Method and apparatus for feeding wire to a welding arc
US7102099B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 5, 2003 |
| Grant date | Sep 5, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 11, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB23K9/1336
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for feeding wire in a welding system include one or more motors disposed adjacent the wire to drive it. A wire feed motor is also disposed along the wire path, and is closer to the source of wire than the torch, and closer to the source than the one or more motors. The motors may be a pair motors disposed on opposite sides of the wire and move the wire to and away from an arc end of a torch. They preferably reversing the direction of the wire within one process cycle. The or more motors may be a stepper motor, a servo motor, a zero backlash motor, a gearless motor, a planetary drive motor, or a linear actuator (such as a piston), in various embodiments.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.