The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 15, 1985
Filed:
Jul. 13, 1983
Ronald D Brown, Mapleton, IL (US);
Caterpillar Tractor Co., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
The invention pertains to a welding system having automatic groove tracking and adaptive groove filling capabilities. Data produced by a coordinated laser spot projector (10) and TV-scanner (12) combination is determined to an Intel 8085 computer (28) to provide a substantially continuous analysis of groove locations in a three-axis coordinate system as well as groove depth and area. Location information is fed to an LSI-11 computer (38) to control the tracking function through coordinate axis servo-type drives (46) and to control a fourth-axis or 'swing' function which provides freedom between the welding torch (14) and the optical system (10, 12) which leads the torch by several inches. The groove depth and area information is also fed to the LSI-11 to control the welding parameters, i.e.; deposition rate and voltage and produce the desired weld along the groove.