Patent ID: 9636785
Date: 2017-05-02
CPC Classifications: B23K

Claim:
1. A tractor unit for a welding system, comprising: a drive gear configured to engage a track gear on a guide track; a clutch mechanism for selectively engaging the drive gear to the guide track, the clutch mechanism includes a clutch lever operable between a first position and second position respectively corresponding to a first state in which the drive gear is engaged to the track gear and a second state in which the drive gear is disengaged from the track gear; one or more rolling devices configured to freely move on one or more rails of the guide track; a mounting mechanism for selectively clamping the one or more rolling devices to the one or more rails, the mounting mechanism includes a clamp lever operable between a first position and a second position respectively corresponding to a first state in which the one or more rolling devices are clamped and a second state in which the one or more rolling devices are undamped; and a locking mechanism configured to secure the clutch lever in the first position to prevent operation to the second position, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking tab extending transversely to an elongated portion of the clutch lever in the first position, the locking tab having a hole configured to receive a pin and to guide the pin over the elongated portion of the clutch lever.