Welding process with jerk compensation

Abstract

An improved welding head for creating an in-track weld between a first rail segment and a second rail segment includes a controller having computer-readable instructions read by the controller. The computer-readable instructions include instructions for compensating for rail jerk during in-track welding. The welding head includes a closing force actuator, such as a hydraulic cylinder, for moving the rail segments toward one another. A pressure transducer is monitored during welding to determine a closing force. An impending jerk of the rail movement is detected if an abnormal closing force change is observed, and in response the flow of hydraulic fluid into or out of the hydraulic cylinder is restricted to prevent or minimize the jerk. In addition, when an impending jerk is detected the weld current may be temporarily increased to burn or prevent the formation of short circuit paths between the rails.

Description

technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for flash-butt welding of railroad tracks, and more particularly to field welding systems that perform consistent flash-butt welding under adverse temperature and track bed conditions. Background technique

[0002] Railroad track welding is commonly used to join two track sections when building or repairing railways. One type of welding is commonly known as flash butt welding. In flash butt welding, the two rail ends to be joined are first heated and then forged together, draining liquid metal and oxides from the welded joint. The forged welded joint is trimmed to remove burrs, ie solidified material that was forced out of the joint during the forged welding process.

[0003] Since the welding surface is prepared in some stages of the flash-butt welding process, the speed at which the rail material is manipulated has an important influence on the quality of the weld. For example, if the ...

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