Patent GB-549221-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to automatic electric arc welding apparatus
IPC: B23K9/12
Filed: 1941-07-28
Abstract: 549,221. Uniting by fusion. PETERS & CO., Ltd., G. D., and PALMER, B. W. July 28, 1941, No. 9560. [Class 83 (iv)] In an automatic arc welding apparatus of the kind having an electrode fed and regulated by rollers rotated by a pair of electric motors controlled automatically by the arc and in which a longitudinally divided water-cooled current conducting guide for the electrode is used so that one section is displaceable, so as to be separated from the other section, the movable section is urged by gravity towards the fixed section and is supported from such section by one or more pairs of links normally inclined downwardly from the fixed section and readily detachable therefrom. Electric connection is thus ensured without excessive friction even if the electrode is distorted. Grooved and, if desired, ribbed, copper electrode guides 3 are secured by screws 29 in the channel-shaped sections 1, 2 of which the section 1 is fixed and the section 2 is connected to the section 1 by a pair of links 19 with holes so that they may be passed over leaded bars 20, 21 secured respectively to the sections 1 and 2, so that they extend downwardly from the bar 20. The upper end of the guide is embraced by a spring yoke comprising a pair of springs 24 secured at their opposite ends respectively to a stiff wire member 25 bearing against a body 16 secured to the fixed section 1 and to a rigid sway beam 26 bearing against and pivoting at its centre on a recessed block 27 on the movable section 2. The movable section may be removed for inspection or cleaning by first taking off the springs and then the links 19. The body 16 carries the current supply terminal 15 and constitutes the mounting element for the guide. Each section 1, 2 has brazed to its rear face a longitudinally partitioned water jacket 5 each consisting of a pair of rectangular brass tubes with the partition terminating short of the lower end of the chamber. Cooling water is 'fed to the chambers by a hose connected to a nipple 7 at the upper end of the down flow passage in the section 1 and also through a branch nipple connected by a flexible tube 9 to a nipple 10 at upper end of the section 2. A similar nipple and connection 11, 12, 13 connects the other tubes with a water discharge nipple 14. In order to conduct current from the guide to the electrode, the latter, which is flux coated, may be provided with metal' parts at the periphery or the connection between the ends of successive electrodes may serve this purpose. In such case the ends of the electrodes may be bared and grooved so as to be engaged by spring tongues projecting from a collet having a body of larger diameter than the flux coating. In another form the coupling may consist of an integral or removable body portion having a screw at each end engaging tapped holes in the electrode ends. In a further form the ends of the cores may be threaded and grooved by a screw socket of larger diameter than the flux coating. The guides may have profiled anti-friction rollers. The guide may in another form consist of channel-shaped copper strips with re-entrant guide grooves, the flanges being closed by a plate to form the water channel which may be partitioned or provided with a circulating pipe.