Background of the invention

The invention relates to a carrier according to the preamble of claim 1 for carrying and moving a welding torch, cutting torch or other corresponding torch at a worksite, which carrier comprises a frame, which is arranged movable on a base, as well as a torch bracket arrangement, arranged attachably to the frame, for attaching the torch detachably to the carrier.

Mechanised welding is partially automated welding, in which carriers are utilized such that the performer of the welding, i.e. the operator is responsible for adjusting parameters and monitoring the weld groove as the welding head travels forward along with the welding carrier. Welding carriers are small, weighing on either side of ten kilograms, devices to be moved by a single person, which require the monitoring of an operator and which can easily be taken to a worksite. By a welding carrier, the welding event can be made efficient simply and using inexpensive devices. By mechanising welding, the efficiency of welding is improved, better work ergonomics are obtained, the number of welding starting and ending points is reduced and the quality of the welding becomes even. Welding carriers can be roughly divided into rail carriers and railless carriers. The carrier that is the object of this invention is suitable for railless as well as rail solutions, although, in the description, railless solutions are more concentrated on. To the welding carrier can also be attached a torch intended for flame cutting, so although the description concentrates mainly on the attachment of welding torches, the attachment arrangement that is the object of this invention is also suitable for the attachment of other torches nor does it exclude them.

Railless solutions are generally welding carriers travelling on wheels. They generally travel by an electric motor along a work piece to be welded or a specific track. The directional control of a welding carrier is generally implemented by control wheels in the carrier that rest against the control surface. Generally, the carrier also has a magnet, which can be turned on and the purpose of which is to keep the carrier secured on the surface to be welded as well as to assure even movement. The welding carrier has a place for the welding torch and the adjustment mechanisms required for it, with which are generally adjusted torch angle, torch tilt and torch positioning. In known solutions, the welding torch is arranged in the carrier such that it is adjusted through several adjustment mechanisms, wherein, for example, the carrier has one adjustment mechanism for positioning the welding torch in the carrier, another for bringing the welding torch at the correct distance from the welding point and a third for adjusting the angle of the head of the welding torch and which angle adjustments can also be several.

Welding carriers are typically used in automation of down fillet welds, but also, for example, welding of a vertical fillet succeeds due to the powerful permanent magnet in the carrier. From the control panel, the operator can select the necessary adjustment parameters as well as the starting and ending points, wherein also, for example, intermittent welding with its welding interruptions succeeds by a welding carrier.

From JP 8090288 A is known a carrier arrangement comprising a magnet, which sucks the carrier arrangement onto the surface to be travelled and in which the primary magnet is arranged inside the frame of the carrier. A welding torch can be placed in the carrier arrangement or gas cutter in such a way that, by the carrier arrangement, it can be moved in the direction of welding. The carrier arrangement presented in the publication comprises attachment members, such as screws, by which the welding torch or gas cutter can be attached to the carrier arrangement. These screws must be opened and closed, when it is desired to attach or detach the welding torch or gas cutter from the carrier arrangement or when it is desired to change its position.

From CN 2738938 is known a solution, in which the angle of the welding torch can be adjusted in real time. The angle of the welding torch can be adjusted such that the torch holder can rotate 360 degrees. However, in this solution, it becomes necessary to use several fasteners to adjust and set the welding torch to the correct point and at the correct distance from the welding subject.

From US 4,101,755 is known a solution, in which a welding torch is arranged in a carrier, which comprises means for accurately adjusting the welding torch into the desired position. In the solution, a slide rail is arranged on top of the frame of the carrier, by which the location of the welding torch can be adjusted in relation to the carrier. On top of the slide rail, there are arranged brackets, on which the attachment means of the torch carrier are lying. The brackets can be adjusted in order to get the welding torch into a more advantageous position. In addition to these adjustments, by the attachment arrangement of the welding torch, the length of the welding torch can be separately adjusted in order to get the head of the welding torch to the desired point Thus, in the solution according to the publication, it becomes necessary to make adjustments from various sites in order to get the welding torch into the desired position and to the desired location.

US 4,371 ,107 presents a solution for changing the position of a welding torch. In the publication, the welding torch is arranged to lie on one or several support arms, which can be adjusted from several controllers such that the welding torch is brought into the desired position. However, the solution does not offer help in rapidly changing the position of the welding torch, rather it requires several different adjustments.

Welding carriers are typically used in sites that are monotonous and/or exhausting for the welder. By using welding carriers, many starting and ending points in the welding can be eliminated. On the other hand, welding carriers can be used in various welding subjects, nor are they necessarily bound to one single work stage. Changing the welding subject requires adjustments in the welding carrier in order that the welding torch can be positioned correctly for each welding subject. In this case, a problem can be created by the time used for adjusting of the welding torch, which is time away from the welding event itself.

Brief description of the invention

The object of the invention is to achieve an attachment arrangement in a carrier for a welding or other torch that is more simple and faster than earlier solutions.

The object of the invention is achieved by a carrier according to independent claim 1 for carrying and moving a welding torch, cutting torch or other corresponding torch at a worksite.

The preferred embodiments of the invention are presented in the dependent claims.

In one solution according to the invention, in the welding carrier is arranged a welding torch bracket arrangement, in which the welding torch can be attached for the welding event and the head of the welding torch can be adjusted into place according to the welding event using only one locking means. Thus, in this solution, adjustment of the welding angle of the welding torch to be attached to the carrier arrangement, longitudinal adjustment in relation to the welding subject and attachment to the bracket arrangement all occur using only one locking means.

The welding angle can be defined in relation to the direction of travel and it has been done thus in this application as well. When the welding angle of the welding torch is in a straight angle 90° in relation to the direction of travel it is said that the welding angle is in a straight angle. If the position of the welding torch is turned towards the direction of travel, wherein the welding angle changes, it is said that the welding angle is at a pushing angle or the welding angle is pushing. If the position of the welding torch is turned away from a straight angle in relation to the direction of travel, it is said that the welding angle is dragging or the welding torch is arranged at a dragging angle. The direction of travel is the direction, in which the welding carrier moves, which is substantially the same direction as the direction of the welding seam to be formed, i.e. the same as the direction of welding.

With the preferred embodiment of one solution according to the invention, the advantage is achieved that, when changing the welding subject or the direction of welding, adjustment of the welding torch occurs quickly and easily, wherein adjustment of the welding angles and of the distance of the head of the torch in relation to the welding subject occurs at one time.

List of figures

In the following, some preferred embodiments are described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures, of which

Fig. 1 shows a welding carrier, in which is arranged one preferred embodiment of a bracket arrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows the bracket arrangement shown in Fig. 1 in more detail, and Fig. 3 shows the bracket arrangement shown in Fig. 2 as an exploded view. Detailed description of the invention

The object of the invention is a carrier 1 for carrying and moving a welding torch, cutting torch or other corresponding torch 6 at a worksite, which carrier 1 comprises a frame, which is arranged movable on a base, as well as a bracket arrangement 5 for the torch arranged attachably to the frame. The carrier 1 , arranged movable on a base, can be either a carrier 1 travelling on wheels or a carrier 1 to be moved on rails. Fig. 1 shows a carrier 1 , which, in this example, is a railless solution, i.e. the carrier 1 does not need a rail in order to move, rather it travels forwards and backwards on wheels 2. The carrier 1 has preferably a handle 3, from which the carrier 1 is preferably lifted or moved and which, on the other hand, can preferably also function as the activator of the magnet in the carrier 1. By the magnet, the carrier 1 may be attached to the base, wherein the carrier 1 stays on its route, partially, by the magnet and, partially, by the control wheels 4 in the carrier 1. By the magnet, the welding carrier 1 can also travel, for example, in a wall or along a leaning surface without it starting to slide in an unfavourable manner or even to fall from the surface.

The bracket arrangement 5 of the carrier 1 comprises connection means 5a for connecting the bracket arrangement 5 to the frame of the carrier 1 , attachment means 6a for attaching the torch 6 to the bracket arrangement 5, and locking means 7a for locking the station of the attachment means 6a in relation to the connection means 5 a as well as for locking the torch 6 into the attachment means 6a in the desired position. Thus, bracket arrangement 5 comprises connection means 5 a for connecting the bracket arrangement 5 to the carrier 1 , attachment means 6a for attaching the torch 6 to the bracket arrangement 5, and one or more interconnection parts 17 for interconnecting the connection means 5 a and the attachment means 6a with each other, which attachment means 6a are to be moved in relation to the connection means 5a, as well as locking means 7a, which are functionally combined with the attachment means 6a and which are adapted to lock the torch 6 into place in the attachment means 6a as well as to lock the attachment means 6a into different positions in relation to the connection means 5a such that the distance of the torch 6 in relation to the work subject and the position of the torch 6 in relation to the connection means can be locked into place.

In the carrier 1 is arranged the bracket arrangement 5 of the torch 6, which keeps the welding torch 6 in the desired position during the entire welding. By the bracket arrangement 5, the welding torch 6 can be adjusted into the desired position according to the welding subject. By the bracket arrangement, the welding angle of the torch is adjusted as that desired. In Fig. 1, the welding carrier 1 is arranged to travel on the base in the direction indicated by the arrow a, wherein the welding is pushing. In other words, the welding angle of the welding torch 6 is arranged as pushing. This manner of welding can be used, for example, in fillet welding, wherein the welding torch 6 is preferably arranged at a specific welding angle towards the direction to be welded, which is, at the same time, the direction of movement of the welding carrier. Usually, when welding with slag filler wires, the welding angle is dragging or perpendicular and, when welding with solid wires, the welding angle is dragging or pushing depending on the welding parameters. In Fig. 1 , arrow b shows the position of the welding torch 6 in relation to the base and arrow a shows, thus, the direction of movement of the welding carrier 1, which is, at the same time, the direction of movement of the welding torch, i.e. the direction, along which welding occurs, i.e. the direction of the welding seam to be formed. For the sake of clarity, let it be said that arrows a and b are in a plane in the direction of the base. Thus, in this example, the welding torch 6 is arranged preferably at an approximately 75° welding angle c in relation to the direction of movement of the welding carrier 1. This welding angle c is shown in Fig. 1 by the arc formed between arrows a and b. The adjustment of this welding angle can preferably be adjusted at the same time as the welding torch 6 is attached into place and set at the correct distance from the welding subject. In MIG/MAG welding, when installing the welding torch 6 longitudinally at the proper site, the nozzle distance must be set correctly in order that the length of the welding wire coming out from the welding torch 6, the length of the so-called free wire, is adequate. Adjustment of the welding angle, i.e. the position of the welding torch 6 in relation to the welding seam to be formed and, in this example, in relation to the direction of movement of the welding carrier 1 , the distance of the welding torch 6 from the welding subject and attachment of welding torch 6 into the bracket arrangement 5 of the carrier can all be done at once and tightened into place by turning only one attachment lever.

In fillet welding, the welding torch 6 is aligned at a 45° angle in relation to the corner of the fillet, i.e. if, for example, two pieces are joined to one another by a corner joint such that the sheets are at a 90 degrees angle in relation to one another, the welding torch 6 is aligned equally far from both sheets, i.e. at a 45 degrees angle. This angle is typically called the alignment angle. If the welding carrier 1 is used the entire time for the same types of fillet welding, there is no need to make changes to the adjustment of this alignment angle of the welding torch 6 until, for example, butt joints are being welded, wherein the welding torch 6 is aligned perpendicularly towards the groove. In this example, adjustment of the angle when approaching the corner of a fillet occurs by turning the shaft 9 of the bracket arrangement 5 of the welding torch 6 such that, by the bracket arrangement 5, the welding torch 6 is brought into the correct angle in relation to the corner of the fillet, after which the stability of the position is assured by tightening the locking lever 15. However, it is not necessary to make this adjustment of the angle, for example, when changing the direction of welding. The shaft 9 is positioned also in relation to the carrier 1 at the correct site in relation to the frame of the carrier and locking thereof occurs by tightening from the same locking lever 15.

Fig. 2 shows one example of the bracket arrangement 5 of a welding torch 6 (not shown in the figure) arranged in a carrier 1 (not shown in the figure), which bracket arrangement 5 comprises connection means 5 a, attachment means 6a and locking means 7a. The connection means 5a comprise an shaft 9, from which the bracket arrangement 5 can be attached to the frame (not shown in the picture) of the carrier 1. The shaft 9 is locked into the carrier 1 preferably by a locking lever 15 (seen in Fig. 1), wherein, by opening the locking lever 15, the bracket arrangement 5 can be adjusted to the correct site in relation to the carrier 1 and, on the other hand, the angle of the bracket arrangement 5 can be adjusted such that the alignment angle of the torch 6 towards the point to be welded can be adjusted. When the carrier 1 is used, for example, for down fillet welding, the shaft 9 is arranged at an angle according to down fillet welding nor does it need to be changed in the middle of welding nor even when changing the subject, if fillet welding is continued. In this example, in the shaft 9 is arranged a bracket 10, which together form the connection means 5a. In the bracket 10 can be combined, by one or more interconnection parts (not shown in the figure), attachment means 6a for attaching the torch 6 to the bracket arrangement 5. The attachment means 6a comprise a lower counterpart 1 1 and an upper counterpart 12 for the torch 6 (not shown in the picture) such that the torch 6 can be arranged between them. The lower counterpart 11 and upper counterpart 12 have preferably a groove, cavity or other corresponding space, against which the torch 6 (not shown in the picture) is set. The bracket 10 is arranged through one or more interconnecting parts (not shown in the figure), such as, for example, bolts or other corresponding members as secured to the lower counterpart 1 1. Said one or more interconnecting parts travel preferably through the lower counterpart 11 and via the upper counterpart 12 through the locking plate 13 and attach preferably to the counterpart of the interconnecting part, such as to a nut. The interconnecting part can also be pin-shaped, with which the use of a counterpart is unnecessary. The upper counterpart 12 is preferably a detachable part, the temporary removal of which makes it possible to set the neck of the welding torch 6 against the lower counterpart 11.

The locking means 7a comprise an attachment lever 7 and/or a peg 8. This example shows both an attachment lever 7 and a peg 8, which peg 8 is preferably arranged to travel through the locking plate 13 and to hit the groove 14 in the upper counterpart 12. The peg 8 in connection with the attachment lever 7 is preferably screw threaded and moves back and forth perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the welding torch 6. By opening the attachment lever 7, the gap between the lower counterpart 11 and the upper counterpart 12 can be increased, in other words by moving the peg of the attachment lever 7 further away from the lower counterpart 1 1 arranged to the bracket 10 it is enabled that the upper counterpart 12 transfers further away from the lower counterpart 1 1 and closer to the locking plate 13. In this case, the torch 6 (not shown in the picture) can be put in place or removed from its place or it can be adjusted in its longitudinal direction to the proper site. The lower counterpart 1 1 , upper counterpart 12 and locking plate 13 are arranged by one or more interconnecting parts (not shown in the figure) on the bracket 10 such that the bracket 10 has preferably one or more grooves for the interconnecting part such that the interconnecting part can be moved in the groove, wherein the lower counterpart 11, upper counterpart 12 and locking plate 13 can be turned to an angle in relation to the bracket 10, preferably approximately 15-30° from the midpoint in one direction or the other, the midpoint being the point, where the bracket 10, the lower and upper counterparts 1 1 , 12 and the locking plate 13 are all in the same direction. It is possible to turn the lower counterpart 1 1 , upper counterpart and locking plate 13 attaching the torch 6 approximately 60° in total. When the lower counterpart 11, the upper counterpart 12 and the locking plate 13 are turned, they remain preferably together and move in relation to the bracket 10. In the bracket 10 are preferably arranged one or more curve-shaped holes, through which the interconnecting part goes and along which the interconnecting part can be moved such that the attachment means 6a move at the same time. Thus, by opening the attachment lever 7, it is possible to adjust both the angle of the torch 6 in relation to the direction of movement of the carrier 1 as well as the site of the torch 6 in the longitudinal direction in relation to the subject to be welded. Adjustment of the welding angle of the torch generally occurs when changing the direction of welding.

The one or more interconnecting parts that go through the bracket 10, lower counterpart 1 1, upper counterpart 12 and locking plate 13 are preferably arranged such that they first go through the one or more curve-shaped holes of the bracket 10 and, after this, through the one or more holes of the lower counterpart 11. In the upper counterpart 12 is, in turn, preferably arranged one or more grooves, along which the one or more interconnecting parts travel and after which said one or more interconnecting parts are arranged to travel into the one or more holes of the locking plate 13 and preferably through them. Above the locking plate 13, the interconnecting part is attached into place by the counterpart. The interconnecting part can also be arranged in the opposite direction, wherein its attachment occurs below the bracket 10, or the interconnecting part can be that type of member that does not need to be separately attached.

In Fig. 3, the bracket arrangement 5 shown in Fig. 2 is seen as an exploded view, which bracket arrangement 5 thus comprises connection means 5a, attachment means 6a and locking means 7a. The connection means 5a comprise an shaft 9, from which the bracket arrangement 5 can be attached to the frame of the carrier 1 (not shown in the picture). In this example, the connection means further comprise a bracket 10 arranged in the shaft 9, to which can be combined, by one or more interconnecting parts 17, attachment means 6a for attaching the torch 6 (not shown in the picture) to the bracket arrangement 5. The attachment means 6a comprise a lower counterpart 11 and an upper counterpart 12, between which the torch 6 is arranged. On top of the upper counterpart 12 comes preferably a locking plate 13. This locking plate 13 locks preferably by locking means 7a the attachment means 6a in place in relation to the connection means 5a and, at the same time, the torch 6 in place in the attachment means 6a. In the bracket 10 is preferably arranged at least one hole 18 going through the bracket 10, which hole is, in this example, in the shape of a curve. It can also be of some other shape, but by means of the shape, the interconnecting part 17 going through the hole 18 can be arranged movable in the hole 18. The interconnecting part 17 goes preferably through the lower counterpart 11 , the upper counterpart 12 and the locking plate 13 and attaches preferably, for example, in the site of the locking plate 13, in the site of the bracket 10 or in some other site. The interconnecting part can be, for example, such an interconnecting part 17, whose attaching occurs by one or more pins, for example, from one or several sides of the attachment part 6a. The interconnecting part 17 does not necessarily need to go through the counterparts 11 or 12, if it is somehow arranged to go via them, such as, for example, along a groove 16. The locking means 7a, which preferably comprise an attachment lever 7 and a peg 8, can be transferred between the closed position and the open position such that, in the closed position, the locking means 7a lock the attachment means 6a in place in relation to the connection means 5a and, at the same time, the torch 6 locks into place in the attachment means 6a. In the open position, the attachment means 6a can be moved in relation to the connection means such that the interconnecting part 17 can be moved in the hole 18 in the bracket and the torch 6 can be moved in the attachment means 6a, into the attachment means 6a or away from the attachment means 6a.

Thus, the attachment means 6a comprise preferably a lower counterpart 1 1 and an upper counterpart 12, which are in connection with each other through one or more interconnecting parts 17 and between which the torch 6 is arranged in place for locking. The locking means 7a are preferably arranged in connection with the upper counterpart 12 such that when the locking means 7a are moved, the upper counterpart 12 is arranged to move towards the lower counterpart 1 1 such that the torch 6 locks into place between the upper counterpart 12 and the lower counterpart 1 1 , and the lower counterpart 1 1 is arranged to move towards the connection means 5 a such that the lower counterpart 11 locks in relation to the connection means 5a. The attachment means 6a further comprise a locking plate 13 to be arranged on top of the upper counterpart 12, with which the locking means 7a are in connection and in relation to which the locking means 7a are arranged to be moved for the purpose of opening and/or closing the attachment means 6a. The upper counterpart 12 is preferably arranged to be moved in relation to the lower counterpart 1 1 such that the torch 6 is to be removed from between the lower counterpart 11 and the upper counterpart 12 and/or is to be placed between the lower counterpart 1 1 and the upper counterpart 12. According to one preferred embodiment, the upper counterpart 12 is arranged detachably in the bracket arrangement 5.

According to another preferred embodiment, the locking means 7a comprise an attachment lever 7 and/or a peg 8. The locking means 7a are to be transferred between the open position and the closed position, and attachment means 6a is arranged tumably in the connection means 5a such that in the open position, by moving the one or more interconnecting parts 17 interconnecting the attachment means 6a and the connection mean 5a with each other, the attachment means 6a are moved in relation to the connection means 5a and the welding angle of the torch 6 in relation to the direction of movement of the carrier 1 arranged in the attachment means 6a is changed, and, in the closed position, the attachment means 6a are locked in place in relation to the connection means 5 a. The welding angle of the torch 6 is preferably arranged to be turned 15 - 30° in relation to the connection means 5a. The connection means 5a comprise an shaft 9 and/or a bracket 10, with which the bracket arrangement 5 can be attached to the frame of the carrier 1.

To the person skilled in the art it is obvious that, as technology develops, the fundamental idea of the invention can be implemented in many different ways. Thus, the invention and its embodiments are not limited to only the examples presented above, rather many variations are possible within the claims.