Improvements in or relating to Welding or Working Metals Electrically.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Welding or Working Metals
Electrically.
A communication by CHARLES L. COFFIN, of Detroit, in the County of Wayne
and State of Michigan, United States of America, Chemist.
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 inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Figure is a diagram indicating the manner of carrying the invention into enrect.
Figure 2 is a similar view of a modified arrangement of parts.
Figure 3 is a similar view of another modification; and
Figure 4 is a similar view of another modified arrangement.
In all the figures, M represents the material to be operated upon;
and
D represent the conductors; a and y represent conductors by which conductors D
and Care connected with the generator.
In Figure 1, the material M to be operated upon is shown in the form of a hoop,
the end of which are abutted against the conductor D. The conductor C is
provided with an insulating handle H, by which, when a current from the
generator G is started, the conductors C and D may be brought into contact and
Flightly separated to form a voltaic arc between them, thus raising the conductor D
to incandescence and heating the ends of the article M in contact therewith.
When sufficient heat has been developed, the article M is removed from the con-
ductor D, its ends brought in contact, and the weld completed by pressure, rolling
or hammering, as desired.
In Figure 2, the ends of the material abut against the conductor D, each of
which is connected with the generator G by the conductors a and Y. G' represents
a second generator, with whose poles the conductors C and D are connected by
the conductor ya. The operation is the same as described in Figure 1, plus the
heating effect produced by the current from generator G.
In Figure 3, the material M is held in a clamp K, which is connected with one
pole of the generator, and the end of said material to be heated is in contact with
conductor D, the current in this place passing to said conductor through the
material. The operation is the same as in Figure 1. R represents a resistance
switch interposed in the conductor to regulate the current.
In Figure 4, the material M, held in the clamp K, is brought in contact with the
conductor D held in clamp K'. P represents a converter or transformer, whose
primary is connected with the poles of a generator G and whose secondary Q
and Q connects with the clamps K K. R, in this figure, represents a resistance
switch. S represents a switch by which the conductor y, connected with one pole
of the generator, may be connected through said switch and conductor y2 with the
conductor C, so that the conductor D may be heated both by the heating current
and by the arc. The arrangement. of this figure is intended for use with an
alternating current which is converted by the transformer P from a current of high
tension to one of low tension but large quantity.

page_text: 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 me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
:-
1. The herein described method of welding or working metal electrically con-
sisting in heating the part to be worked by contact with a conductor through
which an electric current is passed, and simultaneously springing a voltaic arc
between said conductor and another conductor, in proximity to said point of
contact, and welding or working the metal when raised to the desired temperature
in any desired manner.
2. The general combined arrangement of parts, substantially as described and
shown on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of November 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.