Stud welding gun and method of operation

Claim 2

Apparatus for attaching to a relatively stationary object a stud assembly having a relatively fixed portion and a movable portion movable between a first position and a second position, said apparatus comprising: welding terminal means for conducting an electrical current through a stud assembly having a relatively fixed portion and a movable portion movable between a first and a second position, said welding terminal means being operable to weld the relatively fixed portion of the stud assembly to a stationary object; engagement means defined by said welding terminal means for engaging the movable portion of the stud assembly; displacement means for displacing said engagement means when said engagement means engages the movable portion of the stud assembly to move the movable portion of the stud assembly from the first position to the second position; torque control means for controlling a torque imposed on the stud assembly by said engagement means when said displacement means displaces said engagement means; and force control means for controlling a normal force imposed on the stud assembly by said engagement means when said engagement means engages the movable portion of the stud assembly.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said displacement means comprises rotation means for rotating the movable portion of the stud assembly.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said engagement means is terminated by a frustro-conical engagement head.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said torque control means comprises said frustro-conical engagement head having an exterior surface operable to frictionally engage the movable portion of the stud assembly to provide a torque sufficient to move the movable portion of the stud assembly from the first position to the second position and slippingly engage the movable portion of the stud assembly when a predetermined torque is achieved.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said force control means comprises spring means for urging said engagement means towards the stud assembly with a predetermined force.

Claim 7

Apparatus for attaching to a relatively stationary object a stud assembly having a relatively fixed portion and a movable portion movable between a first position and a second position, said apparatus comprising: handle means for manually gripping said apparatus; stud assembly engaging means supportable by said handle means for engaging at least a movable portion of a stud assembly having a relatively fixed portion and a movable portion movable between a first position and a second position; arc welding means having a terminal defined by said stud assembly engaging means for conducting an electrical current through the stud assembly to arc weld the relatively fixed portion of the stud assembly to a stationary object; displacement means for displacing said engaging means to move the movable portion of the stud assembly from the first position to the second position; torque control means for controlling a torque imposed by said displacement means when said displacement means displaces the movable portion of the stud assembly; force control means for controlling a normal force imposed by said terminal when the electrical current is conducted through the stud assembly; first switch means for electrically energizing said arc welding means; control means for deenergizing said arc welding means after a predetermined time period elapses; and second switch means, operable in response to a deenergizing of said arc welding means upon a lapsing of said time period, for electrically energizing said displacement means.

Claim 8

Apparatus for attaching to a relatively stationary object a stud assembly having a relatively fixed portion and a movable portion movable between a first position and a second position, said apparatus comprising: handle means for manually gripping said apparatus; stud assembly engaging means supportable by said handle means for engaging at least a movable portion of a stud assembly having a relatively fixed portion and a movable portion movable between a first position and a second position; arc welding means having a terminal defined by said stud assembly engaging means for conducting an electrical current through the stud assembly to arc weld the relatively fixed portion of the stud assembly to a stationary object; displacement means for displacing said engaging means to move the movable portion of the stud assembly from the first position to the second position; torque control means for controlling a torque imposed by said displacement means when said displacement means displaces the movable portion of the stud assembly; force control means for controlling a normal force imposed by said terminal when the electrical current is conducted through the stud assembly; first switch means for electrically energizing said arc welding means; control means for deenergizing said arc welding means after a predetermined time period elapses; and second switch means, operable in response to a deenergizing of said arc welding means upon a lapsing of said time period, for electrically energizing said displacement means.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said displacement means comprises rotation means for rotating the movable portion of the stud assembly.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said engagement means is terminated by a frustro-conical engagement head.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said torque control means comprises said frustro-conical engagement head having an exterior surface operable to frictionally engage the movable portion of the stud assembly to provide a torque sufficient to move the movable portion of the stud assembly from the first position to the second position and slippingly engage the movable portion of the stud assembly when a predetermined torque is achieved.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said force control means comprises spring means for urging said engagement means towards the stud assembly with a predetermined force.

Claim 13

Apparatus for attaching to a relatively stationary object a stud assembly having a relatively fixed portion with external threads and a movable portion having internal threads and movable between a first position and a second position, said apparatus comprising: a welding terminal for conducting electrical current to a stud assembly having a relatively fixed portion with external threads and a movable portion having internal threads and movable between a first position and a second position, said welding terminal being operable to conduct an electrical current sufficient to weld the relatively fixed portion of the stud assembly to a stationary object; and rotation means for rotating said welding terminal to thread the movable portion of the stud assembly onto the relatively fixed portion of the stud assembly; said welding terminal having an external surface operable to frictionally engage the movable portion of the stud assembly to provide a torque sufficient to move the movable portion of the stud assembly from the first position to the second position and slippingly engage the movable portion of the stud assembly when a predetermined torque is achieved when said rotation means rotates said welding terminal.

Claim 14

Apparatus for attaching to a relatively stationary object a stud assembly having a relatively fixed portion with external threads and a movable portion having internal threads and movable between a first position and a second position, said apparatus comprising: a welding terminal for conducting electrical current to a stud assembly having a relatively fixed portion with external threads and a movable portion having internal threads and movable between a first position and a second position, said welding terminal being operable to conduct an electrical current sufficient to weld the relatively fixed portion of the stud assembly to a stationary object; and rotation means for rotating said welding terminal to thread the movable portion of the stud assembly onto the relatively fixed portion of the stud assembly; said welding terminal having an external surface operable to frictionally engage the movable portion of the stud assembly to provide a torque sufficient to move the movable portion of the stud assembly from the first position to the second position and slippingly engage the movable portion of the stud assembly when a predetermined torque is achieved when said rotation means rotates said welding terminal.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said welding terminal comprises a frustro-conical engagement head.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 12 and further comprising force control means for controlling a normal force imposed on the stud assembly by said welding terminal when said welding terminal engages the movable portion of the stud assembly.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said force control means comprises spring means for urging said engagement means towards the stud assembly with a predetermined force.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 12 and further comprising: first switch means for electrically energizing said welding terminal; control means for deenergizing said welding terminal after a predetermined time period elapses; and second switch means, operable in response to a deenergizing of said welding terminal upon a lapsing of said time period, for supplying an energizing force to said rotation means.

Claim 19

Apparatus for attaching to a relatively stationary object a stud assembly having a stud, a threaded member threaded to the stud and an elongate guide axially disposed adjacent the stud, said apparatus comprising: a welding terminal for conducting an electrical current through a stud assembly, the stud assembly having a stud, a threaded member threaded to the stud and an elongate guide axially disposed adjacent the stud, to weld the stud to a relatively fixed object, said welding terminal comprising; a first interior wall defining a guide-receiving zone interior said welding terminal to receive the guide to direct said welding terminal to the threaded member, an engagement head defined by a second interior wall for engaging an exterior surface of the threaded member when said welding terminal is guided to the threaded member, and rotation means for rotating said welding terminal to thread the threaded member onto the stud.

Claim 20

Apparatus for attaching to a relatively stationary object a stud assembly having a stud, a threaded member threaded to the stud and an elongate guide axially disposed adjacent the stud, said apparatus comprising: a welding terminal for conducting an electrical current through a stud assembly, the stud assembly having a stud, a threaded member threaded to the stud and an elongate guide axially disposed adjacent the stud, to weld the stud to a relatively fixed object, said welding terminal comprising; a first interior wall defining a guide-receiving zone interior said welding terminal to receive the guide to direct said welding terminal to the threaded member, an engagement head defined by a second interior wall for engaging an exterior surface of the threaded member when said welding terminal is guided to the threaded member, and rotation means for rotating said welding terminal to thread the threaded member onto the stud.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said welding terminal comprises means operable to carry away the elongate guide after the threaded member is threaded to the stud and said welding terminal is removed from the stud assembly.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said welding terminal includes a tapered head.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said engagement head comprises means for engaging the threaded member.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 16 and further comprising: current timing means for controlling a duration of electrical current deliverable to said welding terminal; and rotation controlling means for controlling a duration of rotation of said rotation means.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 16 and further comprising force control means for controlling a normal force imposed by said welding terminal when said welding terminal is brought into contact with the stud assembly.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said force control means comprises spring means for urging said welding terminal toward the stud assembly with a predetermined force.

Claim 29

The method of claim 23 wherein a duration of said directing step is automatically controlled.

Claim 30

The method of claim 24 wherein the terminating and rotating steps are automatically sequenced.

Claim 33

The method of claim 26 wherein a duration of said directing step is automatically controlled.

Claim 34

The method of claim 26 wherein the terminating and rotating steps are automatically sequenced.