Welding head with toggle clamp

Claim 2

An inert gas welder comprising a body portion, a welding chamber, an electrode, a carrier means for carrying said electrode along a path, and a clamping means for clamping a tubular workpiece to be welded adjacent said path; said clamping means including a first clamping portion having a first contoured clamping surface, first attachment means for securing said first clamping portion to said body portion, a second clamping portion having a second contoured clamping surface for cooperating with said first clamping surface to clamp said workpiece adjacent said path, and a second attachment means for securing said second clamping portion to said body portion and for moving said second clamping portion between an open position away from said first clamping portion and a closed position adjacent said first clamping portion; and said second attachment means including handle means movable along a handle path, and spring means interconnecting said handle means and said second clamping portion for permitting movement of said handle means along said handle path when said second clamping portion is in said closed position.

Claim 3

An inert gas welder as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring means provides the sole means for transmitting force between said handle means and said second clamping portion.

Claim 4

An inert gas welder as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second attachment means includes overcenter locking means for locking said handle means in a predetermined position along said handle path.

Claim 5

An inert gas welder comprising a body portion, a welding chamber, an electrode, a carrier means for carrying said electrode along a path, and a clamping means for clamping a tubular workpiece to be welded adjacent said path; said clamping means including a first clamping portion having a first contoured clamping surface, first attachment means for securing said first clamping portion to said body portion, a second clamping portion having a second contoured clamping surface for cooperating with said first clamping surface to clamp said workpiece adjacent said path, and a second attachment means for securing said second clamping portion to said body portion and for moving said second clamping portion between an open position away from said first clamping portion and a closed position adjacent said first clamping portion; said second attachment means including handle means movable along a first path between a first position and a second position for moving said second clampinG portion between said open position and said closed position, said handle means being further movable along a second path between said second position and a third position, link means for transmitting a force applied to said handle means to said second clamping portion and for multiplying said force applied to said handle means solely when said second clamping portion is in said closed position and said handle means is moved from said second position to said third position, and said link means including spring means for applying said increased force to said second clamping portion when said second clamping portion is in said closed position.

Claim 6

An inert gas welder comprising a body portion, a welding chamber, an electrode, a carrier means for carrying said electrode along a path, and a clamping means for clamping a tubular workpiece to be welded adjacent said path; said clamping means including a first clamping portion having a first contoured clamping surface, first attachment means for securing said first clamping portion to said body portion, a second clamping portion having a second contoured clamping surface for cooperating with said first clamping surface to clamp said workpiece adjacent said path, and a second attachment means for securing said second clamping portion to said body portion and for moving said second clamping portion between an open position away from said first clamping portion and a closed position adjacent said first clamping portion; said second attachment means including handle means movable along a first path between a first position and a second position for moving said second clampinG portion between said open position and said closed position, said handle means being further movable along a second path between said second position and a third position, link means for transmitting a force applied to said handle means to said second clamping portion and for multiplying said force applied to said handle means solely when said second clamping portion is in said closed position and said handle means is moved from said second position to said third position, and said link means including spring means for applying said increased force to said second clamping portion when said second clamping portion is in said closed position.

Claim 7

An inert gas welder as set forth in claim 4 wherein said body portion includes means for defining said first path of movement of said handle means, and said link means includes means for defining said second path of movement of said handle means.

Claim 8

An inert gas welder as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first path is a substantially straight line, and said second path is angularly related to said first path.

Claim 9

An inert gas welder as set forth in claim 6 wherein said angular relationship is substantially a right angle.

Claim 10

An inert gas welder as set forth in claim 4 wherein said link means includes a locking means for locking said handle means in said third position.

Claim 11

An inert gas welder as set forth in claim 4 including a pivotal member disposed on said body portion, said handle means including a hand receiving portion, socket means on said handle means for engaging said pivotal member when said handle means is in said second position and for permitting said handle means to rotate thereabout along said second path to said third position, a link member pivotally connected to said handle means at a pivotal axis, the distance between said pivotal axis and said pivotal member being less than the distance between said hand receiving portion and said pivotal member, said link member being pivotally connected to a means for transmitting force to said second clamping portion, and rotation of said handle means about said pivotal member to said third position displacing said first pivotal axis from one side of said pivotal member to another side of said pivotal member to lock said second clamping portion in said closed position.

Claim 12

An inert gas welder as set forth in claim 4 wherein said second contoured clamping surface includes a first surface means for engaging said workpiece on one side of said path and a second surface means for engaging said workpiece on the other side of said path; and said link means includes a first link operatively connecting said handle means and said first contoured means, a second link operatively connecting said handle means and said second surface means, and a locking means for locking said handle means in said third position.

Claim 13

An inert gas welder as set forth in claim 10 wherein said spring means includes a first spring acting between said first link and said first surface means, and a second spring acting between said second link and said second surface means.