Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A gas-shielded metal-arc welding process comprising: (a) applying a sufficient voltage to a consumable metal electrode to establish an arc in a gas shielded environment; (b) supplying a direct current of about 15 to 80 amps to said electrode and pulsing said direct current at a frequency of from about 5000 to 25,000 pulses per second to a first maximum amplitude of from about 100 to 125% of the minimum current required to produce a spray transfer of metal from said electrode; (c) cyclically increasing the first maximum amplitude of said pulsating direct current at a frequency of from about 90 to 400 cycles per second to a second maximum amplitude of from about 150 to 600% of the minimum current required for spray transfer of metal and maintaining said second amplitude for a time of from about 5 to 50% of each cycle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A gas-shielded metal-arc welding process comprising: (a) applying a sufficient voltage to a consumable metal electrode to establish an arc in a gas shielded environment; (b) supplying a direct current of about 15 to 80 amps to said electrode and pulsing said direct current at a frequency of from about 5000 to 25,000 pulses per second to a first maximum amplitude of from about 100 to 125% of the minimum current required to produce a spray transfer of metal from said electrode; (c) cyclically increasing the first maximum amplitude of said pulsating direct current at a frequency of from about 90 to 400 cycles per second to a second maximum amplitude of from about 150 to 600% of the minimum current required for spray transfer of metal and maintaining said second amplitude for a time of from about 5 to 50% of each cycle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said direct current is pulsed at a frequency of from about 10,000 to 20,000 pulses per second.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said first maximum amplitude of said pulsating current is increased to said second maximum amplitude at a frequency of from about 100 to 175 cycles per second.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrode is shielded in a gaseous mixture comprising argon, helium and carbon dioxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said shield gas comprises about 60% helium, about 25% argon and the balance consists essentially of carbon dioxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 1 further comprising automatically feeding said metal electrode into said arc at a controllable rate, automatically moving said electrode in a linear direction and oscillating said arc laterally of said linear direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 6 further including periodically increasing said power input to the arc at a predetermined point in the lateral movement of said arc.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 7 further including oscillating said arc in said linear direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 8 wherein said welding is out-of-position welding.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said consumable metal electrode includes a flux.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said electrode is shielded in a gaseous mixture comprising argon, helium and carbon dioxide.