Abstract A combination of arc welding equipment and electrodes for depositing cladding material on the surface of a workpiece. The combination generally includes a welding head which carries at least two adjacently spaced continuously replenished consumable electrodes of cladding materials into arc welding relationship with respect to the workpiece to deposit a weld bead of cladding material thereon. Arcing current to the electrode is maintained while arcs are moved with respect to and over the workpiece surface and cladding material from the electrodes deposited thereon. At least one of the electrodes is positioned in lagging relationship with respect to the next adjacent electrode and laterally thereof so it deposits cladding behind and laterally of the next adjacent electrode for forming a weld bead with a more desirable contour for later fusion with a subsequently deposited weld bead. The electrode which subsequently fuses a later deposited weld bead with a previously deposited weld bead is preferably oriented over the lagging edge of the previously deposited weld bead and acts as an anode with respect to the workpiece, whereas the lagging electrode acts as a cathode with respect to the workpiece.
In a multiple-arc clAdding process having a plurality of consumable electrodes mounted in a welding head for movement relative to and over a workpiece surface for deposition of cladding metal thereon and having means for supplying arcing current to the electrodes, the steps of the process comprising forming a weld bead edge from a lagging straight polarity end electrode positioned laterally and behind other adjacently spaced straight polarity depositing electrodes, and depositing metal along the weld bead edge formed by the lagging electrode from a reverse polarity electrode spaced adjacent the other straight polarity electrodes and positioned laterally and forward of the lagging electrode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a multiple-arc clAdding process having a plurality of consumable electrodes mounted in a welding head for movement relative to and over a workpiece surface for deposition of cladding metal thereon and having means for supplying arcing current to the electrodes, the steps of the process comprising forming a weld bead edge from a lagging straight polarity end electrode positioned laterally and behind other adjacently spaced straight polarity depositing electrodes, and depositing metal along the weld bead edge formed by the lagging electrode from a reverse polarity electrode spaced adjacent the other straight polarity electrodes and positioned laterally and forward of the lagging electrode.