Electronic lock-on wire feed switch device
US6150632A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 10, 1999 |
| Grant date | Nov 21, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 10, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB23K9/1336
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An electronic lock-on switch device for controlling the supply of electrode wire from a wire feeder to a welding torch. The device includes a housing that encloses a trigger circuit. The trigger circuit is connectable between the wire feeder and the welding torch for receiving a trigger signal from the torch indicating the trigger has been pressed and transmitting a feed signal to the wire feeder indicating the need to feed wire through the torch. The trigger circuit includes a switch mounted on the outside of the housing to allow the operator to select between normal and lock-on modes of operation. During the normal mode of operation, the wire feeder is activated and deactivated by simply pressing and releasing the trigger of the welding torch. The lock-on mode of operation allows the operator to switch between normal and lock-on modes of operation by simply varying the time in which the trigger is pressed. If the operator continually presses the trigger for a predetermined time period, the trigger circuit will lock on the supply of wire through the torch regardless of whether the trigger is pressed, otherwise, the wire feeder will operate in the normal mode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.