Patent ID: 8552329

Claim:
A submerged arc welding system for use with a robot having at least a base, a first arm rotatably connected to the base, and a second arm rotatably connected to the first arm, the submerged arc welding system comprising: a welding torch having a nozzle, wherein the welding torch is connected to the second arm of the robot; at least one wire supply configured to be located distal from the robot; a wire path connecting the at least one wire supply to the nozzle of the welding torch; a flux supply including a pressurized flux delivery system and a vacuum unit, the pressurized flux delivery system configured to move flux from the flux supply, along the flux path, to the welding torch, and the flux supply configured to be located distal from the robot; a flux path connecting the flux supply to the nozzle of the welding torch, wherein the flux path does not include a gravity hopper; a flux muffler disposed along the flux path, connected to the welding torch, the flux muffler comprising a casing, and having a plurality of vents in a vent chamber located within the casing; a recycle line connected to the casing of the flux muffler to transport from the flux muffler escaped flux fines that pass through the vents; and a flux valve disposed along the flux path.