Abstract: A mounting mechanism for connecting a tractor unit to a guide track, the mounting mechanism includes a fixed block having a first set of rolling devices and a movable plate having a second set of rolling devices. The distance between the first and second sets of rolling devices is adjustable by moving the movable plate to engage or disengage the tractor unit to the guide track. A clamping assembly is provided with a shaft, cam spring, and cam handle for adjusting the distance between the first and second rolling devices. When the cam handle is in an open position, the distance between the rolling devices is greater than the width of the guide track and when the cam handle is in a closed position the distance between the rolling devices is approximately equal to the width of the guide track.

Abstract: A welding system for applying a weld to a workpiece, the welding system including a frame, a welding torch mounted on the frame, the welding torch including an electrode; a wire guide adapted to direct a wire toward the electrode; a wire alignment assembly including a fixture frame having a wire guide holder mounted thereon, the wire guide being supported on the wire guide holder, wherein the wire alignment assembly includes multiple degrees of freedom for adjusting the position of the wire guide as needed for a given welding operation.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Techniques, systems, and devices are described for a weld head that includes an adjustable clamping mechanism with a quick release insert. In one aspect, a weld head having an adjustable clamping mechanism for clamping a welding work piece includes a weld head containment structure having an opening that receives a welding work piece, a clamping member located inside the opening of the weld head containment structure and including a pivot joint for clamping the welding work piece to the weld head, a handle member connected to the clamping member at the pivot joint to rotate the clamping member when the handle member is moved, and an actuator coupled to the clamping member to enable the clamping member to pivot on the pivot joint to different clamping positions for clamping welding work pieces of different sizes.

Abstract: A cart adapted to perform a welding operation on a workpiece, the cart including a moving platform; a first slide supported on the moving platform defining a first slide plane; a second slide pivotally attached to moving platform, the second slide defining a second slide plane; a second damp engagable with the second slide to hold a pivotal position of the second slide at a selected slide angle relative to the moving platform; an implement supported on the first slide and second slide, wherein operation of the first slide and the second slide move the implement to a selected position relative to the workpiece.

Abstract: A cart adapted to perform a welding operation on a workpiece, the cart including a moving platform; a first slide supported on the moving platform defining a first slide plane; a second slide pivotally attached to moving platform, the second slide defining a second slide plane; a second clamp engagable with the second slide to hold a pivotal position of the second slide at a selected slide angle relative to the moving platform; an implement supported on the first slide and second slide, wherein operation of the first slide and the second slide move the implement to a selected position relative to the workpiece.

Abstract: A welding system for applying a weld to a workpiece, the welding system including a frame, a welding torch mounted on the frame, the welding torch including an electrode; a wire guide adapted to direct a wire toward the electrode; a wire alignment assembly including a fixture frame having a wire guide holder mounted thereon, the wire guide being supported on the wire guide holder, wherein the wire alignment assembly includes multiple degrees of freedom for adjusting the position of the wire guide as needed for a given welding operation.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A welding system comprising a frame having a curved profile configured to at least partially surround a cylindrical work piece, a welding torch supported on the frame a motor supported on the frame and extending outward therefrom the motor being connected to at least one of the frame around the welding torch to move the welding torch relative to the workpiece a motor housing in which at least a portion of the motor is received, the motor housing defining a cooling receiver a cooling assembly adapted to circulate a coolant through the housing, the cooling assembly including a supply line and a return line connected to a cooling insert, the cooling insert being received in the cooling receiver, the cooling insert defining a cooling passage through which the coolant is circulated; wherein the supply line and return line are sealingly attached to the cooling insert with the motor housing.

Abstract: A torch head in a welding system for applying a weld to a workpiece, the torch head including a torch head body having a first side, a second side, an inward side and a outer side, the torch head body further including a lower surface and a top surface forming a solid; the torch body defining a slot extending from the lower surface to the top surface on the first side; an electrode assembly including an electrode mounted on the torch body, the electrode extending downward relative to the lower surface of the torch body; a wire adjustment assembly including a bracket supporting a wire guide that receives a wire from a wire supply; the bracket being attached to a rack and pinion supported within the slot, the rack being located inward of the pinion and slideable within the slot, the pinion being rotatable within the slot, and engaged with the rack to move the bracket vertically upon rotation of the pinion to adjust the vertical position of the wire.

Abstract: A torch height adjustment mechanism includes a welding torch head connected to a torch plate; a first four-bar linkage between the torch plate and a linkage interface; a second four-bar linkage between the linkage interface and a mounting plate for connecting the torch-height adjustment mechanism to an automatic welding unit; a shaft providing rotational movement to the second four-bar linkage; and means for communicating rotational movement of a first link of the second four-bar linkage to a first link of the first four-bar linkage to translate the torch plate vertically without rotation along a path between a raised position and a lowered position.

Abstract: Techniques, systems, and devices are described for a weld head that includes an adjustable clamping mechanism with a quick release insert. In one aspect, a weld head having an adjustable clamping mechanism for clamping a welding work piece includes a weld head containment structure having an opening that receives a welding work piece, a clamping member located inside the opening of the weld head containment structure and including a pivot joint for clamping the welding work piece to the weld head, a handle member connected to the clamping member at the pivot joint to rotate the clamping member when the handle member is moved, and an actuator coupled to the clamping member to enable the clamping member to pivot on the pivot joint to different clamping positions for clamping welding work pieces of different sizes.

Abstract: A mounting mechanism for connecting a tractor unit to a guide track, the mounting mechanism includes a fixed block having a first set of rolling devices and a movable plate having a second set of rolling devices. The distance between the first and second sets of rolling devices is adjustable by moving the movable plate to engage or disengage the tractor unit to the guide track. A clamping assembly is provided with a shaft, cam spring, and cam handle for adjusting the distance between the first and second rolling devices. When the cam handle is in an open position, the distance between the rolling devices is greater than the width of the guide track and when the cam handle is in a closed position the distance between the rolling devices is approximately equal to the width of the guide track.

Abstract: A threaded fastener-nut combination for attaching two work pieces together has means for preventing the intrusion of the fastener threads into the bores of each work piece, thus preventing damage to the work piece which may result from such intrusion. The stud member has a pawl member which extends radially outward to engage an aperture in the nut member, which locks the nut member to the stud member. The engagement of the nut member to the threaded portion of the stud member produces both audible and tactile feedback to indicate that the fastener is properly placed and engaged. Tactile feedback is returned through the emergence of the pawl through the aperture in the nut, and by the rotation of the entire fastener assembly upon the provision of further tightening effort. Auditory feedback is provided through a “click” or similar sound produced when the pawls engages the aperture of the nut.

Abstract: A threaded fastener-nut combination for attaching two work pieces together has means for preventing the intrusion of the fastener threads into the bores of each work piece, thus preventing damage to the work piece which may result from such intrusion. The stud member has a pawl member which extends radially outward to engage an aperture in the nut member, which locks the nut member to the stud member. The engagement of the nut member to the threaded portion of the stud member produces both audible and tactile feedback to indicate that the fastener is properly placed and engaged. Tactile feedback is returned through the emergence of the pawl through the aperture in the nut, and by the rotation of the entire fastener assembly upon the provision of further tightening effort. Auditory feedback is provided through a “click” or similar sound produced when the pawls engages the aperture of the nut.