Lincoln Global, Inc.

Mueller International, LLC

Ksj Valve Company, LLC

Richard Dean Traver

Jamil Snead

Victor Miller

Richard T Kitchen

Stephen R Cole

A welding system can manage wire feeders such that unused wire feeders are conveniently stowed. The welding system include two or more wire feeders individually attachable to a welding torch. The welding system includes one or more mount points to secure unused wire feeders and enable convenient swapping of an active wire feeder.

Wire management for a welding system

A system and method are disclosed for shutting off the flow of liquid to a hydrant. A break away frangible activator of a valve body becomes dislodged responsive to a hydrant receiving sufficient inadvertent impact. A valve member closes in response to the impact to close off the flow of fluid to the hydrant.

Hydrant shear valve and method

The invention described herein generally pertains to systems and methods related to repeatable and accurate setting of welding torch lead and lag positions, particularly with orbital welding systems. Specifically, a torch is coupled with a lead-lag coupler having a stop lug. A stop set with a stop pin is rotated to a desired position of lead or lag and secured. The lead-lag coupler, and torch which rotates therewith, are then unsecured and rotated until the stop lug contacts the stop pin. In this position, the torch is maintained at the desired angle. The stop pin remains in place throughout operation(s) to permit quick, accurate return to the desired angle if the torch is temporarily moved out of position.

Orbital welding torch systems and methods with lead/lag angle stop

The invention described herein generally pertains to locking mechanisms for levers operable to mount a tractor unit to a guide track and to engage a drive gear of the tractor unit to a track gear of the guide track. The levers for mounting the tractor unit and/or to engage the drive gear are lockable in a closed position. The closed position relates to a state of the levers when the tractor unit is mounted on the guide track or when the drive gear is engaged with the track gear. The levers can be easily operable to mount/dismount or engage/disengage, respectively.

Positive locking handle and self centering mechanism for track engagement

Track locking handle for a welding tractor

A tractor unit system includes a tractor unit that has a travel drive gear. The travel drive gear includes a drive gear portion and at least one drive roller portion. The system also includes a guide track that has a track gear. The track gear includes a track gear portion and at least one land portion. The at least one drive roller portion and the at least one land portion are configured such that the at least one drive roller portion contacts the at least one land portion when the drive gear portion is engaged to the track gear portion. In some embodiments, a diameter of the at least one drive roller portion is equal to a pitch diameter of the drive gear portion. If the track gear portion is curved, in some embodiments a diameter of the at least one land portion equals a pitch diameter of the track gear portion. In other embodiments, if the track gear portion is straight, a dimension of the at least one land portion equals a pitch line of the track gear portion.

Tractor unit drive gear engagement device

A tractor unit mounting mechanism includes a clamping assembly that is configured to engage and disengage the tractor unit to a track guide. The tractor unit includes at least two pivot blocks with each pivot block including at least one rolling device and a locking mechanism. The at least one rolling device is designed to roll on a rail of the guide track. The clamping assembly is configured to operatively connect the at least one rolling device with the guide track when the tractor unit is engaged. The pivot block is configured to pivot such that the at least one rolling device can conform to a profile, e.g., a concave profile, convex profile, a straight profile, or any combination thereof, of the guide track as the tractor unit is engaging the guide track. The locking mechanism, e.g., a bushing, is configured to prevent the pivot block from pivoting once the tractor unit has engaged to the guide track.

System and method for mounting a tractor unit on a guide track

A tractor unit mounting mechanism includes a clamping assembly that is configured to engage and disengage a tractor unit to a guide track. The guide track includes a first rail and a second rail. The mounting assembly also includes at least one pivot block set that has a first pivot block and a second pivot block. Each of the first pivot block and the second pivot block includes a first rolling device and a second rolling device. When the tractor unit is in a disengaged position, a first distance between an outer portion of the first rail and an outer portion of the second rail is greater than a second distance between the first rolling devices of the at least one pivot block set, and the first distance is less than a third distance between the second rolling devices of the at least one pivot block set.

System for mounting a tractor unit on a guide track

Exemplary embodiments of welding track clamps are disclosed herein. These track clamps provide several new features including, without limitation, alternate methods and apparatuses for adjusting clamping force and assemblies that provide for increased clamping force for rigidity and stability of welding tracks. The invention further provides ease of use and assembly/dissassembly.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Richard Dean Traver