Welding arc initiator
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorThomas B. Correy
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Abstract
An improved inert gas shielded tungsten arc welder is disclosed of the type wherein a tungsten electrode is shielded within a flowing inert gas, and, an arc, following ignition, burns between the energized tungsten electrode and a workpiece. The improvement comprises in combination with the tungsten electrode, a starting laser focused upon the tungsten electrode which to ignite the electrode heats a spot on the energized electrode sufficient for formation of a thermionic arc. Interference problems associated with high frequency starters are thus overcome.
Claims2
In a tungsten electrode inert gas shielded arc welding system of the class wherein a tungsten electrode tip is shielded within a flowing inert gas and an arc following ignition burns between the tungsten electrode when energized and a workpiece, a welding arc initiator comprising the combination of:
- a. an electrode of the arc welding system having an electrode tip;
- b. pulsed laser means such as to be able to heat the electrode spot struck by the laser beam to 1000 K in a pulse time of 0.005 seconds or greater for heating the electrode tip sufficient for formation of a thermionic arc;
- c. laser beam guiding means comprising a fiber optic cable for directing the laser beam to the tungsten electrode tip;
- and
- d. control means for controlling the initiation, energy level, and duration of the laser beam;
- the laser means, laser beam guiding means, and control means being such as to transfer at least 45 Joules of energy to the electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.