Patent ID: 7109434

Claim:
A device for short-cycle arc welding of an element to a component, the device comprising: a positioning mechanism; a welding head positionable relative to the component by the positioning mechanism, the welding head having a chucking mechanism operably holding the element, a motion mechanism operably advancing and retracting the chucking mechanism relative to the welding head; and a feed channel operably feeding the element to be welded into the chucking mechanism by use of gas pressure, at least a segment of the feed channel extending through the motion mechanism and being coaxially aligned with the chucking mechanism; the chucking mechanism being movable between an open position, which permits axial passage of the element from the feed channel through the chucking mechanism, and a chucking position, in which the element is chucked; wherein the chucking mechanism in the open position creates a free passage for the element to be welded from the feed channel and out of the welding head; the chucking mechanism further comprising an axially movable clamping nosepiece that works together with the chucking elements to move them between the open and chucking positions; the chucking mechanism further comprising a plurality of angled surfaces operably coupling the clamping nosepiece and the chucking elements together in order to convert an axial displacement of the clamping nosepiece into one of a chucking and a release motion of the chucking elements; the chucking elements having an approximate wedge shape and being extendable toward the clamping nosepiece; and a clamping nut locatable on a chucking element side facing away from the clamping nosepiece movably retaining the chucking elements.