METHOD FOR CENTERING TWO SHAPED BLANKS SUCH AS RAILS IN MACHINE FOR RESISTANCE BUTT WELDING Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: welding processes and equipment, namely method for centering two shaped blanks, for example rails in machine for resistance butt welding. SUBSTANCE: method comprises two steps of centering. At first step distance from fixed point until predetermined cross sections at side of rolling surface of rail head is measured and then received error signal is used for controlling servomechanism for vertically moving one rail blank. A second step distance from fixed point until said cross sections at side of lateral faces of rail head is measured and then received error signal is used for controlling servomechanism for horizontally moving other rail blank while using as starting point at measuring by means of pickup any point being in range of measuring controlled parameter. Method allows to automatically join rolling surfaces and lateral faces of heads of joined rails with high accuracy degree - (0.1-0.2)mm. Centering degree is not influenced significantly by change of pickup position relative to joined ends of rails at different length of extension of blanks due to their non-accurate positioning in clamping units of machine for resistance butt welding. It is necessary only to place pickup in measuring range of used pickup in such a way that ends of both rails are embraced by angle of variation of irradiation direction. EFFECT: enhanced accuracy of method. 2 cl, 3 dwg