Method and apparatus for initiating electric arc spraying
AssigneeThe Miller Group, Ltd.
InventorsWarren E. Herwig, John Vollrath
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for initiating arc spraying is disclosed. The invention includes feeding the wires to an arc at a predetermined rate, for a predetermined length of time. Thereafter the wires are fed at a rate which is controlled in response to the current magnitude. The arc is also monitored and the condition of the arc--whether there is a shortage or outage--is indicated to the user.
Claims19
A method of initiating arc spraying process between a plurality of wires comprising:
- feeding the wires to an intersection point at a predetermined rate for a period of time, prior to current flowing through the wires;
- automatically adjusting the speed at which the wires are fed to a different rate after the wires have contacted one another;
- providing electrical current to the wires after the wires have contacted one another and forming an arc between the wires by melting portions of the wires;
- and
- providing a gas to the arc.
An arc sprayer for electric arc spraying a plurality of wires comprising:
- a wire feeder including at least one feed motor operable to drive the wires;
- at least one power source operable to provide current to the wires;
- a controller, operatively connected to the power source and the feed motor, the controller including a first wire feed speed output, wherein the controller provides the first wire feed speed output for a period of time prior to the wires coming into contact with one another and further wherein an arc is formed after the wires have contacted and wherein the speed of the feed motor is responsive to a second wire speed output.
A controller for an arc sprayer including a wire feed motor and a power source, the controller comprising:
- a wire feed speed output;
- a predetermined wire speed output;
- a circuit for connecting the predetermined wire speed output to the wire feed motor for a period of time prior to the providing of current to the wires, and for connecting the wire feed speed output to the wire feed motor after the predetermined length of time.
An arc sprayer for arc spraying a plurality of wires comprising:
- a wire feeder, including a variable speed motor for feeding the wires to an arc at a controllable rate;
- a power source for providing electrical current to the arc through the wires;
- a sensor disposed to sense a parameter of the arc;
- and
- means for feeding the wires at a predetermined rate for a period of time prior to the providing of current to the wires and subsequently forming an arc between the wires and feeding the wires at a different rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.