IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,257,616
Granted Patent B2
US 12,257,616 · App. 17/825,210 · Granted Mar 25, 2025

Control system and method for tapered structure construction

Inventors: Rosalind K. Takata (Denver, CO); Eric D. Smith (Denver, CO); Loren Daniel Bridgers (Golden, CO); Daniel Ainge (Boulder, CO); Alexander H. Slocum (Bow, NH)
Assignee: Keystone Tower Systems, Inc.
B21C37/185B21C37/122B21C37/124B21C37/128B23K9/0325B21C37/126
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,257,616
App. No.
17/825,210
Granted
Mar 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control system for forming a tapered structure includes a sensor providing feedback for a machine for forming a tapered structure including at least three rolls having at least one bend roll and at least two guide rolls. The guide rolls may include rollette banks having a plurality of rollettes. The machine may also include an adjustment mechanism to position at least one of the rolls, where a diameter of the tapered structure being formed is controlled by relative positions of the rolls. The machine may also include a joining element to join edges of a stock of material together as it is rolled through the rolls to form the tapered structure. The control system may also include a controller to receive feedback from the sensor and to send a control signal based on the feedback to the adjustment mechanism for positioning at least one of the rolls.

Claims (24)

1. A control system for forming a tapered structure, the control system comprising:

a sensor arranged to measure a position of an edge of a stock material moving into a curving device for forming a tapered structure; and

a controller in communication with the sensor, the controller including one or more processors and non-transitory computer-readable storage media, the non-transitory computer-readable storage media having stored thereon instructions for causing the one or more processors to carry out processes including

receiving, from the sensor, a feedback signal indicative of the position of the edge of the stock material,

based on the feedback signal from the sensor, determining a control signal, and

sending the control signal to an infeed adjustment mechanism to position the stock material moving into at least one bend roll and at least two guide rolls of the curving device, the control signal moving the stock material about a peak of the tapered structure being formed as the stock material moves into the curving device.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a displacement sensor.

3. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control signal actuates at least one infeed actuator of the infeed adjustment mechanism to adjust an angle of the stock material moving into the curving device.

4. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control signal actuates an edge roller of the infeed adjustment mechanism to constrain positions of edge of the stock material moving into the curving device.

5. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions for causing the one or more processors to carry out determining the control signal include comparing the feedback signal from the sensor to a model for ideal edge positions of the stock material moving into the curving device.

6. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions for causing the one or more processors to carry out sending the control signal to the infeed adjustment mechanism to position the stock material includes continuously positioning the stock material as the stock material moves into the curving device for forming the tapered structure.

7. A control system for forming a tapered structure, the control system comprising:

a sensor arranged to measure position information of a stock material moving into a curving device; and

a controller in communication with the sensor, the controller including one or more processors and non-transitory computer-readable storage media, the non-transitory computer-readable storage media having stored thereon instructions for causing the one or more processors to carry out processes including

receiving the position information from the sensor,

receiving, from a model stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage media, relative positions of the stock material moving into the curving device,

determining a control signal based on the model and the position information of the stock material measured by the sensor, and

sending the control signal to an infeed adjustment mechanism to position the stock material moving into at least three rolls including at least one bend roll and at least two guide rolls of the curving device, the control signal moving the stock material about a peak of the tapered structure being formed as the stock material moves into the curving device.

8. The control system of claim 7 , wherein the sensor includes a displacement sensor.

9. The control system of claim 7 , wherein the rotational motion of the stock material about the peak of the tapered structure being formed adjusts for irregularity in shape of the stock material moving into the curving device.

10. The control system of claim 7 , wherein the relative positions of the stock material moving into the curving device include ideal edge positions of the stock material moving into the curving device.

11. The control system of claim 7 , wherein the instructions for causing the one or more processors to carry out processes including sending the control signal to the infeed adjustment mechanism include instructions for causing the one or more processors to carry out processes including actuating at least one infeed actuator of the infeed adjustment mechanism to adjust an angle of the stock material moving into the curving device.

12. The control system of claim 7 , wherein the instructions for causing the one or more processors to carry out processes including sending the control signal to the infeed adjustment mechanism include instructions for causing the one or more processors to adjust an infeed speed of the stock material moving into the curving device.

13. The control system of claim 7 , wherein the instructions for causing the one or more processors to carry out processes including sending the control signal to the infeed adjustment mechanism include differentially driving infeed rollers of the infeed adjustment mechanism.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2022
From: TAKATA, ROSALIND K.; SMITH, ERIC D.; BRIDGERS, LOREN DANIEL; AINGE, DANIEL; SLOCUM, ALEXANDER H.
To: KEYSTONE TOWER SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060027/0929 →
ADDRESS CHANGE Recorded May 26, 2022
From: KEYSTONE TOWER SYSTEMS, INC.
To: KEYSTONE TOWER SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060202/0589 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16208831 · Dec 4, 2018
Continuation 14228481 · Mar 28, 2014
Related Publication 20220297175A1 · Sep 22, 2022
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