Open shipyard wire feeder

A portable wire feeder for supplying consumable welding wire on a wire spool to a welding gun, said wire feeder comprising:

• a frame having a base extending in a longitudinal direction between a forward end and a rearward end, spool support means on said frame near said rearward end for supporting a wire spool for rotation relative to said frame about a spool axis;
• a wire advancing mechanism mounted on said frame between said forward end and said spool axis for paying wire from a spool on said support means, said mechanism including an inlet for receiving wire from a wire spool and an outlet for directing wire toward the welding gun;
• a control box on said frame near said forward end for controlling said advancing mechanism;
• said base having a front width near said forward end and a rear width near said rearward end, said rear width being greater than said front width;
• and said spool support means includes a spindle for receiving a wire spool, said spindle having a first end connected to said frame and a second end including a first latch component, said support means further including a locking arm having a first end pivotally connected to said frame and a second end having a second latch component, said arm being pivotal between an opened condition for allowing installation and removal of a spool relative to said spindle and a latched condition, said second latch component in said latched condition interengaging with said first latch component such that said locking arm supports said second end of said spindle.

A portable wire feeder for supplying consumable welding wire on a wire spool to a welding gun, said wire feeder comprising:

• a frame having a base extending in a longitudinal direction between a forward end and a rearward end, spool support means on said frame near said rearward end for supporting a wire spool for rotation relative to said frame about a spool axis;
• a wire advancing mechanism mounted on said frame between said forward end and said spool axis for paying wire from a spool or said support means, said mechanism including an inlet for receiving wire from a wire spool and an outlet for directing wire toward the welding gun;
• a control box on said frame near said forward end for controlling said advancing mechanism;
• said base having a front width near said forward end and a rear width near said rearward end, said rear width being greater than said front width;
• and said frame has sides extending upwardly from said base, said sides extending upwardly and toward one another.

A portable wire feeder for supplying consumable welding wire on a wire spool to a welding gun, said wire feeder comprising:

• a frame having a base extending in a longitudinal direction between a forward end and a rearward end, spool support means on said frame near said rearward end for supporting a wire spool for rotation relative to said frame about a spool axis a wire advancing mechanism mounted on said frame between said forward end and said spool axis for paying wire from a spool on said support means, said mechanism including an inlet for receiving wire from a wire spool and an outlet for directing wire toward the welding gun;
• a control box on said frame near said forward end for controlling said advancing mechanism;
• said base having a front width near said forward end and a rear width near said rearward end, said rear width being greater than said front width;
• and said base includes transversely spaced side rails extending in said longitudinal direction between said forward and rearward ends and an elongated back member connected to said side rails, said back member including a handle.

A portable wire feeder for supplying consumable welding wire on a wire spool to a welding gun, said wire feeder comprising:

• a frame having a base extending in a longitudinal direction between a forward end and a rearward end, spool support means on said frame near said rearward end for supporting a wire spool for rotation relative to said frame about a spool axis;
• a wire advancing mechanism mounted on said frame between said forward end and said spool axis for paying wire from a spool on said support means, said mechanism including an inlet for receiving wire from a wire spool and an outlet for directing wire toward the welding gun;
• a control box on said frame near said forward end for controlling said advancing mechanism;
• said base having a front width near said forward end and a rear width near said rearward end, said rear width being greater than said front width;
• said wire feeder further including a cover for selectively covering said control box, said cover being pivotal relative to said frame about a cover axis between a closed position and an open position, said cover including a cover plate and an edge facing said pivot axis, at least a portion of said cover plate being transparent.

A portable wire feeder for supplying consumable welding wire on a wire spool to a welding gun, said wire feeder comprising:

• a frame having a base extending in a longitudinal direction between a forward end and a rearward end, spool support means on said frame near said rearward end for supporting a wire spool for rotation relative to said frame about a horizontal spool axis transverse to said longitudinal direction;
• a wire advancing mechanism mounted on said frame between said forward end and said spool axis for paying wire from a spool on said support means, said mechanism including an inlet for receiving wire from a wire spool and an outlet for directing wire toward the welding gun;
• a control box on said frame near said forward end for controlling said advancing mechanism;
• said base having a front width near said forward end and a rear width near said rearward end, said rear width being greater than said front width.

A portable wire feeder for supplying consumable welding wire on a wire spool to a welding gun, said wire feeder comprising:

• a frame having a base extending in a longitudinal direction between a forward end and a rearward end, spool support means on said frame near said rearward end for supporting a wire spool for rotation relative to said frame about a spool axis;
• a wire advancing mechanism mounted on said frame between said forward end and said spool axis for paying wire from a spool on said support means, said mechanism including an inlet for receiving wire from a wire spool and an outlet for directing wire toward the welding gun;
• a control box on said frame near said forward end for controlling said advancing mechanism;
• said base having a front width near said forward end and a rear width near said rearward end, said rear width being greater than said front width;
• and said base has a bottom for engaging an underlying surface and said frame further includes a back member means joined to said base at said rearward end, a pair of wheels on said back member means for rotation about wheel axes and having respective rolling surfaces for engaging the underlying surface, said rolling surfaces and said bottom supporting said wire feeder on the underlying surface, and when said forward end is moved upwardly relative to said rearward end, said rolling surfaces engaging the underlying surface and said bottom being spaced from the underlying surface.

A portable wire feeder for supplying consumable welding wire on a wire spool to a welding gun, said wire feeder comprising:

• a frame having a base extending in a longitudinal direction between a forward end and a rearward end, back member means joined to said base at said rearward end, spool support means on said frame near said rearward end for supporting a wire spool for rotation relative to said frame about a spool axis;
• a wire advancing mechanism mounted on said frame between said forward end and said spool axis for paying wire from a spool on said support means, said mechanism including an inlet for receiving wire from a wire spool and an outlet for directing wire toward the welding gun;
• a control box on said frame near said forward end for controlling said advancing mechanism;
• a pair of wheels on said back member means for rotation about wheel axes and having respective rolling surfaces for engaging an underlying surface;
• and said base has a bottom for engaging the underlying surface, said wheel rolling surfaces and said bottom supporting said wire feeder on the underlying surface, and when said forward end is moved upwardly relative to said rearward end, said rolling surfaces engaging the underlying surface and said bottom being spaced from the underlying surface.

A portable wire feeder for supplying consumable welding wire on a wire spool to a welding gun, said wire feeder comprising:

• a frame having a base extending in a longitudinal direction between a forward end and a rearward end, back member means joined to said base at said rearward end, spool support means on said frame near said rearward end for supporting a wire spool for rotation relative to said frame about a spool axis;
• a wire advancing mechanism mounted on said frame between said forward end and said spool axis for paying wire from a spool on said support means, said mechanism including an inlet for receiving wire from a wire spool and an outlet for directing wire toward the welding gun;
• a control box on said frame near said forward end for controlling said advancing mechanism;
• a pair of wheels on said back member means for rotation about wheel axes and having respective rolling surfaces for engaging an underlying surface;
• and said spool support means includes a spindle for receiving a wire spool, said spindle having a first end connected to said frame and a second end including a first latch component, said support means further including a locking arm having a first end pivotally connected to said frame and a second end having a second latch component, said arm being pivotal between an opened condition for allowing installation and removal of a spool relative to said spindle and a latched condition, said second latch component in said latched condition interengaging with said first latch component such that said locking arm supports said second end of said spindle.

A portable wire feeder for supplying consumable welding wire on a wire spool to a welding gun, said wire feeder comprising:

• a frame having a base extending in a longitudinal direction between a forward end and a rearward end, back member means joined to said base at said rearward end, spool support means on said frame near said rearward end for supporting a wire spool for rotation relative to said frame about a spool axis;
• a wire advancing mechanism mounted on said frame between said forward end and said spool axis for paying wire from a spool on said support means, said mechanism including an inlet for receiving wire from a wire spool and an outlet for directing wire toward the welding gun;
• a control box on said frame near said forward end for controlling said advancing mechanism;
• a pair of wheels on said back member means for rotation about wheel axes and having respective rolling surfaces for engaging an underlying surface;
• said base has side rails which extend in said longitudinal direction between said forward and rearward ends, said side rails being transversely spaced such that said base has a front width near said forward end and a rear width near said rearward end, said rear width being greater than said front width;
• and said frame further includes sides extending upwardly from said side rails and toward one another.

A portable wire feeder for supplying consumable welding wire on a wire spool to a welding gun, said wire feeder comprising:

• a frame having a base extending in a longitudinal direction between a forward end and a rearward end, spool support means on said frame near said rearward end for supporting a wire spool for rotation relative to said frame about a spool axis;
• a wire advancing mechanism mounted on said frame between said forward end and said spool axis for paying wire from a spool on said support means, said mechanism including an inlet for receiving wire from a wire spool and an outlet for directing wire toward the welding gun;
• a control box on said frame near said forward end for controlling said advancing mechanism;
• a handle spaced from said control box;
• and a cover for selectively covering said control box, said cover being pivotal relative to said frame about a cover axis between a closed position and an open position, said cover including a cover plate and an edge facing said pivot axis, said edge being substantially parallel to said cover axis and spaced from said handle in both said open and closed positions.