US3898419A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Welding apparatus
Assignee: WHITEMAN Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1973-03-26
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Granted: 1975-08-05
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Expires: 1993-03-26
Abstract
Abstract In welding equipment of the type providing a push drive for feeding consumable welding wire from a supply reel on a welding unit to a remote interconnected welding gun, a power take-off drive is coupled to the wire pushing drive and coupled to a pull drive mechanism positioned in the welding gun to provide a simultaneous push-pull drive. The pull drive mechanism in the remote gun is designed and driven to provide a pulling speed at the gun which is significantly greater than the pushing speed at the unit to compensate for motion of the welding gun by the operator during use of the equipment.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph E Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:33
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/12; B23K9/133; B23K9/1336
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
Welding apparatus for feeding a consumable wire electrode from a welding unit to a remotely positioned welding gun comprising: a welding unit including a supply of consumable wire electrode thereon; a welding gun positioned remotely from said welding unit for feeding consumable welding electrode to a work piece on command; guide means interconnecting said welding unit to said welding gun for providing a path along which said electrode can travel between said unit and said gun; a housing including pushing drive means, said housing positioned on said welding unit for pushing said electrode along said guide means to said welding gun wherein said pushing drive means includes a drive shaft extending from said housing; pulling drive means on said welding gun for pulling said welding wire through said guide means; a power take-off unit positioned on said welding unit and coupled to said drive means thereon wherein said power take-off unit comprises a drive shaft extender coupled to said drive shaft and including a floating bevel gear thereon adapted to engage an additional bevel gear mounted on a power output shaft extending orthogonally to said shaft extender such that said power take-off unit can be positioned adjacent said housing on said welding unit and said floating bevel gear accommodates for interface surface variations between said power take-off unit and said housing of said push drive means; and drive cable means coupled to said power take-off unit and to said pulling drive means on said gun for actuating said pulling drive means to pull said wire electrode at said gun.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
259 words
Welding apparatus for feeding a consumable wire electrode from a welding unit to a remotely positioned welding gun comprising: a welding unit including a supply of consumable wire electrode thereon; a welding gun positioned remotely from said welding unit for feeding consumable welding electrode to a work piece on command; guide means interconnecting said welding unit to said welding gun for providing a path along which said electrode can travel between said unit and said gun; a housing including pushing drive means, said housing positioned on said welding unit for pushing said electrode along said guide means to said welding gun wherein said pushing drive means includes a drive shaft extending from said housing; pulling drive means on said welding gun for pulling said welding wire through said guide means; a power take-off unit positioned on said welding unit and coupled to said drive means thereon wherein said power take-off unit comprises a drive shaft extender coupled to said drive shaft and including a floating bevel gear thereon adapted to engage an additional bevel gear mounted on a power output shaft extending orthogonally to said shaft extender such that said power take-off unit can be positioned adjacent said housing on said welding unit and said floating bevel gear accommodates for interface surface variations between said power take-off unit and said housing of said push drive means; and drive cable means coupled to said power take-off unit and to said pulling drive means on said gun for actuating said pulling drive means to pull said wire electrode at said gun.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said shaft extension includes an integral drive roller on said drive shaft for pushing said wire electrode when said shaft extension replaces a drive roller associated with said drive means on said welding unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said shaft extender of said power take-off unit includes a segment with a rectangular cross section and said bevel gear includes a rectangular aperture larger than said cross section of said segment and is mounted on said segment to permit said bevel gear to slide along the longitudinal axis of said segment when said power take-off unit is coupled to said drive shaft of said pushing drive means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said pulling drive means pulls said wire electrode at a speed significantly greater than the pushing speed at said welding unit to compensate for motion of the welding gun during use.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-04 | 1979-02-03 | 1979-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-04 | 1983-02-03 | 1983-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-04 | 1987-02-03 | 1987-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |