Head assembly for multi-wire submerged arc welding (SAW)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9266181-B2
Application number	US-201213675337-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2012
Priority date	Nov 13, 2012
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

The invention described herein generally pertains to a welding device that deposits a material onto a workpiece, the welding device having with an electrode head and a contact assembly coupled thereto. The contact assembly can include a rectangular-shaped first contact bar and a rectangular-shaped second contact bar that can be affixed to one another with an assembly connective means in order to encase a plurality of electrodes therebetween. The second contact bar can include a set of grooves in which each groove can correspond to an electrode to provide guidance during a welding procedure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A welding device for depositing material on a surface of an associated workpiece, comprising:
an electrode head adapted to concurrently house an array of associated multiple, continuous-feed electrodes that are consumable in a spaced apart configuration to which current is applied to melt the continuous-feed electrodes for concurrently depositing material on the surface of the associated workpiece;
wherein the electrode head includes a plurality of apertures which receive the associated multiple, continuous-feed electrodes; and
a contact assembly in operative connection with the electrode head which receives the associated multiple, continuous-feed electrodes from the electrode head,
a drive roll that continuously delivers the associated multiple, continuous-feed electrodes for movement through the electrode head and through the contact assembly in which the associated multiple, continuous-feed electrodes are melted to deposit material on the surface of the associated workpiece;
the contact assembly comprises:
a first contact bar and a second contact bar, wherein the first contact bar and the second contact bar absorb wear from melting the continuous-feed electrodes;
the second contact bar includes a first flat side that includes a first set of grooves in which a groove of the set corresponds to at least one of a thickness of one of the associated multiple, continuous-feed electrodes and the groove allows for guided movement of one of the associated multiple, continuous-feed electrodes therein from the electrode head to deposit material on the surface of the workpiece;
the first contact bar includes a first flat side; and
an assembly connective means affixing the first contact bar to the second bar, wherein the first flat side of the second contact bar contacts the first flat side of the first contact bar encasing each of the associated multiple, continuous-feed electrodes between the first contact bar and the second contact bar within a respective groove of the set of grooves.

2. The welding device of claim 1 wherein
the first contact bar further comprises a second flat side opposite and parallel of the first flat side on the first contact bar; and
the second contact bar further comprises a second flat side opposite and parallel of the first flat side on the second contact bar.

3. The welding device of claim 2 which further comprises
the second flat side of the second contact bar includes a second set of grooves in which a groove of the set of grooves corresponds to at least one of the associated multiple, continuous-feed electrodes for each of the associated multiple, continuous-feed electrodes.

4. The welding device of claim 3 wherein
the first set of grooves in which each groove includes a width that is approximate in dimension to a first diameter for at least one of the associated multiple, continuous-feed electrodes; and
the second set of grooves includes a width that is approximate in dimension to a second diameter for at least one of the associated multiple, continuous-feed electrodes.

5. The welding device of claim 1 wherein
the first contact bar is constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of a copper, beryllium copper, copper tungsten, or an alloy of copper.

6. The welding device of claim 5 wherein
the second contact bar is constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of a steel, a copper, or a ceramic.

7. The welding device of claim 1 which further comprises
an insert incorporated into the first contact bar, wherein the insert includes a depth and a surface area that is approximate in dimension to a surface area of a portion of the first flat side that includes the first set of grooves.

8. The welding device of claim 7 wherein
the insert is constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of a copper, beryllium copper, copper tungsten, or an alloy of copper; and
the first contact bar is constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of a steel, a copper, or a ceramic.

9. The welding device of claim 1 wherein
the second bar is constructed from a first material and a second material, the second material includes the first set of grooves. an insert incorporated into the second contact bar, wherein the insert includes a depth and a surface area that is sized to include the set of grooves.

10. The welding device of claim 9 wherein
the second material is selected from the group consisting of a copper, beryllium copper, copper tungsten, or an alloy of copper; and
the first material is selected from the group consisting of a steel, a copper, or a ceramic.

11. The welding device of claim 1 which further comprises
a first insert incorporated into the first contact bar, wherein the first insert includes a depth and a surface area that is approximate in dimension to a surface area of a portion of the first flat side that includes the first set of grooves; and
the second contact bar is constructed from a first material and a second material, wherein the second material is more conductive than the first material.

12. The welding device of claim 11 wherein
the first insert is constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of a copper, beryllium copper, copper tungsten, or an alloy of copper;
the first contact bar is constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of a steel, a copper, or a ceramic;
the second material of the second contact bar is selected from the group consisting of a copper, beryllium copper, copper tungsten, or an alloy of copper; and
the first material of the second contact bar is selected from the group consisting of a steel, a copper, or a ceramic.

13. The welding device of claim 1 which further comprises
an electrical conductor adapted to electrically connect the multiple, continuous-feed electrodes, wherein the electrical conductor is electrically connected to a welding power supply.

14. The welding device of claim 13 , wherein
the contact assembly is adapted to receive the multiple, continuous-feed electrodes for establishing respective welding arcs based on the electrical conductor.

15. The welding device of claim 1 , wherein
the assembly connective means includes a pressure spring clamp mechanism that secures the multiple-continuous-feed electrodes in between the first contact bar and the second contact bar.

16. An electrode head for a welding machine having one or more welding power sources and one or more electrode drives, comprising:
an electrode head body having a plurality of apertures adapted to convey a plurality of associated continuous feed electrodes that are consumable to which current is applied to melt the continuous-feed electrodes for depositing material onto an associated workpiece;
a contact assembly adapted to receive the plurality of associated continuous feed electrodes from the electrode head for establishing respective welding arcs, wherein the contact assembly is adapted to fixedly attach to the electrode head body;
a drive roll that continuously delivers the associated multiple, continuous-feed electrodes for movement through the electrode head and through the contact assembly in which the associated multiple, continuous-feed electrodes are melted to deposit material on the surface of the associated workpiece; and
the contact assembly comprises:
a first contact bar and a second contact bar;
the second contact bar includes a first flat side that includes a first set of grooves in which a groove of the set corresponds to one of a thickness of one of the associat

Assignees

• Lincoln Global Inc

Inventors

• Flagg Michael S
• Stuble Clyde
• Peters Steven R

Classifications

• B23K9/184 Primary

  making use of several electrodes · CPC title

• B23K9/188 Primary

  making use of several electrodes · CPC title

• B23K9/04 Primary

  Welding for other purposes than joining, e.g. built-up welding · CPC title