Resistance welding gun and apparatus

Claim 2

A resistance welding apparatus for welding a balance weight on a rotary part, said apparatus comprising: a base, positionable in a fixed relative orientation to the rotary part to be balanced; an arm cooperating with the base and having an end shiftable between a retracted position clear of the rotary part and an operational position a fixed distance from the part; a first fluid-powered cylinder having a cylinder housing attached to the end of the arm and a cylinder rod axially shiftable relative to the cylinder housing between a retracted position and an extended position; a bracket rigidly affixed to the cylinder rod; a first electrode attached to and electrically insulated from the bracket; guide means for limiting bracket rotation in the plane perpendicular to the cylinder rod while providing lateral support for translational motion of the bracket; and a transducer cooperating with the arm and the bracket indicating the relative position between the bracket and the arm for generating a signal indicative of said relative position.

Claim 3

The resistance welding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the guide means comprises: a guide way spaced from and parallel to the axis of the cylinder rod; and a slide, cooperating with the guide way, said guide way and said slide coupled to the arm and the bracket to allow translationary motion while preventing rotational motion.

Claim 4

The resistance welding apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a sliding track coupled to the base allowing translational positioning of the base between a retracted position and an operational position; and a stop for limiting translational motion of the base to the operational position.

Claim 5

The resistance welding apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second fluid-powered cylinder cooperating with the base and arm for pivoting the arm with respect to the base.

Claim 6

The resistance welding apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a ground electrode electrically connectable to the rotary part in close proximity to the first electrode.

Claim 7

The resistance welding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cylinder rod is oriented radially from the rotary part.

Claim 8

The resistance welding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer is displaced from, and parallel to the cylinder rod axis.

Claim 9

The resistance welding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducer employs substantially nonmagnetic stainless steel sheathing.

Claim 10

A resistance welding apparatus comprising; a base; a positioning arm which is pivotably coupled to the base; a first electrode having an electrode shank; an electrode holder for securing the first electrode by securing the electrode shank; an electrode terminal electrically coupled to the electrode holder and the first electrode; an electrode positioning bracket, mechanically coupled to and electrically insulated from the electrode holder; a first actuator means for pivoting the positioning arm with respect to the base; a second actuator means, mechanically coupled to the electrode positioning bracket, for translating the bracket with respect to the positioning arm; a translation sensor for measuring relative position of the electrode positioning bracket with respect to the positioning arm by generating an electrical position signal indicative of the relative position; a sensor clamp for securing the translation sensor to the positioning arm and for providing electrical isolation between the arm and the sensor; stop means for limiting the pivot of the positioning arm to a fixed position with respect to the base.

Claim 11

A resistance welding apparatus comprising; a base; a positioning arm which is pivotably coupled to the base; a first electrode having an electrode shank; an electrode holder for securing the first electrode by securing the electrode shank; an electrode terminal electrically coupled to the electrode holder and the first electrode; an electrode positioning bracket, mechanically coupled to and electrically insulated from the electrode holder; a first actuator means for pivoting the positioning arm with respect to the base; a second actuator means, mechanically coupled to the electrode positioning bracket, for translating the bracket with respect to the positioning arm; a translation sensor for measuring relative position of the electrode positioning bracket with respect to the positioning arm by generating an electrical position signal indicative of the relative position; a sensor clamp for securing the translation sensor to the positioning arm and for providing electrical isolation between the arm and the sensor; stop means for limiting the pivot of the positioning arm to a fixed position with respect to the base.

Claim 12

The resistance welding apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a bracket stabilization shaft for stabilizing the electrode positioning bracket during translation, comprising: a shaft bushing, operatively coupled to the electrode positioning bracket to allow motion translationary motion between the bracket and the shaft; one or more shaft clamps operatively coupled to the positioning arm so as to secure the shaft with respect to the arm.

Claim 13

The resistance welding apparatus of claim 9 wherein the base is on a sliding track.

Claim 14

The resistance welding apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a second electrode in electrical connection with the first part in close proximity to the first electrode.

Claim 15

The resistance welding apparatus of claim 9 further comprising diagnostic means for determining improper first electrode positioning based upon the position signal.

Claim 16

The resistance welding apparatus of claim 9 further comprising diagnostic means for determining an indication of weld quality based upon the position signal.

Claim 17

The resistance welding apparatus of claim 9 further comprising diagnostic means for determining an amount of first electrode wear based upon the position signal.

Claim 18

The resistance welding apparatus of claim 9 wherein the transducer is displaced from, and parallel to the cylinder rod axis.

Claim 19

The resistance welding apparatus of claim 9 wherein the sensor employs substantially nonmagnetic stainless steel sheathing.