Automatic electrogas vertical seam welding arrangement

Claim 1

IN AN AUTOMATIC A.C. ELECTROGAS VERTICAL SEAM WELDING ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING A CARRIAGE ASSEMBLY ADAPTED FOR MOVING ALONG AN ELONGATED VERTICAL GAP FORMED BETWEEN A PAIR OF STOCKS TO BE WELDED TOGETHER, A WIRE ELECTRODE FEEDER CARRIED BY SAID CARRIAGE ASSEMBLY, A WELDING TORCH CARRIED BY SAID CARRIAGE ASSEMBLY AND ADAPTED FOR RECEIVING AN ELONGATED WIRE ELECTRODE FROM SAID FEEDER, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CARRIAGE ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPLYING A CONSTANT FLOW OF PROTECTING GAS SUCH AS CARBON DIOXIDE TO A WELDING SPOT SELECTED IN PROXIMITY OF SAID ASSEMBLY AND IN SAID GAP, AND A PAIR OF CHILLING STRIPS CARRIED BY SAID ASSEMBLY AND ADAPTED FOR BEING KEPT IN SLIDING AND PRESSURE CONTACT WITH SAID WELDING STOCKS ACROSS SAID WELDING GAP AND AT BOTH SIDES THEREOF, A COMBINATION OF A GAS EXPANSION CHAMBER FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH ONE OF SAID STRIPS AND HAVING A NARROWER INSIDE OPENING AND A WIDER OUTSIDE OPENING, A TRANSPARENT COVER SHEET, CLOSING SAID OUTSIDE OPENING, AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING FLUIDICALLY THE INTERIOR OF SAID CHAMBER WITH SAID GAS SUPPLY MEANS, SAID INSIDE OPENING BEING POSITIONED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF SAID WELDING POINT, SAID CHAMBER THEREBY FORMING A VIEWING WINDOW FOR ALLOWING THE OBSERVATION OF WELDING SPARKS AT THE WELDING SPOT, WHEN THE WELDING PROCESS GOES ON.