Submerged arc welding system with pressurized flux delivery and welding torch
AssigneeLincoln Global, Inc.
InventorDavid A. Mate
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A submerged arc welding system. In one embodiment, the submerged arc welding system includes a robot, a flux supply distal from the robot, and at least one wire supply distal from the robot. The system also includes a welding torch connected to the robot, a wire path connecting the wire supply to the welding torch, and a flux path connecting the flux supply to the welding torch. A flux delivery system is configured to move flux from the flux supply to the welding torch. At least one vent is disposed on the flux path adjacent the welding torch, to evacuate air from the flux path.
Claims26
A submerged arc welding system for use with a robot having at least a base, a first arm rotatably connected to the base, and a second arm rotatably connected to the first arm, the submerged arc welding system comprising:
- a welding torch having a nozzle, wherein the welding torch is connected to the second arm of the robot;
- at least one wire supply configured to be located distal from the robot;
- a wire path connecting the at least one wire supply to the nozzle of the welding torch;
- a flux supply including a pressurized flux delivery system and a vacuum unit, the pressurized flux delivery system configured to move flux from the flux supply, along the flux path, to the welding torch, and the flux supply configured to be located distal from the robot;
- a flux path connecting the flux supply to the nozzle of the welding torch, wherein the flux path does not include a gravity hopper;
- a flux muffler disposed along the flux path, connected to the welding torch, the flux muffler comprising a casing, and having a plurality of vents in a vent chamber located within the casing;
- a recycle line connected to the casing of the flux muffler to transport from the flux muffler escaped flux fines that pass through the vents;
- and
- a flux valve disposed along the flux path.
A submerged arc welding system comprising:
- a robot;
- a flux supply distal from the robot;
- at least one wire supply distal from the robot;
- a welding torch connected to the robot;
- a wire path connecting the at least one wire supply to the welding torch;
- a flux path connecting the flux supply to the welding torch;
- a flux delivery system configured to move flux from the flux supply to the welding torch;
- a flux muffler disposed along the flux path, the flux muffler comprising a casing, and having a plurality of vents in a vent chamber located within the casing;
- and
- a recycle line connected to the casing of the flux muffler to transport from the flux muffler escaped flux fines that pass through the vents.
An automatic submerged arc welding system comprising:
- a welding torch having a nozzle;
- means for transporting flux from the flux supply directly to the welding torch;
- a flux muffler disposed along the means for transporting flux, the flux muffler comprising casing, and having a plurality of vents in a vent chamber located within the casing;
- a recycle line connected to the casing of the flux muffler to transport from the flux muffler escaped flux fines that pass through the vents;
- means for controlling release of flux to the nozzle of the welding torch;
- and
- means for transporting wire from the wire supply to the welding torch.
A welding torch comprising:
- a nozzle;
- a wire path connected to the nozzle;
- a flux path connected to the nozzle;
- a flux muffler disposed along the flux path, the flux muffler comprising a casing, and having a plurality of vents in a vent chamber located within the casing;
- a recycle line connected to the casing of the flux muffler to transport from the flux muffler escaped flux fines that pass through the vents;
- and
- a flux valve disposed along the flux path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.