Patent GB-177152-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in jigs for use in assembling and electrically welding together the parts of automobile bodies and other structures
IPC: B23K11/00
Filed: 1922-02-21
Abstract: 177,152. Budd Manufacturing Co., E, G., (Assignees of Ledwinka, J.). March 15, 1921, [Convention date]. Welding.-Parts of sheet-metal automobile bodies and other structures are assembled and electrically welded in a jig having a swinging member carrying electrodes adapted to bear at will on either side of the parts to be joined so as to co-operate with movable electrodes. The jig consists of a pair of frames 44, 45, Fig. 1, for supporting the tonneau A, a pair of side standards 29 for supporting the side panels B and front seat portion C, and a pair of side standards 17 and and an end standard 14 for supporting the shroud D. Current is supplied by a transformer at each end of the jig, one for use in welding the tonneau parts and the other for the remaining parts. Between the frames 44, 45, which carry work-supporting bars 46, Fig. 6, are pivoted on rods 47 pairs of swinging members 48, which are connected together to the same side of the transformer secondary by a flexible conductor strip 50<1>, and carry at their opposite ends the conductor bars 49, 50. A pair of fixed conductor bars 54 are arranged outside of and below the tonneau and are connected to the other terminal of the transformer. In order to weld the flange a on the tonneau to the longitudinal body sills e, the swinging members are held down in contact with the body sills by nuts 53 on pivoted studs 51 and the welding circuit is completed by a shiftable bridging member 27, Fig. 12, which rests on the bar 54, and the end 28 of which is forced up against the flange. In order to weld a floor board g, Fig. 7, to the tonneau and sill, the swinging members are reversed as shown, and welding performed by an electrode 55, connected to the same side of the transformer secondary as the bars 54. A transverse conductor bar 68 may be fixed on the frame 45, in electrical connection with the conductors 49, 50 so as to co-operate with the electrode 55 in welding the flange a to a transverse body sill. A pair of standards 60, Fig. 1, are mounted on pivots 61 at opposite ends of the frame 44, and are encircled by pivoted straps 62 adjusted by screws 63 so that they may be withdrawn to facilitate removal of the body after welding. In welding the body sills to the flanges b, Fig. 9, on the side panels B, the upper ends of the side panels are each secured to one of the standards 29 by a clamp 34, and the parts to be welded are clamped on a conductor bar 31 mounted on the standard by a lever 65 operated by a toggle lever 67 through links 66. Each conductor bar 31 is electrically connected by a member 33, Fig. 1, and lead 20 to one terminal of the transformer secondary. The conductor bar co-operates with an electrode 41 to effect the weld. In order to weld the front seat back C, Fig. 10, to vertical flanges b<2> on the side panels, a conductor bar 40 carried by a pair of arms 38 pivoted to each standard 29 is clamped by a pivoted stud 24 and nut 26 against the flange on the side panel, and welding is performed by the electrode 41. The shroud D. which rests on ledges 16, Fig. 1, on the standard 14, has an internally flanged front end which engages over the face of gauge stops 15 on the standard, and a similarly flanged rear end which is engaged by stop-plates 42 secured by screws 43 to the standards 17. A shroud pan rests against the rear side of the end standard and has a projecting flange fitting over the end of the stops 15. In order to weld the flange d, Fig. 4, on the shroud to the body sills e, the parts are held on extensions 18 from the standards 17 by conductor bars 23 which are carried by arms 22 pivoted on rods 21 and held down by nuts 26 on pivoted studs 24. 'The welding is effected by a bridging member as shown in Fig. 12, which rests on one of a pair of fixed conductor bars 19 similar to those shown on Fig. 6. Switches in the primarv circuits of the transformers may be operated by foot levers 59 through rock shafts 58. Specification 171,716 is referred to.