Improvements in Welding Metals Electrically and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1890-Accepted 5th July, 1890
UUMI DIE DI MULTICATION.
Improvements in Welding Metals Electrically and Apparatus
therefor.
A communication from. abroad by CHARLES L. COFFIN, of Detroit, County of Wayne,
State of Michigan, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323,. High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,.Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to a method of welding metals electrically, hereinafter fully
described and claimed.
The drawings are perspectives of various forms of apparatus which may be used to
practise the invention, Figures 3 and 4 illustrating the same form in different
positions.
Figure 1: A represents the base of the machine, and B represents a movable block
on one end of the machine which may be moved by a screw shaft K provided with a
crank L. C represents a clamp secured on, but insulated from, block B, adapted to clamp
and hold any article desired to be welded. C represents a similar clamp secured to, but
insulated from, the frame, and H H represent the articles to be welded, for example,
metal rods. N represents a conductor connected with one pole of a generator of
electricity, which is branched as shown by N¹ and connected with the two clamps CC.
A resistance switch S is interposed in one or both of the branches N¹ to enable the
operator to equalise the resistance. G represents an anvil slidingly secured on the
frame, as by the dovetail groove g, and preferably having handles T T by which it
may be moved under the rods H H or drawn away from them. B represents a block
secured to the frame A but insulated therefrom. E represents a head having a
vertical dovetail groove therein carried on block B¹. P represents a frame pivoted
at R to head E, and provided with a slot p into which project pins d secured to a
cross-head D, provided with a dovetail projection to engage with the dovetail groove
in head.E. represents a conductor, preferably a block of carbon, secured to cross-
head D, and connected with the other pole of the generator by a conductor M,
secured either to conductor F or cross-head D.
The operation of this mechanism is as follows:-
The articles to be welded (as metal rods H H) are clasped in the clamps CC; the
anvil G is drawn out from under conductor F, and conductor F is lowered by raising
the outer end of frame P which possesses the slots p, to permit the pins to descend,
until conductor Flies between the two rods H H. The rods H H are then adjusted
so that their ends bear against block F, and a heating current is passed through
conductors M and. N, rods H H and conductor F. This raises the ends of rods H.H
to a welding beat, when the outer end of frame P is depressed, raising the block F
from between HH; the rods H H are then moved forward until they come, in
contact, and are pressed together to form the weld. The weld may be completed by
running the anvil G under. the rods, and hammering the weld on the anvil.
Figure 2: In the arrangement shown in this Figure, A represents a frame in which
B is a movable cross-head, operated by screw shafts K and crank L, in which.is formed
a dovetail groove O. .CC represent two clamps insulated from each other and from
cross-head B, and provided with a dovetail projection by which they engage the cross-
head B, so as to be capable of a vertical motion with said cross-head, and a lateral
gliding motion on said cross-head. 'C' represent two similar opposing clamps
J

page_text: secured to the frame A, but insulated from said frame and from each other. HH
represent two articles to be welded, in the illustration, iron rods, secured in the
diagonal clamps C C₁, and F F represent conductors, preferably carbon, secured in
the other diagonal clamps C C. M represents a conductor connected with one pole
of a generator of electricity, which is branched as shown at. M. and connected with
the two clamps C C, a resistance switch S being interposed in one or both of said
branches. N represents an electrical conductor connected with the other pole of the
"generator, and similarly branched as shown at N', to connect with the two
clamps C C¹. A resistance switch S is interposed in one or both of the
#2
1.
branches N¹.
The operation of this mechanism is as follows:
The parts being in the position shown in the drawing, in which each article to be
welded, H, is in contact with an opposing carbon F, a heating current is passed
through the conductors M, N, clamps C C, carbons F F, and rods HH, thereby the.
rods H become heated at their points of contact with the carbons. As soon as the
rods. H are raised to a welding heat at their ends, they are slightly separated from
the carbon by the screw shaft K, the clamps C are slid horizontally along cross-
head. B, as indicated in dotted lines, until the rods. H register with each other, when
the weld is completed by pressing the rods H together.
In the mechanism shown in Figures 3 and 4, A represents a base having thereon a
semi-circle B B', to which the clamps C C are connected by a sliding connection.
At the centre and ends of the semi-circle B B is insulating material I, so that the
two quadrants which compose said semi-circle are insulated from each other and from
the base, and the clamps C C¹ are insulated from quadrants B B¹ when in the position
shown in Figure 3. Ĝ represents an anvil sliding on the bar U and carrying therein
but insulated therefrom, the carbon block F. K and L represent a screw shaft and
crank by which the clamp C may be moved on its base. HH represent the two
articles to be welded, for illustration, iron rods, M M represent branch conductors
similar to conductors M¹ M¹ in the other Figures, by which the quadrants B. B' are
both connected with one pole. of a generator of electricity, and N represents a
conductor by which carbon block F is connected with the other pole of a generator.
1 represents insulating material in all the Figures.
The operation of this mechanism is as follows:-
The rods H H being clamped in the clamps CC, said clamps are raised as shown in
Figure 4, until they leave the insulation I, and are in electrical contact with the
quadrants B B¹ respectively, in which position the ends of rods, H H are allowed to
rest upon the carbon block F. A heating current is now turned through the con-
ductors by which the ends of rod H are heated through their contact with the
carbon F. When the ends of rod. H are brought to a welding heat, the current is
shut off, (which may be done by lowering clamps CC to the position shown in
Figure 3) the clamps are lowered, and the ends of rods H H forced together to
form the weld. The anvil G may now be brought under the weld, and the rods
hammered to complete the weld. Instead of leaving the ends of rods H H in
contact with the carbon F and passing a heating current. through them, the ends of
said rods may be slightly separated from the carbon after the current is established,
thus forming a voltaic. are between each rod and the carbon, by which the end of
the rod is brought to a welding heat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to ne
by my foreign correspondent, I-declare that what I claim is:
1. The herein described, method of, welding metals electrically, consisting in
making contact, between the two parts to be welded and an electrical conductor,
passing heating currents. through the articles to be welded and said conductor,
removing the articles to be welded from contact with the conductor when brought
to a welding heat and pressing them together to form the weld.

page_text: 2. The herein described method of welding metals electrically, consisting in
making contact between the two parts to be welded and an electrical conductor,
establishing an electric current through the articles to be welded and said conductor,
slightly separating the ends of the articles to be welded from said conductor, thus
forming a voltaic arc, and pressing the articles to be welded together to form the
weld.
3. The various forms of apparatus for welding metals electrically taken as a whole,
substantially as described.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.