Patent US3553423A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3553423A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wire feeding
Assignee: BOC Group Ltd
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Filing: 1968-05-02
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Granted: 1971-01-05
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Expires: 1988-05-02
Abstract
Abstract Thin bare welding wire is fed through a relatively long conduit from a drum to an arc welding torch by passing a stream of liquid along the conduit in the direction of wire feed. The liquid applies traction to the wire causing the wire to pass along the conduit even when the conduit is bent, looped or coiled. The liquid may be caused to flow in either an open or closed circuit; and if an open circuit is used the liquid may act as a flux in the welding process.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian C Doxey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:48
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/12; B23K9/133; B23K9/1336
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for feeding a flexible wire through an elongated conduit, said apparatus comprising an elongated conduit having means defining a first inlet and outlet, means for feeding a flexible wire therethrough and a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet connected near the first inlet and outlet respectively, an inlet seal and an outlet seal disposed in said conduit to provide liquid tight closures at the two ends of the conduit, and to allow access to the flexible wire entering and leaving the conduit, a liquid reservoir located between and in communication with the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet to provide an endless flow path for liquid in the reservoir, and a pump to circulate liquid around the endless flow path, said liquid having such viscosity and of sufficient velocity to apply traction to the wire in the conduit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for feeding a flexible wire through an elongated conduit, said apparatus comprising an elongated conduit having means defining a first inlet and outlet, means for feeding a flexible wire therethrough and a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet connected near the first inlet and outlet respectively, an inlet seal and an outlet seal disposed in said conduit to provide liquid tight closures at the two ends of the conduit, and to allow access to the flexible wire entering and leaving the conduit, a liquid reservoir located between and in communication with the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet to provide an endless flow path for liquid in the reservoir, and a pump to circulate liquid around the endless flow path, said liquid having such viscosity and of sufficient velocity to apply traction to the wire in the conduit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including a liquid reservoir and a pump located in series between the outlet and inlet of the conduit to provide an endless flow path for the liquid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for introducing the liquid into the conduit in a continuous stream.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means located outside the conduit for exerting other additional traction forces on the wire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said means comprises a roller drive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 including a plurality of spaced guide members encircling the wire and located in series to make a liquid tight fit in the input of the conduit, and passages connecting the spaces between the guide members to the liquid reservoir.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
116 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 including three spaced guide members arranged to encircle the wire located in series to make a liquid tight fit in the outlet of the conduit, the inner member being arranged to make a sliding fit over the entire outer surface of the wire passing through it to remove most of the liquid from the wire, and the middle guide member making a comparatively loose fit on the wire, means for passing a high velocity stream of gas upstream past the middle guide member to remove liquid from the wire as it passes through the middle member, and means between the inner and middle members to eject the gas and removed liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the liquid comprises a welding flux.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the liquid comprises a shield to exclude air from a weld pool.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the liquid constitutes a coolant for cooling an arc welding torch including a contact tip fed with the wire.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the liquid is used to cool the the contact tip of the torch.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-04 | 1974-07-06 | 1975-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-04 | 1978-07-06 | 1979-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-04 | 1982-07-06 | 1983-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |