Arc length control

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said influencing parameter consists of changing the electric current amperage supplied to said arc.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein said arc is positioned in a gap between workpieces and said sensors are directed to preselected spaced areas along a path within said gap.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 wherein said electrode is a consumable electrode that is continuously fed to said arc and said arc influencing parameter is at least one parameter selected from the group of current amperage, electrode feed rate, and the speed of welding.

Claim 6

Continuous electrode welding apparatus comprising: a. means for continuously supplying consumable electrode wire into an elongated weld zone; b. a sliding electrical current connection to said wire; c. means for driving said wire and sliding connection over said elongated weld zone; d. sensing means positioned to sense at least two aligned vertically spaced areas along a preselected welding arc length extending from the consuming end of said wire to said weld zone, said sensing means being further disposed to signal the existence of said arc within each said spaced area; and e. means responsive to said sensing means for changing at least one arc influencing parameter to bring said arc back into the area of detection of each of said sensing means whenever at least one of said sensing means fails to detect the existence of said arc.

Claim 7

Continuous electrode welding apparatus comprising: a. means for continuously supplying consumable electrode wire into an elongated weld zone; b. a sliding electrical current connection to said wire; c. means for driving said wire and sliding connection over said elongated weld zone; d. sensing means positioned to sense at least two aligned vertically spaced areas along a preselected welding arc length extending from the consuming end of said wire to said weld zone, said sensing means being further disposed to signal the existence of said arc within each said spaced area; and e. means responsive to said sensing means for changing at least one arc influencing parameter to bring said arc back into the area of detection of each of said sensing means whenever at least one of said sensing means fails to detect the existence of said arc.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said sensing means consists essentially of two individual sensing devices synchronized in movement with said sliding connection, one said device being positioned to sense an area substantially adjacent said weld zone and the other said device being positioned to sense an area substantially adjacent the consuming end of said wire electrode, said means responsive to said sensing means for changing at least one arc-influencing parameter consisting of means disposed to relatively raise said sliding connection when the sensing device positioned to sense an area substantially adjacent said weld zone fails to detect the existence of said arc and to relatively lower said sliding connection when the sensing device positioned to sense an area substantially adjacent said consuming electrode fails to detect the existence of said arc.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said sensing means consists essentially of two individual sensing devices positioned to sense spaced areas within a weld zone that consists of a gap between adjacent spaced workpieces, said devices being synchronized in movement with said sliding connection in a direction parallel with the elongated weld zone while being spaced relative to said zone, said sliding connection being capable of independent movement normal to said weld zone, one said device being positioned to sense an area that is deeper within said gap than the area sensed by the other sensor, said means responsive to said sensing means for changing at least one arc-influencing parameter consisting of means disposed to lower said sliding contact when the sensing device positioned to sense an area that is deeper within said gap than the area sensed by the other device fails to detect the existence of an arc and being disposed to raise said sliding contact when said other sensing device fails to detect the existence of an arc.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 including means for increasing and decreasing the speed at which said electrode and said sliding contact passes over said weld zone, said means being responsive to increase said speed when the sensing device positioned to sense an area that is deeper within said gap fails to detect the existence of an arc and to decrease said speed when said other sensing device fails to detect the existence of an arc.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 7 including means for increasing and decreasing the feed rate at which said consumable electrode wire is fed to said weld zone, said means being responsive to increase said feed rate when the sensing device positioned to sense an area that is deeper within said gap fails to deTect the existence of an arc and to decrease said feed rate when said other sensing device fails to detect the existence of an arc.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 7 including means for increasing and decreasing both the speed at which said electrode and sliding contact pass over said weld zone and the speed at which said consumable electrode wire is fed to said weld zone, said means being responsive to increase both said speeds when the sensing device positioned to sense an area that is deeper within said gap fails to detect the existence of an arc and to decrease both said speeds when said other sensing device fails to detect the existence of an arc.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said sensing means consists essentially of two individual sensing devices positioned to sense spaced areas within a weld zone that consists of a gap between adjacent spaced workpieces, said devices being synchronized in movement with said sliding contact in a direction parallel with the elongated weld zone, and being spaced from said weld zone, one said device being positioned to sense an area that is deeper within said gap than the area sensed by the other sensor, said means responsive to said sensing means for changing at least one arc-influencing parameter consisting of means for increasing and decreasing the speed at which said electrode and sliding contact pass over said weld zone, said means being responsive to increase said speed when the sensing device positioned to sense an area that is deeper within said gap fails to detect the existence of an arc and to decrease said speed when said other sensing device fails to detect the existence of an arc.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said sensing means consists essentially of two individual sensing devices positioned to sense spaced areas within a weld zone that consists of a gap between adjacent spaced workpieces, said devices being synchronized in movement with said sliding contact in a direction parallel with the elongated weld zone, and being spaced from said weld zone, one said device being positioned to sense an area that is deeper within said gap than the area sensed by the other sensor, said means responsive to said sensing means for changing at least one arc-influencing parameter consisting of means for increasing and decreasing the feed rate at which said consumable electrode wire is fed to said weld zone, said means being responsive to increase said feed rate when the sensing device positioned to sense an area that is deeper within said gap fails to detect the existence of an arc and to decrease said feed rate when said other sensing device fails to detect the existence of an arc.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 11 including means for increasing and decreasing the feed rate at which said consumable electrode wire is fed to said weld zone, said means being responsive to increase said feed rate when the sensing device positioned to sense an area that is deeper within said gap fails to detect the existence of an arc and to decrease said feed rate when said other sensing device fails to detect the existence of an arc.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said sliding electrical contact is mounted in an electrode holder and said means for changing at least one arc-influencing parameter consists of relatively raising and lowering said holder.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said sensing means each consists of an elongated housing provided with opposing masks formed with aligned openings positioned to permit arc light penetration of both said openings from preselected areas of said arc, optic fibers aligned with the opening most remote from said arc leading to a photo electric cell that is disposed to generate an electric current from said arc light to said means for changing at least one arc-influencing parameter to bring said arc back into the area of detection of each of said sensing means whenever at least one of said sensing means fails to detect the existence of said arc, said signal consisting of the interruptIon of said current.

Claim 18

A sensing means for automatically controlling the position of an electric arc comprising: a. a pair of spaced sensing means disposed to sense at least two preselected aligned vertically spaced areas along the length of said electric arc; and b. control means responsive to said sensing means restoring said arc to within the view of both said sensing means when one of said sensing means fails to sense said arc.

Claim 19

A sensing means for automatically controlling the position of an electric arc comprising: a. a pair of spaced sensing means disposed to sense at least two preselected aligned vertically spaced areas along the length of said electric arc; and b. control means responsive to said sensing means restoring said arc to within the view of both said sensing means when one of said sensing means fails to sense said arc.