Improved Method of and Apparatus for Welding or Working Metals Electrically.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for 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 :-
This invention consists in an improved method of and apparatus for welding or
working metals electrically, hereinafter fully described and claimed.
In the drawing,
Figure 1
a detail sectional view of an apparatus adapted for carrying the
invention into practice;
Figure 2 is a similar view showing a modified arrangement of parts;
Figure 3 is a diagram showing another modification;
Figure 4 is a detail sectional view of another modified construction of
apparatus, and
Figure 5 is a similar view of another modified arrangement.
X and Y indicate two electrical conductors which are connected with the poles
of a suitable generator of electricity, as the battery G shown in Figure 3.
M represents the article or articles to be welded or worked in all the figures.
A represents a conductor, preferably of refractory material, such as carbon, con-
tained in an insulated box D, which may be closed over the top as shown at D' in
Figure 5. The article M, or articles M M to be worked or welded is or are
brought in contact with the conductor A, and connected with one pole of the
generator.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3 are shown two metal rods M M which are both connected
with the conductor Y by means of a split circuit, designated by E and E¹.
H represents a conductor, which may be of metal or refractory material, such as
carbon, which is connected with the conductor X, and is brought in contact with
the conductor A. I represents insulation in all cases.
Assuming the current to enter through the conductor Y, in Figures 1, 2 and 3,
it traverses the articles M M, causing heat at their point of contact with
conductor A, thence traverses conductor A to conductor M, causing additional heat
at the point of contact of these two conductors, thus raising the ends of
articles M M to the desired heat, when they may be worked in any desired manner,
or welded together by pressure, hammering or any other known manner.
In Figure 3, the articles M M are pressed together for welding, by being held
in clamps B C and B'C', the clamp B'C' being provided with a winch W, by
which the articles M M may be pressed together. In this arrangement the
conductor H is preferably provided with an insulated handle K, by which it may
be readily removed to permit the articles M M to come together. S represents
resistance switches, which may be used in any of the apparatus designed to
practise the invention.
In Figure 4, the arrangements of Figures 1 and 2 are reversed, there being only
one article M to be heated, and two conductors H, in which case it is preferable to
make the contact between M and A between the points of contact of A with H H.
In this case the split circuit Y and E E' is connected with the two con-
ductors HH

page_text: In Figure 5, the split circuit E E' is omitted, and the conductor Y is connected
directly with one of the articles M, the end of the other article being heated by
radiation from the heated conductors A and H..
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 electrically heating metal for working or
welding, consisting in connecting the material to be heated with one pole of a
generator, placing it in contact with a conductor in proximity to the point of
contact between such and a second conductor which is connected with the
other pole of a generator, and passing a heating current through said material and
said conductors, whereby said material is heated directly by the action of the
current, and also by the heat developed at the point of contact between the two
conductors.
2. The herein described method of welding metal electrically, consisting in
connecting the material to be welded with one pole of a generator, placing it in
contact with a conductor in proximity to the point of contact between said
conductor and a second conductor which is connected with the other pole of a
generator, and passing a heating current through said material and said conductors,
whereby said material is heated directly by the action of the current, and also by
the heat developed at the point of contact between the two conductors, and
completing the weld by pressure.
3. The herein described apparatus for electrically heating metal for working or
welding, combined and arranged substantially as set forth.
Dated this 26th day of October 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.