GB2382320A

GB2382320A - Welding aid for attachment to a welding head

Info

Publication number: GB2382320A
Application number: GB0221976A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Bashford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-11-23
Filing date: 2002-09-23
Publication date: 2003-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 2022-09-23
Also published as: GB2382320B; GB0128081D0; GB0221976D0

Abstract

A tool for holding, improving and extending the reach of a welding head 10, the welding head being operated by depression of a button 18, comprises at least one lever 34 operated by a trigger 30, to press the button 18.In one embodiment (as shown), the welding head 10 can be held against a base 24 by elastic side walls 22 having a welding head retaining flange 28. In another embodiment (figures 5A to 7) the welding head 10 can be urged onto the base 24D and against a single side wall 22D by a welding head binder 40, the welding head being supportable by one or more mounting bars 42 positionable in slots 44 in the single side wall 22D.

Description

WELDING AID The present invention relates to welding. It particularly relates to welding in difficult to reach or awkward places. Most particularly, it relates to means for modifying or ; extending the reach of an individual, when welding.

Welding heads come in various varieties. For example, a MIG welder uses inert gas to prevent high temperature oxidation of the metal in the vicinity of the weld. An electric arc welder uses a struck DC arc to heat metal. An oxy-acetylene welder uses the combustion of oxygen and acetylene to generate heat. No matter what the welding process, the welding head has elements in common, namely a body to keep the various parts together and to allow the user to grip the welding head, a welding tip or nozzle/s extending away from the body where the actual heat is generated, one or more trailing pipes or wires, and an operating device, such as a button or valve, whereby energy is controllably delivered to the tip or nozzle/s.

Welding is seldom a straight forward process. The user grips the welding head and stretches (if necessary) for the tip or nozzle/s to reach the work. Usually, welding takes place in the most awkward of circumstances. When building or repairing motor vehicles, it is often necessary to weld behind or around obstructing vehicle parts, or when reaching between items which are not, at that moment, to be welded. Welding girders and other steelwork often requires a reach which is further than the user can manage, or over a greater range than the user's physique will allow. Not only is the user's physique limiting in its range, but the very fact that the user grips the welding head may mean that the head. and hand combination is too wide to reach between constrictions.

The present invention seeks to provide a gripping tool which will modify or extend the reach of a user so that the user can readily perform welding in a variety of hitherto impossible or very difficult situations.

The present invention consists in a gripping tool for operating a welding head, said welding head being operated by depression of a button, said tool comprising: means for gripping the welding head; a handle for a user's hand to hold the tool; and a lever mechanism for depressing the button; said lever mechanism being operable by a trigger; said trigger being operable by the user's hand gripping said handle; said tool allowing a modified reach for the welding head, and said lever mechanism allowing operation of the welder head while gripped in said tool.

The invention further provides that the handle can comprise a pistol grip.

The invention further provides that the handle can comprise an extended grip.

The invention further provides that the pistol grip can extend at ninety degrees to the welding head when the welding head is gripped in the tool.

The invention further provides that the extended grip can extend away from and in line with the welding head when the welding head is gripped in the tool.

The invention further provides that the lever mechanism can comprise a single lever, incorporating the trigger, the single lever being operable to depress the button.

The invention further provides that the lever mechanism can comprise a primary lever, incorporating the trigger, and a secondary lever, the primary lever displacing the secondary lever and the secondary lever being operable to depress the button.

The invention further provides that the means for gripping a welding head can comprise an elastic-sided channel for accepting and gripping a welding head.

The invention further provides that the elastic sided channel can comprise a base and first and second side walls, and that the base and the first and second side walls can be co-operative to grip a welding head there-between.

The invention further provides that the first and second side walls can each comprises a respective overhang, each overhang being operative to engage a welding head to retain the welding head in the channel.

The invention further provides a tool that can comprise first and second flanges, the flanges being co-operative, when a welding head is forced there-between, to increase the separation between the first and second walls to allow ingress of a welding head into the channel.

The invention further provides that the means for gripping a welding head can comprise one or more welding head binders passing about the welding head and being anchored through opposed binder apertures onto themselves, which anchorage can be buckles or a self adhesive such as tape bonding glue or a self gripping system such as velcro (TM).

The invention further provides for one or more adjustable mounting bars to be adjustable in a corresponding one or more bar slots in side wall of a channel, the mounting bar or mounting bars being adjustable to abut the handle of a welding head to provide support when a welding head is held by the welding head binders.

The invention is further explained, by way of example, by the following description, taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which: Figures 1A and IB show, respectively, a typical MIG welding head in isometric view and side elevation.

Figures 2A, 2B and 2C show, respectively, an isometric view of a first embodiment of the invention, a side view of the first embodiment of the invention, and a side view of the first embodiment of the invention gripping the welding head of Figure 1.

Figures 3A, 3B and 3C show, respectively, an isometric view of a second embodiment of the invention, a side view of the second embodiment of the invention, and a side view of the second embodiment of the invention gripping the welding head of Figure 1.

Figures 4A, 4B and 4C show, respectively, an isometric view of a third embodiment of the invention, a side view of the third embodiment of the invention, and a side view of the third embodiment of the invention gripping the welding head of Figure 1.

Figures 5A, 5B and 5C show, in Figure 5A, an isometric view of a second embodiment of the present invention where a welding head can be held using a welding head binder and a mounting bar, in Figure 5B, a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 5A, and, in Figure 5C, the view of Figure 5B with a welding head in place.

Figure 6 is a detailed cross sectional view of how a welding head binder can hold a welding head.

And Figure 7 is an example, similar to Figure 5C, of how more than one welding head binder can be used, how more than one mounting bar can be used, and how the mounting bar need not be adjustable within a bar slot which is disposed normally-within the channel.

Attention is drawn to figures 1A and 1B showing, respectively, an isometric view and a side view of a typical MIG welding head 10.

The welding head 10 comprises a body 12, a welding tip extension 14, supply lines 16 and an operating press button 18. The welding tip extension 14 is applied to the work. The body 12 is held in the

operator's hand. The press button 18 is depressed for the welding equipment to be activated.

Attention is drawn to figures 2A, 2B and 2C.

Figure 2A shows an isometric view of a first embodiment of the present invention, figure 2B shows a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention, and figure 2C shows a side view of the first embodiment of the present invention holding the welding head 10 of figure 1.

A channel 20 has side walls 22 and a base 24. The side walls 22 are elastic and each comprises an overhang 26 which serves to retain the welding head 10 in the channel 20. Each overhang 26 terminates in a flange 28. When the welding head 10 is forced between the flanges 28 the overhangs 26 and the side walls 22 are forced apart so that the welding head 10 can be accommodated in the channel 24. Once inside, the side walls 22, the overhangs 26 and the flange 28 are brought back together by elastic force to retain the head 10 in the channel 20 with a firm force. The head 10 can also be introduced into the channel 20 longitudinally.

A trigger 30 is set into a pistol grip 32 and, when depressed by the user gripping the pistol grip 32, a single lever 34 depresses the button 18 to ignite the welding torch. The particular embodiment shown in figures 2A, 2C is particularly useful for welding inside wheel arches, behind items, and so on.

Attention is next drawn to figure 3A, 3B and 3C showing a second embodiment of the present invention. This second embodiment is of particular use where moderate extension of the reach of the user is required. Like numbered items have a like purpose. The length of the of the second embodiment is some what longer than in the first embodiment. All items the same with the exception that the trigger A is part of a two lever mechanism the trigger being attached to a primary leaver 34 which acts upon a secondary lever 36 which pivots to push the button 18. By using the two lever movement, the action

of the trigger 30A can be transferred, at some distance, to the button 18.

Attention is next drawn to figures 4A, 4B and 4C which show a third embodiment of the present invention where, as a modification and improvement over the device show in figures in 3A to 3C, the pistol grip 32A is replaced by an extended grip 38 which is more or less in line with the welding head 10 when it is held in the griping tool.

Once again, a two lever movement 30C, 34A and 36A permits the button 18 to be pushed from a distance. The embodiment shown in figures 4A, 4B and 4C is particularly useful where a long reach is required, either over a distance or between items, to reach an item to welded.

Attention is drawn to Figures SA to 5C, which show, in Figure 5A, an isometric view of a second embodiment of the present invention where a welding head can be held using a welding head binder and a

mounting bar, in Figure 5B, a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 5A, and, in Figure 5C, the view of Figure 5B with a welding head in place. Figure 5A to 5C show an embodiment particularly useful in accepting and holding a variety of different types of welding head 10.

A binder adapted embodiment comprises a single side wall 22D and a base 24D. Two binder apertures 40 are provided, one in the side wall 22D and the other in the base 24D. A mounting bar 42 is adjustable within a bar slot 44, extends across the base in a spaced relationship with the base, and can be adjusted in position, at different positions from the base 24D, and can be screwed into place, at a selectable position in the bar slot 44.

The secondary lever 36B is shown, in this example, with a specially universally adaptable button pusher 46 which can engage the press button 18. The button pusher 46 permits contact with the press button 18 over an extended range of transverse and longitudinal displacement of the press button 18 from a mean position.

A welding head 10 can be attached by means of a welding head binder 48 which fits through the binder apertures in a manner to be described hereafter. The mounting bar 42 is positioned so that it abuts the welding head 10 when the welding head 10 is held by the welding head binder 48. The button pusher 46 registers with the press button 18.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 6, showing a detailed cross sectional view of how a welding head binder 48 can hold a welding head 10.

The welding head binder 48 passes around the welding head 10. A first end of the welding head binder 48 passes through the binder aperture in the side wall 22D. A second end of the welding head binder 48 passes through the binder aperture in the base 24D. The welding head binder 48 is passed behind the side wall 22D or the base 24D, then back around onto itself for a self adhesive surface 50 to adhere and hold the free ends 52 to maintain the welding head 10 in place.

The welding head binder 48 is attached at one end, pulled tight around the welding head 10, and then attached at the other end.

1. The self adhesive surface 50 can be a self adhesive such as tape bonding with releasable and re-attachable glue, or a releasable and re-attachable glue surface. Alternatively, the self adhesive surface 50 can comprise a self gripping system such as velcro (TM). As another alternative, the self adhesive surface can be omitted, and the welding head binder 48 provided with buckles or slip resistant catches. Another alternative is that the welding head binder can take the form of clamps, operative to clamp the welding head 10 in place.

Indeed, any means for attaching a welding head 10 between the side walls 22D and the base 24D is applicable within the present invention.

Finally, attention is drawn to Figure 7 showing an example, similar to Figure 5C, of how more than one welding head binder 48 can be used, how more than one mounting bar 42 can be used, and how the mounting bar need not be adjustable within a bar slot 44 which is disposed normally within the channel, but which can be slanting. The present invention permits for the use of one, two, or more welding head binders 48, one, two or more mounting bars 42, and also permits the bar slots 44 can be straight of angled.

The embodiment featured in Figures 5A, 5B, 5C, 6 and 7 can also be applied to the other forms shown in Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, 4A, 4B and 4C with the various other types of grip.

The overall tool may be made from injection moulded plastic, metal or steel sheet, or, indeed, any material or combination of materials which will allows the griping tool to be fabricated and to function as indicated.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A gripping tool for operating a welding head, said welding head being operated by depression of a button, said tool comprising: means for gripping the welding head; a handle for a user's hand to hold the tool; and a lever mechanism for depressing the button; said lever mechanism being operable by a trigger; said trigger being operable by the user's hand gripping said handle; said tool allowing a modified reach for the welding head, and said lever mechanism allowing operation of the welder head while gripped in said tool.
2. A tool, according to claim 1, wherein said handle comprises a pistol grip.
3. A tool, according to claim 1, wherein said handle comprises an extended grip.
4. A tool, according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said pistol grip extends at ninety degrees to the welding head when the welding head is gripped in said tool.
5. A tool, according to claim 1 or claim 3 wherein said extended grip extends away from and in line with the welding head when said welding head is gripped in said tool.
6. A tool, according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said lever mechanism comprises a single lever, incorporating said trigger, said single lever being operable to depress said button.
7. A tool, according to claim 1,2, 3,4 or 5 wherein said lever mechanism comprises a primary lever, incorporating said trigger, and a secondary lever, said primary lever displacing said secondary lever and said secondary lever being operable to depress said button.

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8. A tool, according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said means for gripping a welding head comprises: an elastic-sided channel for accepting and gripping a welding head.
9. A tool, according to claim 8, wherein said elastic sided channel comprises a base and first and second side walls; and wherein said base and wherein said first and second side walls are co-operative to grip a welding head there-between.
10. A tool, according to claim 9, wherein said first and second side walls each comprises a respective overhang, each overhang being operative to engage a welding head to retain the welding head in said channel.
11. A tool, according to claim 9 or claim 10, comprising first and second flanges, said flanges being co-operative, when a welding head is forced there-between, to increase the separation between said first and second walls to allow ingress of a welding head into said channel.
12. A tool, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said means for gripping a welding head comprises: a side wall including a first binder aperture; a base including a second binder aperture, aligned with said first binder aperture; and a binder, for attachment to said tool through said first and second binder apertures to be pulled tight around a welding head to urge the welding head towards said base and said side wall.
13. A tool, according to claim 12, further comprising a mounting bar, fixable in said side wall in a selectable position to engage the welding head and to maintain the welding head in a selected attitude when said binder urges the welding head towards said base and said side wall.
14. A tool, according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein said mounting bar passes through a slot in said side wall, said mounting bar comprising a screw at a distal end thereof and said mounting bar

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being fixable at said selectable position by tightening of said screw.
15. A tool, according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein said mounting bar is one of a plurality of mounting bars.
16. A tool, according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein said binder comprises: a first end for passing through said first binder aperture; a second end for passing through said second binder aperture; a body portion for engaging the welding head; a first surface for presentation towards the welding head; a second surface for presentation away from the welding head; and a releasable self adhesive surface on said second side; said self adhesive surface being operative to hold said first end on said body portion when said first end is passed through said first binder aperture and folded back to engage said body portion; and said self adhesive surface being operative to hold said second end on said body portion when said second end is passed through said first binder aperture and folded back to engage said body portion.
17. A tool, according to claim 16, wherein said releasable self adhesive surface comprises a self gripping system comprising a first element on said second surface of said first and second ends and a second element on said second surface of said body portion.
18. A tool, according to claim 16, wherein said releasable self adhesive surface comprises a bonding tape.
19. A tool, according to claim 16, wherein said releasable self adhesive surface comprises a glue surface.
20. A tool, according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein said binder comprises a releasable clamp.
21. A tool, according to any one of claims 12 to 20, wherein said first binder aperture is one of a plurality of first binder apertures; wherein said second binder aperture is one of a

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corresponding plurality of second binder apertures; and wherein said binder is one of a plurality of binders.
22. A tool, according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said lever mechanism comprises a button pusher for engaging and pushing the button.