Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
  • B23K11/00—Resistance welding; Severing by resistance heating
  • B23K11/002—Resistance welding; Severing by resistance heating specially adapted for particular articles or work
  • B23K11/008—Manufacturing of metallic grids or mats by spot welding
  • B23K11/0086—Grids or mats used in concrete structures
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21F—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF METAL WIRE
  • B21F27/00—Making wire network, i.e. wire nets
  • B21F27/12—Making special types or portions of network by methods or means specially adapted therefor
  • B21F27/121—Making special types or portions of network by methods or means specially adapted therefor of tubular form, e.g. as reinforcements for pipes or pillars
  • B21F27/125—Making special types or portions of network by methods or means specially adapted therefor of tubular form, e.g. as reinforcements for pipes or pillars by attaching individual stirrups to longitudinal wires

Definitions

• This invention relates to apparatus for fabricating concrete reinforcing cages and has been devised particularly for the fabricating of concrete reinforcing stirrups and for the welding of those stirrups to longitudinal rods to form concrete reinforcing cages.
• reinforcing cages used to reinforce concrete beams or panels used in many applications such as the footings of buildings, pillars, floor sections or concrete panels have been fabricating by bending the reinforcing wires or rods to the desired configuration and by then tying or welding the wires or rods together.
• Such a procedure is extremely time consuming and costly and it is therefore desirable, to provide a machine which will automatically bend and fasten together the various rods and wires required to fabricate a concrete reinforcing cage..
• the invention consists in apparatus for fabricating concrete reinforcing stirrups from wire or rod, comprising a support frame on which are mounted a plurality of substantially parallel pins protruding out of a reference plane and being located at the corners of a desired stirrup shape, wire retaining means arranged to hold one end of the wire in a desired position to commence bending of the stirrup, a wire distribution head incorporating a die adapted to receive wire from a supply thereof at right angles to the reference plane and bend the wire parallel to the reference plane as it passes through the die.
• the apparatus includes finishing means arranged to join the ends of the wire adjacent the wire retaining means, and cut the wire between the die and the joined ends.
• the actuation means is arranged to cause the ends of the wire to be overlapped one on top of the other adjacent the wire retaining means, and wherein the finishing means includes welding means arranged t.o weld together the overlapped ends.
• the finishing means includes two shearing jaws protruding out of the reference plane on either side of the overlapped wires, being provided with cutaway portions at the depth of the lower wire and shearing portions at the depth of the upper wire, and means arranged to move the two jaws together so that the lower wire is accommodated in the cutaway portions, and the upper wire is cut by the shearing portions.
• the welding means comprise a first electrode located beneath the overlapped wires and a second electrode located alongside the overlapped wires, together with a conducting bridge movable toward and away from the reference plane so that when the conducting bridge is moved toward the reference plane one arm of the bridge contacts the second electrode and the other arm of the bridge contacts the uppermost of the overlapped wires directly above the first electrode so that when a voltage is applied across the electrodes currrent passes through the bridge and through the overlapped wires, resistance welding the overlapped wires together.
• the support frame comprises a backing plate in the reference plane with the pins protruding outwardly from the backing plate.
• the actuation means arranged to support and move the distribution head comprise hydraulic rams mounted on the backing plate and controlled by preprogrammed control means.
• the die incorporated in the distribution head has a passage therethrough at right angles to the reference plane, the passage terminating in a bell mouth at the end of the die adjacent the reference plane.
• the backing plate is divided into two sections movable relative to one another in the reference plane, selected ones of the pins being located in one section and the remaining pins being located in the other section so that the pins in one section may be moved toward the pins in the other section after formation of a stirrup around the pins, allowing easy release of the stirrup from the pins.
• the invention consists in an apparatus for welding a stirrup into a matrix of longitudinal rods forming a concrete reinforcing cage, said apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes adapted to be positioned in pairs within the perimeter of the stirrup in contact with the stirrup wire so that each electrode is located on the opposite side of the stirrup wire from a longitudinal rod, and a plurality of electrically conducting bridges movable toward and away from the longitudinal rods and arranged such that each bridge may be moved into contact with a pair of rods located on the opposite side of the stirrup wire from a corresponding said pair of electrodes.
• a voltage may be applied across each said pair of electrodes causing current to flow from one electrode, through the stirrup wire and the longitudinal rod adjacent thereto, into the corresponding bridge, through the bridge to the other rod of the pair and thence through the stirrup wire to the other of the pair of electrodes, causing the stirrup wire to be resistance welded to the longitudinal rods.
• the longitudinal rods are located by being passed through selected holes in a matrix plate under tension, and the bridges are movable toward and away from the longitudinal rods in the plane of the stirrup by hydraulic rams mounted on the matrix plate.
• the electrodes are formed on two metal electrode plates, the first plate being located in the plane of the stirrup and having peripheral portions extending into contact with the stirrup and forming one of each pair of electrodes, and the second plate being spaced from but parallel to the first plate and having projections therefrom into the plane of the first plate in those regions between the said peripheral portions on the first plate, the projections forming the other of each pair of electrodes and the two plates being insulated from one another.
• the electrode plates are mounted on the matrix plate and current is supplied to the electrode plates by conductors passing through the matrix plate from a position immediately behind the electrode plates.
• the overall periphery of the first plate and the projections from the second plate substantially conforms with the inner periphery of the stirrup, so that the stirrup may be placed over and located by the two plates before welding.
• FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of apparatus for fabricating concrete reinforcing cages according to the invention
• Fig. 2 is a perspective scrap view of the apparatus for fabricating concrete reinforcing stirrups incorporated in the apparatus shown in Fig. 2;
• Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the transfer mechanism arranged to transfer stirrups fabricated by the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 into the cage formed by the longitudinal rods;
• Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the electrode plates used in the welding of the stirrups to the longitudinal rods;
• Fig. 6 is an elevation of the electrode plates shown in Fig. 5 when engaged with a stirrup and longitudinal rods;
• Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation through the apparatus shown in Fig. 6. at right angles to the Fig. 6 elevation.
• MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the preferred form of the invention apparatus for fabricating concrete welding cages is constructed as follows with reference to Fig. 1.
• the apparatus comprises a vertical matrix plate (1) having a plurality of holes therethrough arranged to locate a plurality of longitudinal rods (2) which pass through the plate from supply coils (3) by way of straighteners (4).
• the rods are pulled through the holes in the matrix plate (1) under tension by way of pawls (5) incorporated in a frame (6) movable by a hydraulic ram (7).
• the apparatus is designed to weld transverse stirrups (8) to the longitudinal rods (2) as will be described below, and the pawls (5) engage behind each stirrup so welded in turn to pull the longitudinal rods through the matrix plate (1).
• the apparatus for fabricating concrete reinforcing cages is provided with apparatus for fabricating stirrups to go in those cages shown generally at (11).
• the apparatus is also provided with apparatus for welding the stirrups into the matrix shown generally at (12).
• the stirrup forming apparatus will now be more particularly described with reference to Figs. 2 to 4, and the welding apparatus with reference to Figs. 5 to 7.
• the stirrup fabricating apparatus is mounted on the matrix plate (1) [Fig. 2] which defines a reference plane for the apparatus.
• the matrix plate has a number of holes therethrough, examples of which are shown at (13) and pins (14) are engaged in selected ones of the holes (13) so as to protrude out of the matrix plate, the pins being located at the corners of a desired stirrup shape.
• the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is set up for the formation of a simple rectangular stirrup having four external corners, but it will be appreciated that the apparatus can be used to form stirrups of any desired configuration, incorporating re-entrant corners if required.
• Selected ones of the pins (14) are mounted directly in the matrix plate CD and others of the pins are mounted in a separate portion (15) of the matrix plate, which is coplanar with the main portion (1) but which is movable relative to the main portion as shown by arrows (16).
• the lower two pins shown in Fig. 2 may be moved closer to the upper two pins by upward movement of the portion (15). releasing the stirrup from the pins after fabrication as will be described further below.
• the apparatus is further provided with wire retaining means in the form of vice jaws (17) protruding through the matrix plate (1) and actuable by a hydraulic ram assembly behind the matrix plate so as to grasp the free end (18) of the wire from which the stirrup is to be formed.
• the wire (19) is provided from a coil (20) [Fig. 1] and is directed toward the matrix plate (1) at right angles to the plate by way of a die (21) located in a wire distribution head (22).
• the die has a passage therethrough at right angles to the matrix plate (1) terminating in a bell mouth at the end of the die adjacent the reference plane.
• the distribution head is supported and located by the piston rod (23) of a hydraulic ram (24) which is located in a plane parallel to the matrix plate (1) and mounted to that plate by way of a pivot pin (25) [Fig. 1] for movement in that plane.
• the rotational movement of the hydraulic ram (24) about the pivot pin (25) is controlled by a second hydraulic ram (26) engaging the first ram by way of a yoke
• the distribution head may be moved over the desired shape of the stirrup, causing the wire (19) to be drawn through the die (21). turned at right angles through the bell mouth of the die. and laid against the matrix plate (1) around the pins (14) in the desired shape.
• the welding apparatus further comprises a conducting bridge (33) mounted on the distribution head (22) by way of a hydraulic ram (34) for movement toward and away from the matrix plate (1).
• the conducting bridge (33) is moved towards the matrix plate as shown by arrow (36) under operation of the hydraulic ram (34) causing one arm (37) of the bridge to contact the electrode (30) and the other arm (38) to contact the uppermost overlapped wire portion (35).
• a circuit is completed from the first electrode (29) through the lower wire (32), the upper wire (35) and the bridge (33) to the other electrode (30).
• a voltage is applied across the electrodes (29) and (30) current passes between the wire portions (32) and (35), resistance welding the two wire portions together.
• the bridge (33) is retracted by the hydraulic ram (34) and the upper portion of the overlapped wires cut between the weld and the distribution head (22).
• the cutting operation is performed by shearing means in the form of two shearing jaws (39) protruding through the matrix plate (1) on either side of the overlapped wires.
• the shearing jaws are provided with cutaway portions at the depth of the lower wire (32) and shearing portions at the depth of the upper wire (35) so that when the jaws are moved together by a hydraulic ram on the opposite side of the matrix plate (1) the lower wire is accommodated in the cutaway portions and the upper wire is cut by the shearing portions.
• Jaws (44) are mounted on the lower end of the arm (40) operable by a hydraulic or electrical mechanism (45) to grip the stirrup (46), preferably at the position of the overlapped welded wires.
• the arm is rotated outwardly away from the matrix plate (1) by an actuating member (47) to move the jaws (44) through an arc shown by arrow (48), and then moved transversely as shown by arrow (50) by operation of hydraulic ram (43) to locate the stirrup inside the cage of longitudinal rods (2), whereupon the actuator (47) is again operated to move the jawa as shown by arrow (51) to locate the stirrup over the welding electrode plates as will now be described.
• the welding apparatus (12) comprises a plurality of electrodes adapted to be positioned in pairs within the perimeter of the stirrup in contact with the stirrup wire so that each electrode is located on the opposite side of the stirrup wire from a longitudinal rod.
• the electrodes are formed on two metal electrode plates (52) and (53) [Figs. 5 to 7], the first plate (52) being located in the plane of the stirrup (54) placed over the plates by the transfer mechanism shown in Fig. 4, and the second plate (53) being spaced from but parallel to the first plate and separated therefrom by insulation (55).
• the first plate (52) has peripheral portions (56) extending into contact with the stirrup (54) and forming one of each pair of electrodes.
• the second plate (53) has projections therefrom (57) into the plane of the first plate in those regions between the peripheral portions (56) of the first plate.
• the projections (57) form the other of each pair of electrodes.
• the periphery of the peripheral portions (56) of the first plate may be built up in the location of the longitudinal rods as shown at (58) [Fig. 5] to provide a superior contact between the electrode plate (52) and the stirrup wire (54) in the location of the longitudinal rods during the welding process described below.
• the welding apparatus is further provided with a plurality of electrically conducting bridges (59) [Fig. 6] which are positioned and movable by hydraulic rams (60) supported by the matrix plate (1).
• the overall layout of the welding electrodes (52) and (53), the bridges (59) and the hydraulic rams (60) can be clearly seen in Fig. 1.
• the bridges (59) are located so that each bridge may be moved into contact with a pair of rods (2) located on the opposite side of the stirrup wire from a corresponding pair of electrodes (56, 57), by the operation of the hydraulic rams. When the bridges (59) are moved into this position as shown in Fig.
• apparatus which enables the fully automatic fabrication of concrete reinforcing cages from supplies of rod or wire such as reels (3) and (20). Furthermore the apparatus has the advantage that cages of any desired cross section may be fabricated by placing the longitudinal rods through selected holes in the matrix plate (1) and positioning the pins (14) in the required location for the bending up of a stirrup of the desired shape. The program controlling the hydraulic rams (24) and (26) is adjusted to move the distribution head (22) in the desired path to form the wire (19) into the desired stirrup shape around the pins (14).
• the welding apparatus (12) has the particular advantage that current may be supplied to the electrode plates (52) and (53) by way of conductors (63) and (64) from the opposite side of the matrix plate (1) so that there is no requirement for loose or flexible conductors to be located on the "operational" side of the matrix plate where they could be damaged by the operation of the fabrication apparatus.

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• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
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• Wire Processing (AREA)

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• 1985
  • 1985-04-30 WO PCT/AU1985/000097 patent/WO1985005053A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1985-04-30 EP EP19850901937 patent/EP0179820A4/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 1985-04-30 JP JP50203585A patent/JPS61502106A/ja active Pending

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