Welding electrode pair and method of welding

A process for welding a plate to an elongated rod along the length of said rod, comprising:

• (a) placing said plate and rod in contacting relationship between cooperating, substantially parallel end faces of first and second electrodes, said electrodes being movable toward and away from each other along a common axis normal to said end faces, said first electrode including a single contact portion projecting from and having a length extending across the end face thereof and a width substantially less than the diameter of the end face thereof, the top surface of said single contact portion being gently curved across its width toward said end face, and said second electrode including two spaced contact portions projecting from and each having a length extending across the end face thereof and a width substantially less than the diameter of the end face thereof and being substantially parallel to said single contact portion, said single contact portion being aligned with the space between said two contact portions;
• (b) orienting said plate and rod to dispose said plate adjacent the top surface of said single contact portion and to dispose said rod adjacent and substantially normal to the length of the top surfaces of said two contact portions;
• (c) moving said first and second electrodes together to contact said plate with said single contact portion and said rod with said two contact portions and to hold said plate and rod together with predetermined pressure applied in opposite directions by relatively narrow surfaces at alternate positions;
• and
• (d) passing welding current between said first and second electrodes through said single contact portion, said plate, said rod and said two contact portions in an amount and for a time sufficient to effect welding of said rod and plate, wherein the heat generated by said current is concentrated over the width of said first and second contact portions.