Patent ID: 8916792

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 a first end of the second arm of the robot; a wire supply configured to be located distal from the robot; a wire path connecting the wire supply to the nozzle of the welding torch; a wire motor configured to move wire from the wire supply along the wire path to the welding torch, the wire motor being mounted to the robot; a flux supply including a pressurized flux delivery system, 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 and connected to the welding torch, wherein the flux muffler forms a plurality of vents that vent air from pressurized flux delivery system; and a valve disposed along the flux path between the flux muffler and the nozzle of the welding torch, wherein the valve is biased in a closed position and is configured to control a release of flux from the pressurized flux delivery system to the nozzle, wherein the air vented through the plurality of vents includes pressurized air from the pressurized flux delivery system, and wherein the pressurized air is evacuated from the flux path through the plurality of vents, wherein the flux muffler comprises a casing surrounding the vents, and wherein the casing forms an opening for evacuating the pressurized air from the flux muffler.