Rounding system and method used in the manufacture of conical or cylindrical structures

Abstract

A can rounding system and method that uses arms that are able to maintain cans in a concentric arrangement during the welding process. The arms enable the can rounding system to maintain the concentric positions in order to achieve improved circular dimensions and increase the overall efficiency in the construction of cylindrical and conical structures, such as wind towers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A can rounding mechanism comprising:
 a base;   a pair of upper arms connected to the base, wherein the pair of upper arms have at least one roller located at a distal end of each of the pair of upper arms;   a pair of lower arms connected to the base, wherein the pair of lower arms have at least one roller located at a distal end of each of the pair of lower arms; and   wherein when a can is placed in the can rounding mechanism the pair of upper arms contacts the can at a first portion of the can located above a mid-point of the can and the pair of lower arms contacts the can at second portion of the can located below the mid-point of the can.   
     
     
         2 . The can rounding mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising a side arm connected to the base. 
     
     
         3 . The can rounding mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the side arm has a roller adapted to contact the can at first portion of the can located above a mid-point of the can. 
     
     
         4 . The can rounding mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of upper arms have a pair of rollers located at a distal end of each of the first pair of upper arms. 
     
     
         5 . The can rounding mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pair of upper arms is movable so as to increase a distance between the distal ends of the first pair of upper arms. 
     
     
         6 . The can rounding mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein the distance between the upper arms is adjustable so as to accommodate a can having a diameter between 7 to 20 feet. 
     
     
         7 . The can rounding mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pair of lower arms is movable so as to increase a distance between the pair of lower arms. 
     
     
         8 . The can rounding mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein the distance between the lower arms is adjustable so as to accommodate a can having a diameter between 7 to 20 feet. 
     
     
         9 . The can rounding mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein when a can is placed in the can rounding mechanism one of the pair of upper arms contacts the can in quadrant I, wherein quadrant I extends from 0° to 90° around the circumference of the can, and the other of the pair of upper arms contacts the can in quadrant IV, wherein quadrant IV extends from 270° to 360° around the circumference of the can. 
     
     
         10 . A system for rounding cans comprising:
 a can having a perimeter, wherein the perimeter extends around the circumference of the can from 0° to 360°, wherein a quadrant I extends from 0° to 90° around the circumference of the can, a quadrant II extends from 90° to 180° around the circumference of the can, a quadrant III extends from 180° to 270° around the circumference of the can and a quadrant IV extends from 270° to 360° around the circumference of the can;   a can rounding mechanism comprising a base;   a first arm connected to the base, wherein the first arm has at least one roller located at a distal end of the arm;   a second arm connected to the base, wherein the second arm has at least one roller located at a distal end of the second arm; and   wherein the first arm contacts the can at within quadrant I or quadrant IV of the can and the second arm contacts the can at quadrant II or quadrant III of the can.   
     
     
         11 . The system for rounding cans of  claim 10 , further comprising a side arm connected to the base. 
     
     
         12 . The system for rounding cans of  claim 11 , wherein the side arm has a roller adapted to contact the can at first portion of the can located above a mid-point of the can. 
     
     
         13 . The system for rounding cans of  claim 10 , further comprising a third arm, wherein the third arm contacts the can within quadrant I or quadrant IV. 
     
     
         14 . The system for rounding cans of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first arm and the third arm is movable so as to increase a distance between the first arm and the third arm. 
     
     
         15 . The system for rounding cans of  claim 14 , wherein the distance between the first arm and the third arm is adjustable so as to accommodate a can having a diameter between 7 to 20 feet. 
     
     
         16 . The system for rounding cans of  claim 15 , further comprising a fourth arm, wherein the fourth arm contacts the can within quadrant II or quadrant III. 
     
     
         17 . The system for rounding cans  claim 16 , wherein the distance between the second arm and the fourth arm is adjustable so as to accommodate a can having a diameter between 7 to 20 feet. 
     
     
         18 . The system for rounding cans of  claim 10 , further comprising;
 a plurality of valves operatively connected to the can rounding mechanism;   a tank operatively connected to a pump;   a pump operatively connected to an engine; and   a control box adapted to control the can rounding mechanism.   
     
     
         19 . The system for rounding cans of  claim 10 , wherein the can may be conical or cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         20 . A method for rounding cans comprising:
 placing a first can in a can rounding mechanism, wherein the can rounding mechanism comprises:   a base;   a pair of upper arms connected to the base, wherein the pair of upper arms have at least one roller located at a distal end of each of the pair of upper arms;   a pair of lower arms connected to the base, wherein the pair of lower arms have at least one roller located at a distal end of each of the pair of lower arms; and   wherein when the first can is placed in the can rounding mechanism the pair of upper arms contacts the first can at a first portion of the first can located above a mid-point of the first can and the second pair of lower arms contacts the first can at second portion of the first can located below the mid-point of the first can; and   welding the first can to a second can.