US4002878A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas tungsten arc welding electrode
Assignee: Utah State University Foundation
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Filing: 1975-07-25
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Granted: 1977-01-11
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Expires: 1995-07-25
Abstract
Abstract An improved electrode and electrode working tip for a gas tungsten arc welding apparatus. The face of the working tip of the electrode is formed as a narrow ring coaxial with the electrode and having an area less than the area of electron emission for the operating currents of the electrode. The reduced area of the narrow annular ring forces the area of electron emission to spread to the immediately adjacent walls. The improved electrode working tip provides a more stable and uniform plasma of reduced diameter for improved precision and repeatability in welds which is the ability to consistently reproduce welding parameters. The electrode tip also has a significantly increased working life.
Inventors
- 👤 John A. Disney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:22
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K9/00; B23K9/16; B23K9/167; B23K10/00; B23K10/02; B23K35/00; B23K35/02; B23K35/0205; B23K9/24; B23K9/28; B23K9/29; B23K9/291; B23K9/296
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
An electrode for use in an inert gas arc welding apparatus having an electrode supplied with power to form a welding arc plasma, the face of the working tip of the electrode comprising a narrow annular ring, the center of the narrow ring being coincident with the axis of the electrode, the surface area of the narrow ring being less than an annular surface formed between a first diameter and a second diameter, the first diameter being equal to 50% of the diameter of the electrode and the second diameter being equal to the diameter of the electrode, the surface area of the narrow annular ring being less than the area of electron emission for the plasma without exceeding the current limitation for the electrode thereby forcing the area of electron emission for the plasma to spread to electrode surface area adjacent the narrow annular ring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
An electrode for use in an inert gas arc welding apparatus having an electrode supplied with power to form a welding arc plasma, the face of the working tip of the electrode comprising a narrow annular ring, the center of the narrow ring being coincident with the axis of the electrode, the surface area of the narrow ring being less than an annular surface formed between a first diameter and a second diameter, the first diameter being equal to 50% of the diameter of the electrode and the second diameter being equal to the diameter of the electrode, the surface area of the narrow annular ring being less than the area of electron emission for the plasma without exceeding the current limitation for the electrode thereby forcing the area of electron emission for the plasma to spread to electrode surface area adjacent the narrow annular ring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrode as defined in claim 1 wherein the narrow annular ring is formed between an external frustoconical taper at the working tip and a coaxial hollow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
An electrode as defined in claim 2 wherein the hollow is a throughbore.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
An electrode as defined in claim 2 wherein the hollow is a recess.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
An electrode as defined in claim 4 wherein the recess is conical.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
An improved electrode for a gas tungsten arc welding process comprising a tubular electrode having a narrow annular ring at the working tip, the ring being formed between the hollow throughbore of the tubular electrode and an external taper at the working tip, the narrow annular ring having an area less than the area of electron emission at the current limitation of the electrode thereby forcing the area of electron emission to include electrode surface area on the working tip adjacent the narrow annular ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
An improved electrode for a gas tungsten arc welding process comprising a tubular electrode having a narrow annular ring at the working tip, the ring being formed between the hollow throughbore of the tubular electrode and an external taper at the working tip, the narrow annular ring having an area less than the area of electron emission at the current limitation of the electrode thereby forcing the area of electron emission to include electrode surface area on the working tip adjacent the narrow annular ring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
An improved electrode tip for an electrode for a gas tungsten arc welding process comprising a working tip having a narrow annular ring formed between an external taper and a coaxial internal taper, the narrow annular ring having an area less than the area of electron emission at the current limitation of the electrode thereby forcing the area of electron emission to include electrode surface area on the working tip adjacent the narrow annular ring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
An improved electrode tip for an electrode for a gas tungsten arc welding process comprising a working tip having a narrow annular ring formed between an external taper and a coaxial internal taper, the narrow annular ring having an area less than the area of electron emission at the current limitation of the electrode thereby forcing the area of electron emission to include electrode surface area on the working tip adjacent the narrow annular ring.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for providing an anchored, more stable plasma for an inert gas arc welding apparatus comprising the steps of: forming a working tip on the electrode comprising a narrow annular ring having a center coincident with the axis of the electrode, the surface area of the narrow annular ring being less than the area of electron emission for the plasma without exceeding the current limitation for the electrode thereby forcing the area of electron emission for the plasma to spread to electrode surface area adjacent the narrow annular ring; shielding the working tip with a flow of inert gas; placing the working tip in proximity to a metal workpiece; and imposing an electrical current on the electrode to force electrons to flow between both the narrow annular ring and adjacent electrode wall surfaces and the metal workpiece, the flowing electrons ionizing the gas and thereby forming a plasma, the narrow annular ring accommodating anchoring and stabilizing the plasma at the tip.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for providing an anchored, more stable plasma for an inert gas arc welding apparatus comprising the steps of: forming a working tip on the electrode comprising a narrow annular ring having a center coincident with the axis of the electrode, the surface area of the narrow annular ring being less than the area of electron emission for the plasma without exceeding the current limitation for the electrode thereby forcing the area of electron emission for the plasma to spread to electrode surface area adjacent the narrow annular ring; shielding the working tip with a flow of inert gas; placing the working tip in proximity to a metal workpiece; and imposing an electrical current on the electrode to force electrons to flow between both the narrow annular ring and adjacent electrode wall surfaces and the metal workpiece, the flowing electrons ionizing the gas and thereby forming a plasma, the narrow annular ring accommodating anchoring and stabilizing the plasma at the tip.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
An improved working tip for a nonconsumable electrode comprising a narrow annular ring on the face of the working tip, the ring being formed adjacent the circle of intersection of a taper with the face, the narrow annular ring having an area less than the area of electron emission at the current limitation of the electrode thereby forcing the area of electron emission to include electrode surface area on the working tip adjacent the narrow annular ring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
An improved working tip for a nonconsumable electrode comprising a narrow annular ring on the face of the working tip, the ring being formed adjacent the circle of intersection of a taper with the face, the narrow annular ring having an area less than the area of electron emission at the current limitation of the electrode thereby forcing the area of electron emission to include electrode surface area on the working tip adjacent the narrow annular ring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
An improved working tip as defined in claim 9 wherein the taper is an internal taper.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
An improved working tip as defined in claim 10 wherein the taper is an external taper.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-01-11 | 1980-07-12 | 1981-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-11 | 1984-07-12 | 1985-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-11 | 1988-07-12 | 1989-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |