Patent GB-553083-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to electrodes or welding rods for use in automatic electric arc welding apparatus
IPC: B23K35/02
Filed: 1942-01-29
Abstract: 553,083. Uniting by fusion. PETERS & CO., Ltd., G. D., and NEEDHAM, R. Jan. 29, 1942, No, 1233. [Class 83 (iv)] The adjacent ends of successive lengths of fluxcoated electrodes in an automatic arc welding apparatus are coupled together end to end without removing any material quantity of flux by one or more metal or alloy staple-like linking members having legs engaging diametral holes in the adjacent portions of the rods, the bridge portions extending longitudinally of the rods and being disposed externally of the flux. A single staple of wire, rod or metal strip may be used the ends of the limbs 5, 6, which are a push fit in the holes 7, 8 in the rods 1, 2, being short of or reaching the surface of the coatings 3, 4 or extending beyond such surfaces, in which case the projecting ends are bent over. The bridge portion 9 and the bent over ends, when used, make contact with a rod guide in the apparatus to pick up welding current therefrom. The guide which may be of the kind described in Specification 549,221 may have grooves to engage and guide the bridge portions 9 during feed of the rods. To increase the contact area the bridge portion may pass through a hole in a washer 12 inserted between the ends of the rods and of diameter greater than that of the coated rods. In another form the staple after passing through the rods, passes through one or more holes in a plate 13 which is shaped to fit the rods. Two or more staples may alternatively be used to increase the contact area and render the joint more rigid Two staples may pass through different pairs of holes in the same longitudinal central plane with bridges on opposite sides of the rods or may be arranged in central planes at right angles to each other. In the latter case the staples may also pass through holes in one or more plates fitting round the rods. If three staples are used they may be in planes intersecting each other at the axial centre line preferably at 120 degrees to each other. They may also pass through plates as in the previous example. In a further form a single linking element may be formed with one short leg and one long leg the latter after passing through the rod being bent and passed through other holes in both rods. In a further form both legs are long and the free portions after passing through the rods are bent to bridge the joint between the rods at 15, 16, Fig. 15, and the ends 25, 26 again bent and entered into holes 18, 17 in the rods 2, 1. In another form, Fig. 19, a staple 9 with short legs 5, 6 couples the rods together and in the other ends of the holes are placed one limb of each of a pair of other staples 39. their other limbs passing through further holes in the rods. The bridge portions act as additional current contacts. Such an arrangement may be produced by using a single long-legged linking member the legs after passing through the rods being bent over away from each other and their extreme end portions extend into the holes 37, 38. Members such as 39 may be inserted at intervals in long lengths of rod where the current pick-up surface at the joints is insufficient to provide the requisite contact with the rod guides at all times. In order that the holes at opposite ends of rods connected by a single staple may be disposed in the same longitudinal plane, the two holes may be drilled simultaneously by a multiple drilling machine or a rod drilled at one end may be dropped over a peg to prevent rotation while the other end is drilled.