Laterally floating thermal spray gun traversing apparatus and system for laterally tracking a revolving casting belt being thermal spray coated

摘要

Laterally "floating" thermal spray gun traversing apparatus and system for laterally tracking a revolving casting belt being thermal spray coated for applying uniformly spaced passes of thermal spraying on the revolving casting belt regardless of any lateral (edgewise) movements of the casting belt in either direction and regardless of any chamber in the edge of the belt. The thermal spray gun is traversed by a leadscrew and an adjustable speed drive for the leadscrew, both the leadscrew and its adjustable drive being carried by a frame mounted on a carriage freely movable along a trackway extending parallel to the axis of the leadscrew. A roller senses the lateral position of the edge of the revolving belt, and the carriage is moved by a source of motive power responsive to the sensed lateral position of the belt for causing the carriage together with the frame, leadscrew and leadscrew drive automatically to track the belt. This source of motive power is shown as a spring acting in a direction for urging the roller into contact with the edge of the revolving belt.