Wire feeder tensioner with definitive settings
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsBenjamin David Romenesko, Paul William Garvey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wire feeder includes a tensioner with a discrete number of compressive force settings for applying a desired compressive force to welding wire fed through the wire feeder is provided. The tensioner includes an adjustment knob with a discrete number of detents disposed along a helical surface adjacent an inner bore of the adjustment knob. The tensioner also includes a pin extending from an end of a tensioning post located in the inner bore, the pin being configured to align with the detents of the adjustment knob. Rotation of the adjustment knob adjusts alignment of the pin among the discrete number of detents, which correspond to the discrete number of compressive force settings.
Claims10
A welding wire feeder, comprising:
- a tensioner configured to pivot about a tensioner joint, wherein the tensioner comprises:
- an adjustment knob comprising a discrete number of detents, wherein the adjustment knob comprises a helical surface adjacent an inner bore of the adjustment knob, wherein the detents are located along the helical surface;
- a cup assembly about which a lower portion of the adjustment knob is disposed, the cup assembly comprising an inner bore that is coaxial with the inner bore of the adjustment knob;
- a spring disposed axially between the adjustment knob and the cup assembly;
- a tensioning post disposed within the inner bores of both the adjustment knob and the cup assembly, wherein the tensioner joint extends through a first end of the tensioning post;
- and
- a pin extending from a second end of the tensioning post that is opposite the first end, wherein the pin is configured to align with the detents in the adjustment knob;
- wherein rotation of the adjustment knob adjusts a compressive force transferred from a drive wheel to welding wire among a discrete number of compressive force settings that directly correspond to the discrete number of detents in the adjustment knob.
A welding wire feeder, comprising:
- a tensioner configured to pivot about a tensioner joint, wherein the tensioner comprises:
- an adjustment knob comprising a discrete number of detents, wherein the adjustment knob comprises a helical surface adjacent an inner bore of the adjustment knob, wherein the detents are located along the helical surface;
- a cup assembly about which a lower portion of the adjustment knob is disposed, the cup assembly comprising an inner bore;
- a spring disposed axially between the adjustment knob and the cup assembly;
- a tensioning post, in which a first portion of the tensioning post is disposed within the inner bore of the adjustment knob and a second portion of the tensioning post is disposed within the inner bore of the cup assembly, wherein the tensioner joint extends through a first end of the tensioning post;
- and
- a pin extending from a second end of the tensioning post that is opposite the first end, wherein the pin is configured to align with the detents in the adjustment knob;
- wherein rotation of the adjustment knob adjusts a compressive force transferred from a drive wheel to welding wire among a discrete number of compressive force settings that directly correspond to the discrete number of detents in the adjustment knob.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.