Clutch mechanism for welding tools

Claim 2

A lift mechanism for a welding tool comprising a lifting rod, a ball retainer positioned around a portion of said lifting rod and having a recess therein, a ball in said recess and adapted to engage the surface of said lifting rod, a movable core to the rear of said ball retainer and having a cup-like portion extending around said ball retainer, means forming a tapered inner surface on said cup-like portion facing rearwardly to engage said ball and force it against said lifting rod when said core is moved rearwardly, an electrical coil for moving said movable core rearwardly when energized, an adjustable core stop located rearwardly of said movable core, and a locking pin in said movable core having an end extending rearwardly therefrom and adapted to engage said adjustable core stop, the forward end of said locking pin being engageable with said ball retainer to prevent further rearward movement of said ball retainer when said locking pin engages said adjustable core stop.

Claim 3

In a stud welding tool, a housing, a chuck extending forwardly of said housing and mounted for movement in lift and plunge directions, a chuck adapter connected with said chuck at the forward end of said housing, means normally biasing said chuck and said adapter in the plunge direction, a lifting member connected with said chuck adapter and extending rearwardly therefrom, a clamping element retainer around a portion of said lifting member, a movable core located rearwardly of said retainer and having an annular wall extending therearound with an inner, slanted surface, a clamping element held by said retainer and engageable by said slanted surface to move said element against said lifting member when said core is moved rearwardly, means biasing said movable core in a plunge direction to move said inner, slanted surface away from said clamping element whereby said lift rod can move in a lift direction free of said clamping element, means effective to move said movable core in a lift direction, and stop means for limiting the movement of said movable core in the lift direction.

Claim 4

In a stud welding tool, a housing, a chuck extending forwardly of said housing and mounted for movement in lift and plunge directions, a chuck adapter connected with said chuck at the forward end of said housing, means normally biasing said chuck and said adapter in the plunge direction, a lifting member connected with said chuck adapter and extending rearwardly therefrom, a clamping element retainer around a portion of said lifting member, a movable core located rearwardly of said retainer and having an annular wall extending therearound with an inner, slanted surface, a clamping element held by said retainer and engageable by said slanted surface to move said element against said lifting member when said core is moved rearwardly, means biasing said movable core in a plunge direction to move said inner, slanted surface away from said clamping element whereby said lift rod can move in a lift direction free of said clamping element, means effective to move said movable core in a lift direction, and stop means for limiting the movement of said movable core in the lift direction.

Claim 5

A welding tool according to claim 9 characterized by an elongate locking element carried by said movable core and extending rearwardly thereof, said locking element being effective to engage said stop means and to simultaneously engage said retainer to stop movement of said retainer in a lift direction and cause said inner, slanted surface to further urge said clamping element toward said lifting member when said movable core tends to move further in the lift directIon.

Claim 6

A weld tool according to claim 2 characterized by said lifting member extending centrally completely through said movable core and into said stop means.

Claim 7

A lift mechanism for a welding tool comprising a lifting rod, a clamping element retainer positioned around a portion of said lifting rod and having a recess therein, a clamping element positioned in said recess and having an inner portion adapted to extend inwardly from said retainer to engage the surface of said lifting rod, said clmaping elment also having another portion extending outwardly beyond said retainer, a movable core positioned to the rear of said retainer and having a cup-like portion extending around said retainer, means forming a tapered inner surface on said cup-like portion facing rearwardly to engage said clamping element and force it against said lifting rod when said movable core is moved rearwardly, electromagnetic means for moving said movable core rearwardly, when energized, stop means located rearwardly of said movable core, and a locking pin in said movable core having an end extending rearwardly therefrom and adapted to engage said stop means, a forward end of said locking pin being engageable with said retainer to prevent further rearward movement of said retainer when said locking pin engages said stop means.

Claim 8

A lift mechanism for a welding tool comprising a lifting rod, a clamping element retainer positioned around a portion of said lifting rod and having a recess therein, a clamping element positioned in said recess and having an inner portion adapted to extend inwardly from said retainer to engage the surface of said lifting rod, said clmaping elment also having another portion extending outwardly beyond said retainer, a movable core positioned to the rear of said retainer and having a cup-like portion extending around said retainer, means forming a tapered inner surface on said cup-like portion facing rearwardly to engage said clamping element and force it against said lifting rod when said movable core is moved rearwardly, electromagnetic means for moving said movable core rearwardly, when energized, stop means located rearwardly of said movable core, and a locking pin in said movable core having an end extending rearwardly therefrom and adapted to engage said stop means, a forward end of said locking pin being engageable with said retainer to prevent further rearward movement of said retainer when said locking pin engages said stop means.

Claim 9

A lift mechanism according to claim 5 characterized by said clamping element being of spherical shape.

Claim 10

A lift mechanism according to claim 5 characterized by said retainer having a plurality of the recesses located therearound, there being a plurality of said clamping elements in said recesses, and additional locking pins carried by said movable core for engaging said retainer.

Claim 11

In a stud welding tool, a housing, a chuck extending forwardly of said housing and mounted for movement in lift and plunge directions, means biasing said chuck in the plunge direction, lifting means connected with said chuck and extending rearwardly therefrom, a ball retainer having a plurality of recesses therein, a plurality of balls held by said retainer in said recesses and engageable with said lifting means, a movable core located rearwardly of said retainer and having a slanted surface engageable with said balls to urge said balls against said lifting means when said core is moved rearwardly, stop means for limiting the movement of said movable core in the lift direction, and a plurality of locking pins carried by said movable core and having ends extending rearwardly therefrom and adapted to engage said stop means, the forward ends of said locking pins being engageable with said ball retainer to prevent further rearward movement of said ball retainer when said locking pins engage said stop means.

Claim 12

In a stud welding tool, a housing, a chuck extending forwardly of said housing and mounted for movement in lift and plunge directions, means biasing said chuck in the plunge direction, lifting means connected with said chuck and extending rearwardly therefrom, a ball retainer having a plurality of recesses therein, a plurality of balls held by said retainer in said recesses and engageable with said lifting means, a movable core located rearwardly of said retainer and having a slanted surface engageable with said balls to urge said balls against said lifting means when said core is moved rearwardly, stop means for limiting the movement of said movable core in the lift direction, and a plurality of locking pins carried by said movable core and having ends extending rearwardly therefrom and adapted to engage said stop means, the forward ends of said locking pins being engageable with said ball retainer to prevent further rearward movement of said ball retainer when said locking pins engage said stop means.