated to lower the carrier 45 and cause blades 46, 65 to shear both ends, the carriages 27, 45 and 66 being then retracted. One of the cylinders 97 is actuated to raise one strip end, both cylinders 85 are actuated to move the clamped ends towards one another and where overlapped the cylinder 97 is de-energized to engage the strips. The electrodes are moved into position and then the motor 133 is actuated to move the rollers across the overlapped ends to form a seam weld.