Proportional control for guidance system

摘要

A guidance system for seeking, following, and maintaining the position of a welding apparatus with respect to a seam or joint to be welded by sensing changes in the surfaces, hereinafter called reference surfaces, at or adjacent to the seam. The system includes a probe adapted to detect and follow the reference surface(s) and to detect changes and deviations in the vertical and/or horizontal components of these surfaces, respectively. The torch of the welding apparatus is mounted upon and positioned by a motor-driven cross-slide providing both horizontal and vertical movement. The probe is mounted on the torch or on its own slide, which may be either on the torch or separate therefrom.