Means for the guidance of the welding torch of an automatic schweissgeraets along the joint line between the workpiece to be welded (am

摘要

An improved means for guiding the welding unit of an automatic welding apparatus along the joint line between workpieces to be welded together, said workpieces being previously joined together by welding bridges mutually spaced along the joint line, the automatic welding apparatus being of the type having a longitudinally extending beam on which a carriage is arranged for longitudinal movement, said carriage supporting a transverse beam extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal beam, the transverse beam supporting a laterally moveable carriage to which a welding unit is attached, said guiding means comprising a guide member arranged to move on the joint line between two workpieces to be welded together and to guide the welding unit laterally, a support member arranged to move behind the guide member and to engage at least one of said workpieces and to support the welding unit, which welding unit is movable vertically independent of the support member so as to control the height of the welding unit above the joint line, said guide member being arranged to be moved vertically without affecting the height of the welding unit above said joint line during longitudinal movement of said welding unit during welding operation and furthermore being arranged on a rod which is vertically movable in a pivotable structure and held in an outwardly extended position by means of a pressure spring, said rod being arranged to be moved into a sleeve member when the guide member is placed on the joint line, and wherein said rod is provided with an operating means so arranged that, when the rod occupies its retracted position in said sleeve, the operating means is out of engagement with a switch means and, when the rod is fully extended said operating means actuates said switch means so as to activate welding unit retaining means arranged to prevent said unit from falling down when the support member passes over the end edge surface of the work pieces as well as an automatic welding apparatus.