Patent ID: 9029734
Filing Date: 2015-05-12
Classification: B23K,B65H

Abstract:
1. A retractable wire feed system used within a welder, comprising: a friction-drive system disposed on a first side of a wire; an idle drive roll located opposite the friction-drive system on a second side of a wire, wherein the friction-drive system advances the wire through a welding nozzle toward a workpiece; and a brake, which is applied to retract the wire when a predetermined condition is met, the brake comprising a wheel having a bore disposed therethrough, the bore having an ingress on a distal side of the wheel and an egress on an opposed proximal side, the wire traveling through a sleeve disposed concentrically around the wire in the bore, the brake located upstream from the friction-drive system and idle drive roll relative to the welding nozzle, wherein the brake retracts the wire relative to the workpiece upon pivotal rotational movement of the wheel; and a slip clutch that couples the friction-drive system to a drive system, the slip clutch engaged at substantially the same time as application of the brake.