Electrode Oscillating Mechanism for Welding Electrode Holder

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a welding rod holder equipped with the orbiting mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the holder and orbiting mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the holder and orbiting mechanism; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the hand grip portion of the holder showing one arrangement of housing the batteries and control switch for the orbiting mechanism.

With the exception of the orbiting mechanism, the welding electrode holder is of conventional construction and includes a cylindrical hand grip 10 of electrical insulating material , an electrode clamp consisting of a fixed metallic plate 12 with one or more grooves 14 for receiving an end of a welding rod 16 and a spring-loaded clamping plate 18, a finger-operated release button 20 for the clamping plate 18, and an insulated cable for connecting the electrode clamp to one side of the welding power supply.

The welding rod orbiting or oscillating mechanism of the present invention includes an electric motor 24, preferably a fractional horsepower, 5 volt D.C. motor. Motors of "postage stamp" size such as are used in various hobby applications are suitable. An eccentric weight 26 is attached to and rotates with the motor shaft 28. A sealed housing 30 encloses the motor and eccentric weight. Attached to and projecting from one side of the housing is a connector plate 32 which abuts the rear or outer face of the fixed rod clamping plate 12. A bolt having a head 34 and a threaded shank 36 and a wing nut 38 are employed to attach the connector plate to the clamping plate, the clamping plate having a through opening with a first portion 40 which non-rotatably receives the bolt head and a second portion 42 through which the bolt shank extends, the connector pl ate having a through opening 44 through which the shank al so passes. As is shown in FIG. 3, this mounting arrangement allows the motor unit to be selectively mounted in either a first position in which the axis of rotation of the motor is parallel to the axis of the welding rod and a second position, shown in phantom outline, in which the axis of rotation is perpendicular to the welding rod axis.

A power supply and control arrangement for the motor 24 is illustrated in FIG. 4. In this arrangement, an insulated casing 46 is located within the hand grip portion 10 of the electrode holder for reception of two dry cell batteries 48. The batteries are in series between a first terminal 50 connected to one lead 52 and a second terminal 54 connected, through an on/off switch 56, to a second lead 58, the leads extending to the motor 24. It will be apparent that other arrangements may be employed. For example, when used with an electrode holder lacking sufficient space in which to house the batteries internally, a separate battery casing may be used and attached to the exteriors of the electrode holder by a strap or other suitable means.

When the motor is energized, the oscillating motion resulting from rotation of the eccentric weight is coupled, through the connector plate and the electrode clamp, to the welding rod. I have found that the resultant oscillating motion of the welding electrode tip produces welds of improved quality. When the motor unit is in the first position, that is, with the motor axis parallel to the welding rod axis, the tip moves in a small amplitude orbiting manner of, for example, 1200 orbits per minute. Such motion results in a stirring of the molten weld metal thus creating a stronger weld and permits faster welding in situations in which fast cooling and crusting of the puddle are involved. In the second position of the motor unit, with the motor axis perpendicular to the axis of the welding rod, the rod tip moves in a small amplitude oscillating motion along the axis of the rod. This motion serves to prevent or lassen sticking of the rod to the workpiece and to reduce burn-through when welding thin metals. The rod tip motion, with either orientation of the motor unit, also aids in arc striking and permits the use of lower amperage welding currents.

It will be understood that, while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail herein, changes and additions may be had therein and thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. Reference should, accordingly, be had to the appended claims in determining the true scope of the invention.