Arc starting apparatus and method

Claim 1

WORK IN CIRCUIT, NONCONSUMABLE ELECTRODE, INERTGAS SHIELDED ARC WORKING SYSTEM, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A TORCH PROVIDED WITH A GAS CUP, THE BODY OF WHICH IS COMPOSED OF INSULATING MATERIAL HAVING CONDUCTIVE MEANS ENCIRCLING SUCH BODY; GROUNDING MEANS CONNECTING SUCH CONDUCTIVE MEANS TO THE WORK; WORK ARC CIRCUIT MEANS FOR APPLYING AND MAINTAINING A WORKING ARC POTENTIAL ACROSS A GAP BETWEEN THE END OF A NONCONSUMABLE ELECTRODE SUPPORTED IN SUCH TORCH AND THE WORK IN A STREAM OF INSERT GAS FLOWING THROUGH SUCH CUP, AND MEANS FOR APPLYING AN ELECTRICAL PUSLE AT A POTENTIAL SUFFICIENT TO BREAK DOWN SUCH GAP, RENDERING IT CONDUCTIVE AND ESTABLISHING A WORKING ARC, THE POLARITY OF SUCH PULSE WITH RESPECT TO THE WORK BEING THE SAME AS THAT OF THE WORKING ARC POTENTIAL, SUCH PULSE ACTING IN CONJUCTION WITH SUCH CONDUCTIVE MEANS AND SUCH GROUNDING MEANS TO FACILITATE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH WORKING ARC THE RESISTANCE OF SUCH GROUNDING MEANS AND SUCH CONDUCTIVE MEANS IN COMBINATION BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER CONDUCTIVITY (HIGHER RESISTIVITY) THAN THAT OF THE WORK ARC CIRCUIT.