Patent ID: 6448531
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
An apparatus for providing a welding bead on a surface, the apparatus comprising:a first hollow arm being connected to a second hollow arm by a swivel bearing, and a remote end of the second hollow arm supporting a nozzle surrounding a welding tip for facilitating welding on a surface; a hollow spindle having opposed first and second open ends with the second open end of the spindle supporting the first hollow arm, and at least a portion of an exterior surface of the spindle having a thread formed thereon; the drive coupled to the spindle for supplying rotational drive to the spindle and causing rotation thereof; a clutch located adjacent the exterior threaded surface of the spindle; a housing accommodating the clutch, the drive and at least a portion of the spindle; and the clutch having an engaged position in which the clutch engages with the thread carried by the exterior surface of the spindle to cause axial movement of the spindle, relative to the housing, when the spindle is rotated by the drive, to facilitate the nozzle depositing a spiral weld on the surface to be welded and a disengaged position in which the clutch is sufficiently spaced from the thread carried by the exterior surface of the spindle such that the spindle is axially movable relative to the housing.