Electric heating – Metal heating – By arc
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-22
2001-09-04
Shaw, Clifford C. (Department: 1725)
Electric heating
Metal heating
By arc
C219S075000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06285003
ABSTRACT:
The present invention is an improved control mechanism for a welding torch used for gas shielded electric arc welding. The mechanism may be readily adapted for control of current, voltage, wire speed or other welding variables. The torch is particularly convenient since it gives the welder immediate and precise fingertip control of welding conditions without disrupting control of the bead of weld metal being laid down.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Torches that give a welder control of electric current by some mechanism located on the torch itself are fairly well known. As examples, reference might be made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,344 to Robbins or U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,942 to Hiibel. Other related current control mechanisms are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,341 to Manning and U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,066 to Bulwidas, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,373 to Cox et al. shows a torch handle control described as useful for regulating welding voltage or electrode wire speed. The torch described in the Hiibel patent, commonly assigned with the present invention, has had considerable commercial success. A sliding button on the top of the torch body can be activated by the thumb or forefinger of the welder for real time control of amperage. While this design has been a major improvement over previously available torches, one minor shortcoming has been noted. As a welder pushes the current control button forward, the torch tends to dip slightly bringing it closer to the weld zone. Similarly, when the button is moved rearward there is a tendency to slightly raise the torch. This movement may have a significant effect on the weld integrity since the arc length is somewhat changed.
The invention to be described is designed to overcome the above noted major problem of torch movement when adjusting welding current.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a gas shielded electric arc welding torch having an integral fingertip operable welding parameter control mechanism. The parameter controlled can be welding current, voltage, wire speed, gas flow, or some other welding variable. The torch has an axially elongated body sized to be comfortably held in a welder's hand. The anterior portion of the body has affixed to it the usual head portion containing the metal electrode and a surrounding gas cup. A stream of weld blanketing gas, typically an inert gas such as argon, is delivered to the gas cup to shield the electrode and blanket the adjacent weld zone. Cooling water may also be circulated to the head, as is conventional practice.
A welding parameter control is located on the top of the anterior portion of the body, posterior to the head, in a location convenient for adjustment by a slight motion of the welder's thumb or index finger. This control includes a closed loop belt coupled to a potentiometer located near the rear of the torch body at a point where it is essentially behind the welder's hand. If a rotary potentiometer is used, the body may be enlarged at this point to accommodate a potentiometer of more conventional size and ruggedness. In turn, the potentiometer is connected to appropriate conventional circuitry controlling welding current, voltage or other desired parameter. The term “closed loop belt” should be read broadly so as to include a chain or other functionally equivalent loop. The welder's thumb or index finger may act directly either against a forward-located control knob coupled to the belt or against the belt itself. The motion required is such that it will not cause the torch to dip or rise during current adjustments. For example, a forward movement of the index finger against one side of the control might increase current while a corresponding movement by the thumb on the other side would decrease current,
Where the term “finger control” is used it should be read broadly to mean thumb or any other finger, normally the index finger.
Alternatively, the potentiometer operated by the closed loop belt may have an on-off switch coupled to it.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a welding torch having an improved finger control for control of a desired welding parameter.
It is another object to provide a welding torch that is not subject to displacement from the weld area during real time operating parameter adjustment.
These and many other objects will become readily apparent upon reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3968341 (1976-07-01), Manning
patent: 4051344 (1977-09-01), Robbins
patent: 4227066 (1980-10-01), Bulwidas, Jr.
patent: 4510373 (1985-04-01), Cox et al.
patent: 4948942 (1990-08-01), Hiibel
patent: 6051808 (2000-04-01), Kleppen
Kleppen Arthur L.
Schmidt Stephan John
C-K Worldwide Inc.
Gehr Keith D.
Shaw Clifford C.
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