Wire feeder having changeable housing

A modular portable welding wire feeder housed in a easily removable and interchangeable housing. The wire feeder includes a wire feeding module conveniently mounted inside of the housing. The housing is configured so that it may easily be removed from the wire feeing module, thereby allowing the housing to be easily replaced or exchanged as needed by the user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to a welding wire feeder. More specifically, the present invention relates to a welding wire feeder having a changeable housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Welding wire feeder systems are commonly integrated with or used in conjunction with an arc welder to feed a wire electrode to a workpiece. Typically, the wire feeder is used in conjunction with a GMAW or FCAW arc welding process. The normal welding environment is a severe test for welding equipment, especially portable wire feeders. Wire feeders are often dropped, bombarded with sparks from grinding, placed on hot welds and used as step stools and props. Over time, this harsh treatment degrades both the appearance and integrity of a wire feeder's exterior housing or case. It would be highly desirable to replace the case of a wire feeder once it degrades, particularly if the wire feeder is owned by a rental agency.

To date, it has generally been difficult to replace a degraded wire feeder case without disassembling the feeder's functional or electrical components.

The described invention allows for a wire feeder capable of accepting more than one housing (also known as a case or a skin). The wire feeder is designed in a manner such that the entire internal wire feeder assembly may be easily removed from one housing and placed into another. The housings may be made of plastic, carbon fiber, sheet metal or a combination thereof, as well as other known materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As stated above, the present invention relates to a wire feeder comprising a wire feeding module, a housing configured to enclose the wire feeding module, and one or more attachment means for attaching the housing to the wire feeding module, wherein the wire feeding module is configured to feed wire independent of the housing, and wherein the housing can be removed from the wire feeder without breaking any electrical connections.

Various embodiments of the present invention will be discussed below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The welding wire feeder of the present invention allows a user to easily switch between housings on a welding wire feeder. The welding wire feeder has a wire feeding module that operates independently of a welding wire feeder housing. This allows for easy removal of the welding wire feeding module from the housing without breaking any electrical connections and without disassembling functional components of the welding wire feeding module. Accordingly, welding wire feeders made in accordance with the invention disclosed herein allow for the housings of welding wire feeders to be quickly and easily removed and replaced.

Various embodiments of the present invention will be discussed below with reference toFIGS. 1-3wherein similar elements are given the same reference numbers.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1, a wire feeder100includes a wire feeder housing110, a wire feeding module120, one or more attachment members130for securely attaching wire feeder housing110to wire feeding module120. Wire feeder100can also include a carrying handle150. In this embodiment, housing110includes an access panel110a. Access panel110ais connected to housing110by hinges or other known means to allow access panel110ato be easily moved, rotated and/or slid to provide access to the functional components of wire feeding module120without removing housing110in its entirety. While such an access panel may be included, it is not required.

In this embodiment, wire feeding module120is a fully functional wire feeder that can be operated without housing110being attached thereto. No electrical connections are required to be broken when housing110is removed from wire feeding module120. While it may still be necessary to disconnect a control cable and/or electrode cable when removing the housing, no internal electrical connections inside wire feeding module120are required to be broken. Wire feeder100is thus able to continue to function even in the absence of wire feeder housing110. Because housing110serves as a protective housing, and not a functional, integral component of wire feeding module120, housing110can be easily removed and replaced without affecting the operation of wire feeding module120.

When assembled as shown inFIG. 1, housing110function as a protective skin covering wire feeding module120, prevents deleterious materials, e.g., dirt, sparks, water, from coming in contact with wire feeding module120. Unlike in conventional wire feeders, here, housing110is not a functional component of the wire feeder100, but is instead a protective skin cover the wire feeding module120.

One or more attachment members130attach housing110to wire feeding module120. Attachment members130be any type of attachment mechanism that allows secure attachment, e.g., screws, bolts, and pins such as clevis, cotter, or detent ring pins. Other types of attachment mechanisms may, of course, be used.

As shown inFIGS. 2-3, a wire feeder100can also include a carrying handle150and access panel handles140. Carrying handle150allows a user to transport wire feeder100from location to location as needed. Access panel handles140provide a means to open access panel110ato gain access to wire feeding module120while housing110is attached to wire feeding module120.

Wire feeing module120may also include an assembly guide160a, and housing110may also include an assembly guide160b. Here, assembly guide160bis a raised notch on the interior surface of housing110that aligns with an assembly guide160a, shown inFIGS. 2-3as a notch on wire feeding module120. Other known means can be employed to ensure proper alignment and/or orientation of the wire feeding module120with the housing110.

Of course, it is contemplated wire feeder100can be configured in any way such that the spirit of the invention is maintained, and the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment discussed above.

The present invention has been described with certain embodiments and applications. These can be combined and interchanged without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Namely, the present invention can be used in any application in which an easily removable housing is desirable, such as a welding or cutting power source. The invention as defined in these appended claims is incorporated by reference herein as if part of the description of the novel features of the present invention.