Arc ignition system for exothermic welding apparatus
AssigneeHubbell Incorporated
InventorsJayaraj Ramasamy, K Sundharavadivel
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Abstract
The ignition system holds a quantity of a reaction mixture in a hopper. The hopper is closed at the bottom by a movable gate. When the gate is opened, powder falls from the hopper, though a passage, and through an ignition chamber. High voltage electrodes are provided in the ignition chamber. As the powder falls through the ignition chamber, the electrodes are energized, generating an electrical arc. The arc ignites the falling powder. The ignited powder falls from the bottom of the chamber and into the reaction chamber of an exothermic mold, where the ignited powder initiates a thermite reaction that generates molten metal to form an exothermic weld.
Claims11
An igniter apparatus comprising:
- a powder container, the container adapted to hold an ignition powder;
- an ignition chamber positioned below the powder container and comprising an interior wall;
- a gate connecting the powder container and the ignition chamber, the gate adapted to open to allow powder to fall from the powder container into the ignition chamber;
- and
- a pair of electrodes mounted to the interior wall of the ignition chamber, wherein, when a voltage is applied to the electrodes an electrical arc is generated within the ignition chamber and wherein the arc ignites the powder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.