Arc welder and torch for same

In an electric arc welder for creating an arc welding process between a consumable electrode advancing through a contact tip and a workpiece, said welder including a power supply to create an arc current and arc voltage and having a first lead connected to said contact tip and a second lead connected to said workpiece, the improvement comprising:

• said contact tip including an upper tip section and a lower tip section and an insulator that electrically isolates said upper and lower sections, a first switch selectively shiftable between a conductive state and a nonconductive state, said conductive state connecting first lead to said upper tip section, a second switch selectively shiftable between a conductive state and a nonconductive state, said conductive state connecting said first lead to said lower tip section, and a switch operating network creating a first switch signal to shift said first switch to its conductive state and/or a second switch signal to shift said second switch to its conductive state to control the effective CTWD of said arc welding process, said switch operating network is a signal generator for creating said first and second switch signals, said switch operating network causing said first and second switch signals to coincide for a period of about 5-30 microseconds.

In an electric arc welder for creating an arc welding process between a consumable electrode advancing through a contact tip and a workpiece, said welder including a power supply to create an arc current and arc voltage and having a first lead connected to said contact tip and a second lead connected to said workpiece, the improvement comprising:

• said contact tip including an upper tip section and a lower tip section and an insulator that electrically isolates said upper and lower sections, a first switch selectively shiftable between a conductive state and a nonconductive state, said conductive state connecting first lead to said upper tip section, a second switch selectively shiftable between a conductive state and a nonconductive state, said conductive state connecting said first lead to said lower tip section, and a switch operating network creating a first switch signal to shift said first switch to its conductive state and/or a second switch signal to shift said second switch to its conductive state to control the effective CTWD of said arc welding process, said switch operating network is a signal generator for creating said first and second switch signals, said switch operating network generating said first and second switch signals at the start of said arc welding process.

A torch for electric arc welding comprising an outer housing, a contact tip for directing electrical current to a consumable electrode passing through said contact tip toward a workpiece, an electrical insulator, and a gas passageway, said contact tip comprising an upper tip section, a lower tip section, said electrical insulator electrically isolating said tip sections whereby current is electively directed to one or both of said tip sections to control the effective CTWD of said torch, said electrical insulator including an air gap and an electrically insulted spacer at least partially positioned in said air gap, said gas passageway at least partially defined between said electrically insulted spacer and said outer housing.

In an electric arc welder for creating an arc welding process between a consumable electrode advancing through a contact tip and a workpiece, said welder including a power supply to create an arc current and arc voltage and having a first lead connected to said contact tip and a second lead connected to said workpiece, the improvement comprising:

• said contact tip including an upper tip section and a lower tip section and an insulator that electrically isolates said upper and lower sections, a first switch selectively shiftable between a conductive state and a nonconductive state, said conductive state connecting first lead to said upper tip section, a second switch selectively shiftable between a conductive state and a nonconductive state, said conductive state connecting said first lead to said lower tip section, and a switch operating network creating a first switch signal to shift said first switch to its conductive state and/or a second switch signal to shift said second switch to its conductive state to control the effective CTWD of said arc welding process, said switch operating network controlling the state of the first and second switch so as to maintain a substantially constant heat input to said consumable electrode during said arc welding process.