초록 ▼

A mobile automated pipeline welding and quality control system comprising a gas metal arc welding carriage and a weld data monitor and acquisition unit. The welding carriage carries a welding torch, wire feed device for feeding consumable wire to the torch, an oscillator for oscillating the torch an

A mobile automated pipeline welding and quality control system comprising a gas metal arc welding carriage and a weld data monitor and acquisition unit. The welding carriage carries a welding torch, wire feed device for feeding consumable wire to the torch, an oscillator for oscillating the torch and a motorized drive mechanism for moving the carriage about a weldment. A controller for the carriage includes digital control circuitry for dosed loop control of the drive, oscillator and wire feed devices. By default, the controller operates each device at one of a plurality of pre-programmed nominal speeds selected from a mode table. The controller is responsive to drive, oscillation and wire feed speed variation signals under the control of an operator, and varies the speed of each device within speed ranges which are selected to ensure compliance with welding specifications. The monitor has voltage and current transducers for measuring current and voltage at the welding torch. The controller supplies the monitor with speed data relating to the drive, oscillator and wire feed devices. All of this information can be displayed and recorded in the monitors memory. In addition, the monitor can compute and display the heat input into the weld based on the detected welding parameters. This information allows the operator to make minute adjustments during the welding process to ensure that a weld falls within specifications.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [12.] A welding system, comprising:a welding carriage;a welding torch movably mounted on the carriage;a motorized travel mechanism for moving the welding carriage about material to be welded;a controller mounted on the welding carriage for control of the travel mechanism, the controller

[ We claim:] [12.] A welding system, comprising:a welding carriage;a welding torch movably mounted on the carriage;a motorized travel mechanism for moving the welding carriage about material to be welded;a controller mounted on the welding carriage for control of the travel mechanism, the controller includinga first communications port,a memory, the memory having stored therein a nominal speed for the travel mechanism and a pre-selected speed range therefor;digital control circuitry, operatively connected to the memory, the first communications port and the travel motor, for closed loop control of the travel mechanism, wherein by default the digital control circuitry operates the travel mechanism at the nominal speed therefor stored in the memory, and wherein the digital control circuitry is operative to compute the substantially instantaneous speed of the travel mechanism and transmit such information via the first communication port, andfirst input means, operatively connected to the digital control circuitry and under the control of an operator, for generating a travel speed variation signal, wherein the digital control circuitry is responsive to the travel speed variation signal and varies the speed of the travel mechanism within the pre-selected travel speed range stored in the memory, the travel speed range being selected to ensure that the travel speed of the welding carriage is within the limits of a welding specification; anda weld data monitor and acquisition unit for recording welding data, the weld data monitor and acquisition unit includinga current detector for detecting welding current flowing through the welding torch,a voltage detector for detecting voltage at a tip of the torch,a second communication port, operatively connected to the first communication port of the digital control circuitry, for receiving information pertaining to the travel speed of the welding carriage,memory means for successively recording welding parameters selected from the group comprising the welding current, welding voltage and travel speed, the recording taking place at a respective recording interval for each of the welding parameters,means, operatively connected to the memory means, for specifying the recording interval of the welding parameters, anda display for displaying one or more of the welding parameters in substantially real time.