Apparatus for supporting and positioning of a work-piece during welding

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting and positioning of a work-piece during welding. A base plate has a transverse drive means and slidably carries a secondary plate. The secondary plate has drive elements engaged by the transverse drive means and carries a vertically and horizontally adjustable mechanism which provides means for engaging a work-piece during welding.

What is claimed is: .[. 
     
       1.  Apparatus for supporting and positioning of a work-piece during welding, including a base plate having a transverse drive means, a secondary plate carried by said base plate and having at least one drive element engaged by said transverse drive means and a vertically and laterally adjustable mechanism carried by said secondary plate and providing means for engaging a work-piece during welding, said base plate having opposed guide rails with slots for mating engagement with rib areas on said secondary plate to slidably secure said secondary plate on said base plate and to prevent vertical movement of said secondary plate relative to said base plate,   said transverse drive means comprising an elongate drive screw rotatably supported by said base plate,   each drive element being located on the underside of said secondary plate and having a threaded bore therethrough for threaded engagement by said drive screw, whereby said secondary plate will slide relative to said base plate upon actuation of said drive screw,   said secondary plate having therebeneath dual guide ways for slidably receiving guide keys on said base plate and guiding the sliding movement of said secondary plate relative to said base plate,   said base plate having dual elongated tracks thereon in aligned relation to bearings housed beneath said secondary plate for rolling movement of said secondary plate on said base plate,   said mechanism comprising a saddle carried above said secondary plate, said saddle having an upper portion telescopically received by a lower portion, said upper portion being vertically adjustable by a lifting means housed within said lower portion,   the upper portion of said saddle including a track for slidably carrying the work-piece engaging means and rotatably carrying a second elongate drive screw having double and opposite hand threaded portions,   said work-piece engaging means comprising opposed movable jaws positioned for sliding movement on said track, each jaw having therethrough a threaded bore for engagement by the threaded portions of said second drive screw, whereby said opposed jaws will slide laterally toward or away from one another on said track upon actuation of said second drive screw..]. .Iadd. 2. Apparatus for supporting and positioning of a work-piece during welding, comprising:   a base plate;   a secondary plate carried by said base plate;   transverse drive means interconnected between said base and secondary plates causing relative positional movement between said plates;   a vertically adjustable mechanism carried by said secondary plate and providing means for supporting a work-piece during welding; and   wherein said mechanism comprises a saddle carried above said secondary plate, said saddle having an upper portion telescopically received by a lower portion, said upper portion being supported by lifting means for   
     
     
        vertically adjusting the position of said saddle. .Iaddend..Iadd. 3.  The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said lifting means is housed within said lower portion. .Iaddend..Iadd. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said lifting means comprises a jack. .Iaddend..Iadd. 5. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said secondary plate is slidingly supported by said base plate. .Iaddend..Iadd. 6. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said transverse drive means is interconnected between one end of said base plate and a proximate end of said secondary plate. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 7. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said saddle is supported by a plurality of telescopic stanchions. .Iaddend..Iadd. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein a center one of said stanchions maintains a jack therewithin, said jack comprising said lifting means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said mechanism is laterally, as well as vertically, adjustable. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said secondary plate further includes dual guide ways therebeneath for slidably receiving guide keys on said base plate and guiding the sliding movement of said secondary plate relative to said base plate. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said saddle is carried upon a track, said saddle comprising two sections in sliding engagement with said track and including means in engagement with said sections for closing and separating said sections upon said track. .Iaddend.