# US 8,569,653 B2 · Drive roll assembly for wire feeder > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,569,653 B2 - Document ID: US8569653B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/610,724 - Filed: 2009-11-02 - Published: 2011-05-05 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2009-11-02 - Assignees: Lincoln Global, Inc. - Applicants: Edward Enyedy - Inventors: Edward Enyedy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8569653B2 ## CPC - B23K 9/1336: {Driving means} - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM ## Abstract A wire feeder includes a wire feeder housing that may enclose one or more drive rollers rotatably connected with respect to the wire feeder housing for engaging welding wire. The one or more drive rollers may be adjustable and adapted to drive the welding wire to a welding gun connected to the wire feeder. A drive motor is incorporated for delivering power for rotating the one or more drive rollers. Friction reducing devices, such as bearings, may be utilized and positioned between one or more driver rollers and the housing, where the bearings are electrically non-conducting for preventing the discharge of electrical energy across the bearing surfaces. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wire feeder for conveying associated welding wire, comprising: a wire feeder housing having an apertured feed plate longitudinally disposed therein; a welding gun operatively connected to the wire feeder for conveying associated welding wire used in arc welding; one or more drive rollers with an inwardly-projecting hub rotatably connected to the apertured feed plate for engaging the associated welding wire, the one or more drive rollers being adapted to drive the associated welding wire to the welding gun; at least a first driver motor operatively connected to deliver power for rotating the one or more drive rollers; and, one or more bearings positioned between one or more drive rollers and a periphery of said inwardly-projecting hub of said one or more drive rollers and the feed plate for reducing rolling friction, said one or more bearings coaxial with each of said one or more drive rollers, wherein each of the one or more bearings is electrically non-conducting for preventing the discharge of electrical energy across the one or more bearings, and further wherein the one or more bearings comprise: an inner bearing race spaced apart from an outer bearing race, at least one of said one or more driver rollers adjacent thereto; and, a plurality of rolling elements, wherein the rolling elements are positioned between the inner race and the outer race; and, wherein the plurality of rolling elements are covered with an electrically non-conducting material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wire feeder as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more bearings are constructed from a dielectric material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wire feeder as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more bearings are constructed from ceramic. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The wire feeder as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of rolling elements are constructed from electrically non-conducting material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The wire feeder as defined in claim 4, wherein the rolling elements are spherical bearing balls, and, wherein the bearing balls are constructed from ceramic. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The wire feeder as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the inner bearing race and the outer bearing race is constructed from ceramic. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The wire feeder as defined in claim 1, wherein the drive motor is a variable speed drive motor for conveying the associated welding wire at varying speeds. ### Claim 8 A drive system for a welding wire feeder conveying associated electrically charged wire, comprising: a generally rigid feed plate; at least one pair of drive rollers rotatably connected with respect to the feed plate, wherein the drive rollers are spaced apart to propel the associated electrically charged wire; and, means for reducing rolling friction operatively positioned between the at least one pair of drive rollers and the feed plate, said means for reducing rolling friction being coaxially positioned with said at least one pair of drive rollers, and wherein said means for reducing rolling friction is electrically non-conducting for substantially preventing the discharge of electrical energy between the feed plate and the at least one pair of drive rollers, and further wherein the feed plate includes one or more recesses; and, wherein said means for reducing rolling friction comprises a ring bearing having a central aperture disposed therein: at least one bearing race and a plurality of rolling elements, wherein the at least one bearing race is received into the one or more recesses; and, wherein the at least one bearing race or the plurality of rolling elements is coated or constructed from a non-conductive dielectric material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system as defined in claim 8, wherein said means for reducing rolling friction comprises one or more rolling elements constructed from ceramic. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system as defined in claim 8, wherein the one or more rolling elements are constructed from metal and wherein the one or more rolling elements are coated with ceramic thereby completely covering the one or more metal rolling elements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system as defined in claim 8, wherein said means for reducing rolling friction comprises one or more rolling elements constructed from non-conducting polymeric material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system as defined in claim 8, wherein the at least one pair of drive rollers includes first and second drive rollers, and, wherein the position of the first drive roller is adjustable with respect to the second drive roller for driving differently sized associated wire. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system as defined in claim 8, further comprising: a wire support guides having a wire passage for channeling the associated electrically charged wire. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system as defined in claim 8, wherein the feed plate is constructed from electrically non-conducting material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system as defined in claim 14, wherein said means for reducing rolling friction comprises: a bushing constructed from a dielectric material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system as defined in claim 15, wherein the bushing is constructed from ceramic. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system as defined in claim 15, wherein the bushing is constructed from glass. ### Claim 18 A wire feeder for conveying associated welding wire, comprising: a wire feeder housing having an apertured feed plate longitudinally disposed therein; a welding gun operatively connected to the wire feeder for conveying associated welding wire used in arc welding; at least one drive roller with an inwardly-projecting hub rotatably connected to the apertured feed plate with an opposed roller having a mating inwardly-projecting hub for engaging the associated welding wire, the at least one drive roller being adapted to drive the associated welding wire to the welding gun; at least a first driver motor operatively connected to deliver power for rotating the at least one drive roller; and, at least one pair of bearings positioned between said drive roller and opposed roller and about a periphery of said inwardly-projecting hubs of said rollers and the feed plate for reducing rolling friction, said at least one pair of bearings coaxial with each of said rollers, wherein each of the at least one pair of bearings is electrically non-conducting for preventing the discharge of electrical energy across the one or more bearings, and further wherein each of the bearings comprise: an inner bearing race spaced apart from an outer bearing race; and, a plurality of rolling elements, wherein the rolling elements are positioned between the inner race and the outer race; and, wherein the plurality of rolling elements are electrically non-conducting; and further wherein at least one of the inner bearing race and the outer bearing race is electrically non-conducting. ### Claim 19 A drive system for a welding wire feeder conveying associated electrically charged wire, comprising: a generally rigid apertured feed plate having one or more recesses; at least one pair of drive rollers rotatably connected with respect to the feed plate, wherein the drive rollers are spaced apart to propel the associated electrically charged wire, said drive rollers having a pair of opposed rollers which matingly engage with each of said drive rollers; and, means for reducing rolling friction operatively positioned between each of said rollers and the feed plate, said means for reducing rolling friction being coaxially positioned with said rollers, and wherein said means for reducing rolling friction is electrically non-conducting for substantially preventing the discharge of electrical energy between the feed plate and the rollers, and further wherein each of said means for reducing rolling friction comprises: at least one bearing race and a plurality of rolling elements, wherein the at least one bearing race is received into the one or more recesses of said feed plate; and, wherein the at least one bearing race or the plurality of rolling elements is coated or constructed from a non-conductive dielectric material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, wherein said means for reducing rolling friction comprises one or more rolling elements constructed from ceramic. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, wherein the one or more rolling elements are constructed from metal and wherein the one or more rolling elements are coated with ceramic thereby completely covering the one or more metal rolling elements. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, wherein said means for reducing rolling friction comprises one or more rolling elements constructed from non-conducting polymeric material. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, wherein the at least one pair of drive rollers includes first and second drive rollers, and, wherein the position of the first drive roller is adjustable with respect to the second drive roller for driving differently sized associated wire. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, further comprising: a wire support guides having a wire passage for channeling the associated electrically charged wire. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The system as defined in claim 19, wherein the feed plate is constructed from electrically non-conducting material. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system as defined in claim 25, wherein said means for reducing rolling friction comprises: a bushing constructed from a dielectric material. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The system as defined in claim 26, wherein the bushing is constructed from ceramic. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The system as defined in claim 26, wherein the bushing is constructed from glass.