US2458723A - Electrode holder - Google Patents

Description

Jan- 11 1949- G. F. NlLs-soN YELFCTRDE HOLDER Filed April 5, 1947 INVENTOR y GUSTAF F. NlLssoN ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 11, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to electrode holders and has for an object to provide a holder in which the welding electrode may be held at various different angular positions including a position in which the electrode is in alignment with the holder.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a holder adapted to hold rods of different sizes.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a holder in which surface contact of extended area is procured between the electrode and the clamping means therefor.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a holder which is completely insulated.

An object of the invention resides in providing a holder which may be easily and quickly operated by one hand and which does not utilize threads for clamping the electrodes in position.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a holder which can be easily assembled and taken apart.

An object of the invention resides in providing a holder in which a minimum amount of arcing occurs.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a holder which is ventilated to maintain the same at a suiiiicently low temperature to permit continued use of the holder in comfort.

An object of the invention resides in providing an elongated plunger having jaws for the endwise reception of the electrodes and movable in an elongated case and in further constructing one of said jaws with a cam engageable with a part on the case to procure closing of the jaws upon longitudinal movement of the plunger within the case.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a lever pivoted to the plunger for reciprocating the same and in providing a collar within said case against which said lever reacts.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electrode holder illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a portion of the electrode holder showing the parts in altered position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken of line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

(Cl. 21B-8) 2 Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

The invention comprises a case I0, which is constructed of insulating material and which is cylindrical in form. This case has a body portion II with a neck I2 at the outermost end of the same. The neck I2 is formed with a bore I3, while the body portion I I, which is of larger diameter than the neck I2 is formed with an enlarged bore I4.

Slidable within the bore I3 of neck I2 of case I0 is a plunger I5, which is constructed of copper or some other suitable electrical conducting material. This plunger is of uniform diameter throughout its extent and has a portion I6 eX- tending into the bore I4. Within the bore I4 is located a collar II which in turn has a bore I8 of the same diameter as the bore I2 and which further supports the plunger I5 for reciprocating movement in the case I0. For holding the collar I'I attached to the case I0 two screws l2 are employed which extend through the walls of the body portion II of case I0 and which are screwed into the said collar.

For the purpose of supporting electrodes in the holder, the plunger I5 is constructed with two transversely extending holes 2| and 22, which are at right angles to the axis of the plunger I5. These holes are best shown in Fig. 3 and are adapted to register with other holes 24 and 25 in the neck I2 of the case I0. The holes 24 and 25 are slightly larger than the holes 2I and 22. The portions of the plunger and case at the holes 2| and 24 form jaws which cooperate to receive the welding electrodes mounted in the holder. When a welding rod or electrode such as indicated at 26 in dotted lines in Fig. 3 is inserted into the holes 2| and 24 and the plunger I5 urged inwardly into the case I0 the said rod becomes clamped against the surfaces of the case I0 and plunger I5 at the holes 2I and 24. This brings the electrode into contact with the plunger I5 whereby current may be transmitted to the electrode. The holes 22 and 25 function similarly to the holes 2I and 24 but accommodate an electrode of smaller dimensions than the electrode 26. The welding electrode to be used in these holes would be of corresponding size. In addition to the holes 2I and 22 other holes 21 and 28 are drilled in the plunger I5 which are angularly disposed with reference to the axis of the plunger and which serve the same purpose as the holes 2l and 22. These holes are adapted to register with holes 29 and 30, in the neck I2 of case I and which function in the same manner as the holes previously described. The holes 2l and 22 to save in space may intersect the holes 2l and 28 and by means of these holes electrodes may be held at various angles with respect to the holder and different sizes of electrodes may be employed. While I have illustrated two sizes of holes and have shown the same arranged at two different angles it can be readily comprehended that the holder may be designed to hold any number of sizes of electrodes and that the holes can be drilled to cause the electrodes to project from the holder at any desired angle.

My improved electrode holder in addition to supporting welding electrodes in a transverse position also will support the same co-axially with respect to the plunger. For this purpose a groove 32, V-shaped in cross section and which is best shown in Fig. 6 is formed in the end of the plunger I5. This groove opens laterally of the plunger and is adapted to be closed by a leaf spring 33 which is attached to the said plunger by means of a screw 34. The portion of the leaf spring through which the screw 34 extends is disposed in a recess 35 formed in the said plunger. The spring 33 normally bows outwardly as shown in Fig. 1 and has attached to it a jaw member 36 which is adapted to be moved towards the apex of the groove l32 when the spring l33 is flexed inwardly. The spring 33 has an end portion 38 which engages a conical surface 31 formed on the end of the neck I2 of the case I0. This portion of the spring forms a cam for moving the jaw member 36 when the plunger I5 is moved inwardly into the case Ill. It will thus be readily comprehended that electrodes of different diameter may be inserted into the groove 32 and held in proper position Within said groove.

For urging the plunger I inwardly into the case IIJ a compression coil spring 39 is employed which encircles the portion I 6 of said plunger. This spring is seated at one end against a shoulder 4I formed at one end of the collar I'I and at its other end against a fitting 42 mounted upon the end of the portion I5 of said plunger. This fitting has a socket 43 in which the end I6 of the plunger extends and is attached to the same by means of a screw 44 which passes through said fitting and plunger and is threaded into the wall of said fitting. The plunger I5 is guided for limited movement along the collar I'I by means of a pin 45 which extends through an elongated slot 46 in said plunger. This pin passes through the collar I'I and is screwed into the wall of the same. Said pin is concealed by means of the body portion II of the case IIl.

In order to reciprocate the plunger I5 in opposition to the action of spring 39 a lever 41 is employed. This lever is received in an arcuate groove 48 in the plunger I5 and is pivoted thereto by means of a pintle 49 which extends through Aan arm A5I formed on said lever and the plunger proper. For the purpose of assembling the lever 4'! and the plunger I5, an opening II is formed in the body portion II of case I6 opposite the head I3 of the pintle 49. This opening is threaded and is normally closed by means of a plug 68 which is screwed into the same. The arm 5I of said lever extends through a slot 52 in the body portion II of case I0. At the exterior of the case I0, a lever 41 is provided with a finger piece 53 by means of which said lever may be manipulated. The said nger piece is preferably covered with insulating material 54 to prevent contact with the metal of the said lever in the manipulation of the same. The arm 5I of lever 41 has a lug 55 formed on the same which lies within the interior of the body II of case I0 and which is adapted to engage a washer 56 disposed against the end of the collar I'I opposite the shoulder 4I thereof. This washer forms a shoulder against which said lug may abut when the finger piece I53 is moved from its position shown in Fig. 1 toward that shown in Fig. 2 and in opposition to the action of the spring 39.

The fitting 42 serves to attach the cable for furnishing the welding current to the holder. For this purpose, the said tting is constructed with a bore 51 into which the strands 58 of a cable 5S may be inserted. A set screw 6I of a diameter as great as that of bore 51 is screwed into the said fitting and engages the strands 58 of cable 5S and clamps the same in place to hold the cable rigidly attached to the plunger I5 and in electrical contact therewith.

To cool the electrode holder the fitting 42 and the spring 39 are constructed slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the bore I4 of the body portion II of case I0 and said body portion is open to the exterior at the end of the holder from which the cable 59 issues. In addition, the collar I'I is constructed with longitudinal grooves 62 which form passageways for conductingr air currents along the plunger I5. Other passageways are formed in the neck I2 of the case IU by means of grooves 63 therein similar to the grooves 62. In this manner air may travel throughout the length of the case to cool the plunger I5 and the attached parts thereof. v

At the end of the neck I2 of case I0 is provided a cap 64 which is constructed of insulating material. This cap has a socket 65 in which is received the outermost end of the neck I2. Said cap furthermore has a recess 66 therein in which the spring 33 operates. Cap 64 is frictionally held applied to the neck I2. The said cap has a hole 61 at its outermost end and through which the welding electrodes may be inserted into the groove 32 in plunger I5. By means of this construction the connection between the electrodes and the plunger is completely concealed and protected from injury.

The operation of the invention is as follows. In normal position, the spring 39 urges the plunger I5inwardly and the parts occupy positions substantially as shown in Fig. 1 with the plunger I5 disposed inwardly'within the case I0. This position is determined by the pin 45 striking the end of slot 46. When it is desired to utilize the holesv 2I, 22, 21 and 28 for the holding of welding electrodes, the nger piece 53 is depressed suciently to bring the various holes of the plunger I5 to register with the holes of the neck I2 of the case I6. When these holes are in register, the shank'of a welding electrode may be inserted in the proper holes, The finger piece 53 is then released and spring 39 then draws the plunger I5 inwardly to urge the Welding electrode against the walls of the neck I2 of the case III, thus bringing the electrode into electrical contact with the plunger and holding the same rigidly mounted in the holder. The parts then occupy the positions shown in Fig.- 1. If it is desired to insert an electrode in axial alignment with the plunger I5, finger piece 53 is depressed to the position shown in Fig. 2. Jaw member 36 in such case is moved completely out of the groove 32 and into the recess 65 in cap. 64. This permits of readily inserting the Welding electrode into the groove 32. Upon release of the finger piece 53 the spring 39 again draws the plunger I inwardly and cam 3B operating on surface 31 forces the jaw member 36 against the electrode thereby urging the electrode against the wall of the plunger I5 at the locality of the groove 32. The rod is then rmly held in position. After the rod is in position the operator uses the holder in the customary manner.

Whenever it becomes necessary to disassemble the parts, the following is the procedure. Plug 68 is first removed and the pintle 49 thereafter removed from the plunger I5 through the opening II closed by the said plug. The lever 4'I may then be withdrawn from the interior of the case I0 through the slot 52 in the body portion II of said case. By now removing the screws 'I2 the collar I'I becomes detached from the case ID, and the assembly of plunger I5, collar Il, spring 39 and fitting 42 may be withdrawn through the open end of the bore I 4 in the body II- After removal from the case the fitting 42 may be detached by removing screw 44 and the bushing I! detached by removing pin 45. The parts may then be examined, repaired or replaced and the device reassembled by adopting the reverse procedure.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. My invention is extremely simple in construction and can be manufactured at an economical cost. The entire device is insulated so that danger from electric shock or burning is greatly reduced. The device is easily and quickly operated by pressure on the linger piece of the operating lever and the welding electrode may be easily and quickly applied. Operation of the holder may be accomplished While the Welder uses heavl7 gloves and without removal of the same. My invention utilizes no threaded parts for securing the welding electrode in position. The electrodes may be held at various angles transversely of the holder as well as in a position co-axial therewith. In addition welding electrodes of diiferent diameter may be successfully held in the holder. With my improved invention substantial contact is procured between the electrode and the clamping device of the invention so that the heating at the locality of attachment of the electrodes to the holder is greatly reduced. The case for the holder is constructed entirely of insulating material and the cap at the end of the same may be made of a single piece of material so as to reduce the cost of the holder and so as to procure a rigid and substantial construction. By means of the ventilating openings formed in the various parts of the holder air may be caused to circulate through the same to cool the various parts of the holder and to prevent undue rise of temperature of the same. A minimum number of parts with a minmum number of joints are used in the conducting structure between the cable and the electrode so that the resistance between the cable and the electrode becomes a minimum. My improved electrode holder may be operated with one hand leaving the other hand free to insert and remove electrodes from the holder.

Changes in the speciiic form of my invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electrode holder an elongated case, a plunger slidable along said case, said plunger having a V-shaped groove in one end of the same opening laterally of said plunger for the reception of a welding electrode, a spring secured to said plunger and extending along said groove, a jaw on said spring adapted to urge the electrode toward the vertex of said groove and means on said case for moving said jaw inwardly toward the apex of said groove upon longitudinal movement of the plunger within said case.

2. In an electrode holder, an elongated case, a plunger slidable along said case, said plunger having a V-shaped groove in one end of the same opening laterally of said plunger for the recep tion of a welding electrode, an elongated jaw member secured to said plunger and extending along said groove, a jaw at the outer end of said jaw member, said jaw member being supported at its inner end on said plunger for movement toward and from said groove, and means on said case for moving said jaw inwardly toward the apex of said groove upon longitudinal movement of the plunger within said case.

GUSTAF F. NILSSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name' Date 1,425,440 Beiswinger et al. Aug. 8, 1922 1,895,573 Kiser Jan. 31, 1933 1,928,517 Varner Sept. 26, 1933 2,295,546 Combridge Sept. 15, 1942 2,312,763 Linquist Mar. 2, 1943 2,356,054 Hill Aug. 15, 1944 2,372,251 Checkos Mar. 27, 1945 2,390,837 Hill Dec. 11, 1945 2,393,830 Smith Jan. 29, 1946

Images