Patent ID: 6610958
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
A wire guide apparatus for use with a welding system, the wire guide apparatus comprising:a drive mechanism attached to a welding torch of the welding system by a mounting arm adapted to adjust a position of the drive mechanism in relation to the welding torch, the mounting arm including a first bracket attached to the welding torch and a tube member attached the drive mechanism, the tube member in sliding engagement with the first bracket to vary the position of the drive mechanism and the guide assembly relative to the welding torch, and the tube member arced to change an entry angle formed by an axis of the wire guide relative to a horizontal plane; and a guide assembly attached to the drive mechanism, the guide assembly comprising: a second bracket by which the guide assembly is attached to the drive mechanism; a wire guide through which the filler wire is passed, the wire guide having a distal end located proximal to a welding tip of the welding torch; and a first adjustor and a second adjustor attached to the second bracket to position the wire guide relative to the welding tip, the first adjustor and the second adjustor adapted to move the wire guide along axes perpendicular to one another and to a longitudinal axis of the wire guide.