Multi-application welding system and method
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorRobert W. Wakeman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A welding gun includes a welding handle and at least one interchangeable assembly. A plurality of interchangeable assemblies are securable to the welding handle to enable the welding gun to be configured for operation in a plurality of welding applications. A first interchangeable assembly enables the welding gun to receive gas and wire. A second interchangeable assembly enables the welding gun to receive flux and wire. The welding gun is coupled to a power source. The welding gun may be coupled to a flux reservoir or a source of gas. The welding gun may be coupled to the system by a cable operable to convey wire, gas, and flux to the welding handle.
Claims40
A welding gun, comprising:
- a welding handle to enable a user to direct the welding gun;
- and
- a plurality of interchangeable assemblies securable to the welding gun, comprising a first interchangeable assembly enabling the welding gun to receive a shielding gas and a wire electrode via a welding cable and to direct the gas and wire to a desired location, and a second interchangeable assembly enabling the welding gun to receive a flux and a wire electrode and to direct the flux and wire electrode to a desired location.
An arc welding gun, comprising:
- a flexible welding cable adapted to convey electrode wire;
- a handle secured to the welding cable;
- a trigger secured to the welding handle and operable to control operation of the welding gun;
- and
- a neck assembly removably secured to the welding cable and adapted to receive electrode wire from the welding cable and flux from a source of flux to enable the welding gun to perform submerged arc welding.
A submerged arc welding conversion assembly, comprising a neck assembly adapted to enable a welding gun operable to control operation of a welding system to be converted from use as a welding gun for a MIG welding system to use as a welding gun for a submerged arc welding system, the neck assembly comprising:
- a first portion coupleable to a flexible welding cable adapted to convey gas and wire for MIG welding;
- and
- a second portion coupleable to a hose adapted to convey flux for submerged arc welding.
A welding system, comprising:
- a power supply;
- a welding gun, comprising:
- a first neck assembly, wherein the first neck assembly enables the welding gun to be used to perform submerged arc welding, the first neck assembly being adapted to merge flux from an external source of flux via a hose coupled to the first neck assembly with electrode wire in a chamber within the neck assembly;
- a welding cable operable to convey an electrode wire from the power supply to the first neck assembly, the wire being electrically coupled to the power supply;
- and
- a handle secured to the welding cable.
A multi-application welding system, comprising:
- a power supply;
- a wire feeder having a supply of wire electrically coupled to the power supply;
- a welding gun, comprising:
- a handle to enable a user to direct the welding gun;
- and
- a plurality of neck assemblies interchangeably securable to the welding gun, a first neck assembly being adapted to receive gas and electrode wire and direct the gas and electrode wire to a desired location, and a second neck assembly being adapted to receive flux and electrode wire and direct the flux and electrode wire to a desired location;
- and
- a removable cable assembly operable to direct the gas and the electrode wire to the welding gun.
A multi-application welding system, comprising:
- a welding gun, comprising:
- a handle;
- a first neck assembly adapted to receive gas and electrode wire and direct the gas and electrode wire to a desired location;
- a second neck assembly adapted to receive flux and electrode wire and direct the flux and electrode wire to a desired location;
- and
- a removable cable assembly operable to convey gas, flux, and electrode wire to the welding gun.
A method of operating a welding system, comprising the act of:
- coupling a submerged arc welding neck assembly to a welding cable operable to convey gas and electrode wire to enable a welding gun to receive flux for submerged arc welding.
A method of replacing damaged components of a submerged arc welding gun, comprising the acts of:
- disassembling a neck assembly adapted to combine flux from a hose and electrode wire from a welding cable of the submerged are welding gun in a chamber within the neck assembly to access a damaged component housed within the neck assembly;
- replacing the damaged component;
- and
- reassembling the submerged arc welding gun.
An arc welding gun kit, comprising:
- a welding handle;
- a first neck assembly securable to the welding handle and a welding cable adapted to convey gas and electrode wire which enables the welding gun to be used to perform a first type of welding;
- and
- a second neck assembly securable to the welding handle which enables the welding gun to be used to perform a second type of welding.
A neck assembly for an arc welding gun, comprising:
- a flux distributor adapted to receive flux from a hose and electrode wire from a welding cable, the flux distributor having a chamber adapted to merge the flux and the electrode wire into a single passageway;
- a flux diffuser disposed downstream of the flux distributor and adapted to establish desired flow characteristics of the flux, and
- a nozzle disposed downstream of the flux diffuser to direct the flux from the neck assembly.
A welding gun assembly, comprising:
- a first removable assembly adapted to replace a second removable assembly of a welding gun, the second removable assembly being coupleable to a welding cable adapted to convey electrode wire and gas to enable the welding gun to perform MIG welding, wherein the first removable assembly is adapted to be coupled to a source of flux and to the welding cable to enable the welding gun to perform submerged arc welding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.