Structure for and method of mesh welding

Claim 2

Apparatus for welding longitudinally extending linear members at selected spacing to a transversely extending linear member such as in mesh for reinforcing concrete or the like, comprising a plurality of cylindrical welding guns positioned along a length of the transversely extending linear member staggered on each side of the transversely extending linear member, each of said guns being in contact with the immediately adjacent guns, upper electrodes secured to the welding guns positioned off-center of the welding guns over the transversely extending linear member, a plurality of stationary electrodes positioned beneath the welding guns along the transversely extending linear member, and a single means for simultaneously actuating all of the welding guns at the same time to bring all of the electrodes into engagement with either the longitudinally or transversely extending linear members whereby all of the welding guns are active during welds without regard to the spacing between adjacent parallel linear members.

Claim 3

Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the single means for actuating all of the welding guns at one time comprises a single manifold for passing an actuating medium into the welding guns and a single manifold for withdrawing an actuating medium therefrom.

Claim 4

Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein all of the welding guns are positioned on one side of the mesh.

Claim 5

Structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein stationary electrodes are provided on the other side of the mesh, which stationary electrodes are insulated from their mounting structure.

Claim 6

Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein transformers are provided for each separate welding gun to provide electrical energy therefor and all of the transformers are located on one side of the welding guns.

Claim 7

Structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein seven welding guns are positioned over each foot of the transversely extending linear member each having a separate electrode connected thereto and four stationary lower electrodes are provided extending along each foot of the transversely extending linear member and on the opposite side of the mesh from the welding guns.

Claim 8

Structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein the upper electrode secured to the first welding gun has a portion engageable with the linear members at the start of the foot of the transversely extending linear member, the upper electrode secured to the second welding gun includes separate portions enegageable with the transversely extending linear members at two and three inches from the first electrode portion, the upper electrode secured to the third welding gun has a portion engageable with the linear members at 4 inches from the portion of the first electrode, the upper electrode secured to the fourth welding gun has a portion engageable with the linear members at 6 inches from the portion of the first electrode, the electrode secured to the fifth welding gun has a portion engageable with the linear members at 8 inches from the portion of the first electrode, the electrode secured to the sixth welding gun has separate portions engageable with the linear members at 9 and 10 inches from the portion of the first electrode, and the electrode secured to the seventh welding gun has a portion engageable with the linear members 12 inches from the portion of the first electrode.

Claim 9

Structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein the first fixed electrode is positioned below the electrodes on the first and second welding guns, the second fixed electrode is positioned below the electrodes oN the third and fourth welding guns, the third fixed electrode is positioned below the electrodes on the fifth and sixth welding guns, and the fourth fixed electrode is positioned below the electrode on the seventh welding gun and is connected to provide a return electrical path therefor.