US3284609A - Arc starting apparatus and method - Google Patents
Arc starting apparatus and method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3284609A US3284609A US457421A US45742165A US3284609A US 3284609 A US3284609 A US 3284609A US 457421 A US457421 A US 457421A US 45742165 A US45742165 A US 45742165A US 3284609 A US3284609 A US 3284609A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- arc
- work
- conductive
- circuit
- working
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K9/00—Arc welding or cutting
- B23K9/06—Arrangements or circuits for starting the arc, e.g. by generating ignition voltage, or for stabilising the arc
- B23K9/067—Starting the arc
- B23K9/0672—Starting the arc without direct contact between electrodes
- B23K9/0673—Ionisation of the arc gap by means of a tension with a step front (pulses or high frequency tensions)
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Arc Welding Control (AREA)
Description
Nov. 8, 1966 v J. P. c. ALLEN ETAL 3,284,609
ARC STARTING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed May 20, 1965 D. C. POWER SUPPLY INVENTORS JOHN P, C. ALLEN ERA/EST R. EH/P/TZ ROSCOE R. LOBOSCO l Umted States Patent cc Patented itifflfi switch 22 and resistor 24. Thus, upon the opening of 3,284 609 ARC STARTING APPARATUS AND METHOD John P. C. Allen, Fanwood, Ernest R. Ehritz, Kenilworth, and Roscoe R. Lobosco, Fanwood, N.J., assignors to Union Carbide Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed May 20, 1965, Ser. No. 457,421 2 Claims. (Cl. 219135) This invention relates to work-in-circuit arc welding, and more particularly to the starting of inert gas-shielded non-consumable electrode arcs.
According to the invention the relatively non-conductive cup or nozzle of a torch is coated with suitable material that is more conductive than that of such cup. Such coating is, in turn, connected by a ground circuit directly to the metal work. Thus, when an electrical impulse is applied to a gap between the end of an electrode in the cup, and such work, starting of the main arc is assured.
Prior to the present invention, in the repetitive impulse starting of gas-shielded D.C. welding arcs, a serious problem arose in that occasionally the are or arcs failed to start, spoiling the intended result. While the use of continuous high-frequency is a possible solution, the latter introduces undesirable interference with other equipment unless properly shielded, which is expensive. Also high frequency starting has proved unreliable under various circumstances.
The main object of this invention is to solve such problem without the use of high frequency, at a minimum of expense, and with increased reliability of starting, particularly under repetitive starting conditions, and even when the electrodes are cold and the arc gaps are relatively long.
The invention provides a method of starting a working are between an electrode and a workpiece, wherein the electrode is surrounded by an insulating gas cup with its surface bearing a relatively conductive coating and the coating is connected to the workpiece, the are being initiated by impressing a high voltage impulse between the electrode and workpiece, of the same polarity as that of the are power supply voltage.
In the drawing, the single figure is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of the invention.
As shown in such drawing, the work is connected by a ground lead 11 to one terminal of a DC. power supply 12 of the conventional constant current type. Electrode 13 of a gas-shielded arc torch 14 is connected to the other terminal of such power supply 12 by lead 16 through an inductive choke 18 and conductor 19. Such choke 18 may be provided with a shunt circuit 20 containing a protective spark gap 21. A normally closed vacuum switch 22 and an adjustable resistor 24 are connected in a series circuit 26 across the leads 11 and 16. A relay coil 28 is adapted to open switch 22 when energized by battery 30 upon closure of switch 32.
The torch 14 includes a gas cup or nozzle 34 through which inert gas, such as argon, flows downwardly, shielding the welding operation on work 10 from the atmosphere. The cup 34 is composed of ceramic, such as lava, that is electrically non-conductive. On the outer surface of such cup 34, there is a coating 35 of material having an electrical conductivity relatively higher than that of the cup, such as dry molybdenum disulfide (powder), or a conductive coating compound of graphite. The latter is applied as a liquid on the outer side of the cup 34, providing a coating 35 that is conductive when dry. Such coating 35 is connected to the work 10 by a conductor 36.
In operation, when the circuit is connected as shown, a current builds up in the choke 18 by way of vacuum such switch 22 by closure of switch 32, the arc gap 38 between the end of electrode 13 and work 10 is broken by the resulting single relatively high voltage pulse generated due to the interruption of current through choke 18, and arc welding current then flows across the gap 38. The conductive coating 35 on the nonconductive cup 34, which is grounded to the work 10 by conductor 36, acts to assure such arc starting, even when the parts are cold and/or the arc gap 38 is relatively long under repetitive starting conditions.
As an example of the invention under actual working conditions, the parameters were as follows:
The power supply was adjusted to supply volts (open circuit) across its output terminals. I
The choke 18 had a rating of 10 millihenries at 15 amperes current-swinging to less than microhenries at 200 amperes current. The protective spark gap 21 had a spacing of .045 between the points thereof, which would act to limit the rise of voltage across the choke to a safe level below 5000 volts in the event of a misfire.
The vacuum switch 22 was rated at 15 amperes current, and was actuated at 26.5 volts D.C.
The workpiece was sheet metal composed of carbon steel, and the welding time cycle was critical to avoid burn-through.
The voltage of the starting pulse was 25003000 volts for an arc gap of between the end of electrode 12 and work 10.
While the grounding circuit 36 is preferred, it may in some cases be omitted, since the coated cup of the invention improves are starting compared to that with uncoated cups.
What is claimed is:
1. Work in circuit, nonconsumable electrode, inertgas shielded arc working system, comprising in combination: a torch provided with a gas cup, the body of which is composed of insulating material having conductive means encircling such body; grounding means connecting such conductive means to the work; work are circuit means for applying and maintaining a working arc potential across a gap between the end of a nonconsumable electrode supported in such torch and the work in a stream of inert gas flowing through such cup, and means for applying an electrical pulse at a potential sufficient to break down such gap, rendering it conductive and establishing a working arc, the polarity of such pulse with respect to the work being the same as that of the working are potential, such pulse acting in conjunction with such conductive means and such grounding means to facilitate the establishment of such working arc the resistance of such grounding means and such conductive means in combination being of substantially lower conductivity (higher resistivity) than that of the work are circuit.
2. Arc starting apparatus comprising, in combination, means providing an arc gap in a stream of inert gas, a DC. power supply circuit connected to said means, a ceramic cup for directing such gas about such arc, a choke connected in said circuit, a choke charging circuit containing a vacuum switch and a resistor connected in parallel with such are gap, and means for opening said vacuum switch to cause the choke to discharge across such gap, thereby starting the arc, said cup having an annular conductive coating for improving such starting,
3,284,609 3 4 and means connecting said conductive coating to the References Cited by the Applicant pOSitiV6 side Of such arc gap. 1)
References Cited by the Examiner 2,620,422 12/ 1952 Volff.
UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,770,710 11/1956 Burkart. 3,015,022 12/1961 Bowers 2,798,937 7/1957 Miller 219131 2892072 6/1959 Miner 219 131 6 ,7 4 10/1962 V n Sewer et 2,993,984 7/1961 Sullivan 219-131 V RICHARD WOOD, Primary Examiner-
Claims (1)
1. WORK IN CIRCUIT, NONCONSUMABLE ELECTRODE, INERTGAS SHIELDED ARC WORKING SYSTEM, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A TORCH PROVIDED WITH A GAS CUP, THE BODY OF WHICH IS COMPOSED OF INSULATING MATERIAL HAVING CONDUCTIVE MEANS ENCIRCLING SUCH BODY; GROUNDING MEANS CONNECTING SUCH CONDUCTIVE MEANS TO THE WORK; WORK ARC CIRCUIT MEANS FOR APPLYING AND MAINTAINING A WORKING ARC POTENTIAL ACROSS A GAP BETWEEN THE END OF A NONCONSUMABLE ELECTRODE SUPPORTED IN SUCH TORCH AND THE WORK IN A STREAM OF INSERT GAS FLOWING THROUGH SUCH CUP, AND MEANS FOR APPLYING AN ELECTRICAL PUSLE AT A POTENTIAL SUFFICIENT TO BREAK DOWN SUCH GAP, RENDERING IT CONDUCTIVE AND ESTABLISHING A WORKING ARC, THE POLARITY OF SUCH PULSE WITH RESPECT TO THE WORK BEING THE SAME AS THAT OF THE WORKING ARC POTENTIAL, SUCH PULSE ACTING IN CONJUCTION WITH SUCH CONDUCTIVE MEANS AND SUCH GROUNDING MEANS TO FACILITATE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH WORKING ARC THE RESISTANCE OF SUCH GROUNDING MEANS AND SUCH CONDUCTIVE MEANS IN COMBINATION BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER CONDUCTIVITY (HIGHER RESISTIVITY) THAN THAT OF THE WORK ARC CIRCUIT.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US457421A US3284609A (en) | 1965-05-20 | 1965-05-20 | Arc starting apparatus and method |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US457421A US3284609A (en) | 1965-05-20 | 1965-05-20 | Arc starting apparatus and method |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3284609A true US3284609A (en) | 1966-11-08 |
Family
ID=23816663
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US457421A Expired - Lifetime US3284609A (en) | 1965-05-20 | 1965-05-20 | Arc starting apparatus and method |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3284609A (en) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3600549A (en) * | 1969-06-25 | 1971-08-17 | Nikolai Alexandrovich Olshansk | Method of the arc welding and deposition of metals in vacuum |
US3932728A (en) * | 1974-09-05 | 1976-01-13 | Babcock & Wilcox, Limited | Electric arc fusion welding apparatus |
US5714731A (en) * | 1996-07-16 | 1998-02-03 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Welding power supply arc starter |
US6137079A (en) * | 1998-06-04 | 2000-10-24 | La Soudure Autogene Francaise | TIG welding torch permitting improving striking the welding arc |
US6635842B2 (en) * | 2000-09-01 | 2003-10-21 | Goodwin Air Plasma Limited | Electric arc equipment |
WO2006082531A2 (en) * | 2005-02-07 | 2006-08-10 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | System for improved high-frequency arc starting of a welding process |
US8217305B2 (en) | 2007-12-05 | 2012-07-10 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | System and method for improved TIG arc starting |
US20140203005A1 (en) * | 2013-01-23 | 2014-07-24 | Gordon R. Hanka | Welder powered arc starter |
US20160121418A1 (en) * | 2012-01-25 | 2016-05-05 | Gordon Hanka | Welder Powered Arc Starter |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2620422A (en) * | 1950-08-31 | 1952-12-02 | Air Liquide | Arc welding apparatus |
US2770710A (en) * | 1954-05-26 | 1956-11-13 | Union Carbide & Carbon Corp | Arc working apparatus |
US2798937A (en) * | 1955-05-16 | 1957-07-09 | Union Carbide & Carbon Corp | Multiple arc timing system |
US2892072A (en) * | 1957-07-08 | 1959-06-23 | Union Carbide Corp | Arc welding |
US2993984A (en) * | 1959-03-25 | 1961-07-25 | Union Carbide Corp | Gas shielded a. c. arc working |
US3015022A (en) * | 1960-09-23 | 1961-12-26 | Budd Co | Arc spot welding apparatus and method |
US3061714A (en) * | 1960-09-23 | 1962-10-30 | Budd Co | Arc spot welding apparatus |
-
1965
- 1965-05-20 US US457421A patent/US3284609A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2620422A (en) * | 1950-08-31 | 1952-12-02 | Air Liquide | Arc welding apparatus |
US2770710A (en) * | 1954-05-26 | 1956-11-13 | Union Carbide & Carbon Corp | Arc working apparatus |
US2798937A (en) * | 1955-05-16 | 1957-07-09 | Union Carbide & Carbon Corp | Multiple arc timing system |
US2892072A (en) * | 1957-07-08 | 1959-06-23 | Union Carbide Corp | Arc welding |
US2993984A (en) * | 1959-03-25 | 1961-07-25 | Union Carbide Corp | Gas shielded a. c. arc working |
US3015022A (en) * | 1960-09-23 | 1961-12-26 | Budd Co | Arc spot welding apparatus and method |
US3061714A (en) * | 1960-09-23 | 1962-10-30 | Budd Co | Arc spot welding apparatus |
Cited By (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3600549A (en) * | 1969-06-25 | 1971-08-17 | Nikolai Alexandrovich Olshansk | Method of the arc welding and deposition of metals in vacuum |
US3932728A (en) * | 1974-09-05 | 1976-01-13 | Babcock & Wilcox, Limited | Electric arc fusion welding apparatus |
US5714731A (en) * | 1996-07-16 | 1998-02-03 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Welding power supply arc starter |
US6137079A (en) * | 1998-06-04 | 2000-10-24 | La Soudure Autogene Francaise | TIG welding torch permitting improving striking the welding arc |
US6635842B2 (en) * | 2000-09-01 | 2003-10-21 | Goodwin Air Plasma Limited | Electric arc equipment |
US20060175299A1 (en) * | 2005-02-07 | 2006-08-10 | Hutchison Richard M | System for improved high-frequency arc starting of a welding process |
WO2006082531A2 (en) * | 2005-02-07 | 2006-08-10 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | System for improved high-frequency arc starting of a welding process |
WO2006082531A3 (en) * | 2005-02-07 | 2006-11-02 | Illinois Tool Works | System for improved high-frequency arc starting of a welding process |
US7329833B2 (en) * | 2005-02-07 | 2008-02-12 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | System for improved high-frequency arc starting of a welding process |
US20080116177A1 (en) * | 2005-02-07 | 2008-05-22 | Hutchison Richard M | System for improved high frequency arc starting of a welding process |
US8217305B2 (en) | 2007-12-05 | 2012-07-10 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | System and method for improved TIG arc starting |
US20160121418A1 (en) * | 2012-01-25 | 2016-05-05 | Gordon Hanka | Welder Powered Arc Starter |
US20140203005A1 (en) * | 2013-01-23 | 2014-07-24 | Gordon R. Hanka | Welder powered arc starter |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3832513A (en) | Starting and stabilizing apparatus for a gas-tungsten arc welding system | |
US3122629A (en) | Consumable electrode arcless electric working | |
GB1188024A (en) | Improvements in or relating to Arc Welding Processes and Apparatus. | |
WO2000038873A1 (en) | Arc ignition for arc welding apparatus | |
US6998574B2 (en) | Welding torch with plasma assist | |
US3284609A (en) | Arc starting apparatus and method | |
US3030495A (en) | Initiation and maintenance of power arcs | |
US2472323A (en) | Arc welding | |
US3809850A (en) | Plasma arc power system for welding | |
US4618760A (en) | Shielded arc welding using auxiliary voltage | |
US2798937A (en) | Multiple arc timing system | |
US3431390A (en) | Work-in-circuit arc starting apparatus | |
US2892072A (en) | Arc welding | |
US3571558A (en) | Apparatus for arc starting | |
US2384403A (en) | Stud | |
US3051828A (en) | Work-in-circuit consumable electrode arc welding | |
US3311735A (en) | Apparatus and method for generating heat | |
US3665149A (en) | Direct-current arc welder | |
US2993984A (en) | Gas shielded a. c. arc working | |
US3180969A (en) | Arc welding apparatus and method | |
US2599281A (en) | Arc welding | |
US3539764A (en) | Gas shielded electric arc welding | |
Zeng et al. | Welding with high-frequency square-wave AC arcs | |
US2770710A (en) | Arc working apparatus | |
US3526747A (en) | Arc welding process and device |