WO2012066135A1

WO2012066135A1 - Welding wire feeder

Info

Publication number: WO2012066135A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/070496
Authority: WO
Inventors: Osman ALGÜN
Original assignee: Alguen Osman
Priority date: 2010-11-18
Filing date: 2011-11-18
Publication date: 2012-05-24
Also published as: DE202010012928U1

Abstract

The subject matter of the present invention is a welding wire feeder for feeding welding wire (1) to a welding point, in particular in the course of TIG welding. The welding wire feeder (1) is provided with a housing (2, 3) for preferably one-handed handling and operation, and with an advancing device (6-11), arranged in the housing (2, 3) and having a drive (10, 11) and a gear mechanism (9) for acting on the welding wire (1) and moving it in relation to the housing (2, 3). According to the invention, the advancing device (6-11) has at least two advancing rollers (6), driven by a common central rotating element (8).

Description

Welding wire transmitter

Description:

The invention relates to a welding wire dispenser for supplying welding wire to a welding point, in particular in the course of TIG welding, with a housing for preferably one-handed handling and operation, and arranged in a housing feed device with drive and gear for applying the welding wire and its movement relative to the housing.

Welding wire transmitters of the structure described above are presented, for example, in JP 9141435 A or also DE 10 2005 041 695 B4. These typically have an electric motor with accumulator, by means of which the welding wire is fed via the welding wire transmitter of the weld. The handling and operation is shown by way of example in FIG. 1 of DE 10 2005 041 695 B4. In TIG welding (tungsten inert gas welding), the procedure is such that the tungsten electrode used there does not melt due to its heat resistance during the welding process. Consequently, the actual welding material must be supplied separately by a welder by hand. This is done with the help of the welding wire dispenser which feeds the desired welding wire to a welding point. For this purpose, the welder usually holds the welding wire dispenser with a hand similar to a gun and controls the feed by a control knob. This has proven itself in principle. However, the known embodiments have relatively complex and thus bulky gear assemblies in the interior of the housing. As a result, there is often only an extremely

limited space to accommodate one or more accumulators available. In fact, the drive is usually composed of an electric motor and associated accumulator as energy storage. In the interest of a durable and easy operation, the highest possible capacity of the accumulator is desirable. This in turn requires sufficient free volume in the interior of the housing, which is not given in the known embodiments in total. In addition, the mechanical design is in need of improvement because the complex and usually designed as bevel gear transmission arrangements are also designed costly. Here, the invention aims to provide a total remedy.

The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing a welding wire dispenser of the construction described above in such a way that a compact, functionally reliable and at the same time cost-effective design is made available, which in particular provides sufficient receiving volume for one or more accumulators inside the housing.

To solve this technical problem, a generic welding wire dispenser in the invention is characterized in that the feed device is equipped with at least two feed rollers driven by a common central rotary member.

The rotary element is preferably a worm. Most of the time, the worm engages two opposing gears. As such, the gears in general act upon the feed rollers. In this case, a gear is regularly connected to a feed roller.

The two gears and the two feed rollers are mostly opposite with respect to a central parting plane of two housing halves. That is, the housing is composed of two housing halves, which are separated from each other by the said dividing plane or dividing plane. In this case, an upper drive housing half and a lower wire housing half is realized.

The drive, the gearbox and the rotary element or the worm or drive worm provided at this point are advantageously arranged in the upper drive housing half. In contrast, the welding wire and the feed device are in the lower wire housing half. In most cases, the dividing plane or parting plane between the two housing halves is defined by a partition wall arranged in the dividing plane. In this way, the drive, the transmission and the rotary element or the drive screw can be arranged on one side of the partition. In contrast, find the feed device and the welding wire on or on the opposite side of the partition a place. Of particular importance for the invention is the further circumstance that the drive, the transmission and the rotary element or the worm or drive worm are arranged one behind the other. In most cases, a linear arrangement is followed one behind the other and in a common plane. In addition, it has proven useful if the drive, the transmission and the rotary element or the drive screw are arranged in this order together on a longitudinal axis or in a longitudinal plane of the housing. Since the drive is typically composed of an electric motor and at least one accumulator as energy storage, the accumulator has a relatively generously sized space within the housing. Because usually are

the accumulator, the electric motor, the transmission and the rotary element or the drive screw are arranged in this order together on the said longitudinal axis of the housing. Since the gearbox is usually designed as a planetary gear and the drive screw of its dimensions corresponds to the diameter of the feed rollers, a particularly compact design is achieved. As a result, the accumulator has an optimized installation space at one end of the housing. In fact, this installation space for the accumulator is usually provided on a front side of the housing. Of course this is not restrictive.

The two feed rollers usually rotate horizontally in comparison to the dividing plane and consequently also in comparison to the dividing wall which describes the dividing plane. As already explained, the partition serves as a component carrier. Because the drive or the electric motor and the battery mululator, the gear and the rotary element or the drive screw are arranged on one side of the partition (drive side), whereas the feed device learns a placement on the opposite side of the partition together with the welding wire ( wire side). As a result, in addition drive and welding wire are separated from each other by the partition, so that a mutual influence does not take place.

The accumulator for driving the electric motor can be charged via an external socket in the housing. As a result, the operation is facilitated and, for example, not a discharging accumulator must be replaced by a charged battery. In addition, an electronic control system is provided in this context, which usually provides for the operation of the feed device or the feed rollers and its control and / or monitors the charging process for the accumulator and controls its operation. Mostly the control electronics takes over

both functions and is generally also connected to the partition, on the drive side of the partition and not on the wire side of the partition. The drive side of the partition receives the drive, the transmission and the rotary element or the drive screw. On the other hand, the feed rollers are predominantly located on the wire side of the dividing wall and the wire moved with the aid of the feed device runs along the dividing wall at a distance.

The two driven by the worm gears are typically in a plane opposite. In addition, the design is usually made so that the two gears and the two feed rollers with respect to the central parting plane and arranged there partition of the two housing halves face each other. Furthermore, the procedure is such that the two gears and the two feed rollers are each mounted coaxially on the partition wall. In this way, not only the drive, the gear and the worm or drive worm are arranged in this order together on the longitudinal axis of the housing, but also runs the welding wire to be conveyed exactly along this longitudinal axis or longitudinal plane. The drive, the gear and the drive screw are separated only by the quasi-rectified welding wire through the partition. This favors the desired compact design and also a functional design.

Because the welding wire is only transported through the housing by the two feed rollers in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The feed rollers as such are rotated by means of the center compared to their associated gears drive screw. The drive worm and the welding wire lie in projection one above the other. The same applies to the drive and the gearbox compared to the welding wire.

According to an advantageous embodiment with independent significance, in a generic welding wire dispenser and / or such as described above, the housing is equipped with a front-side dispensing opening and a return-soapy insertion opening for the welding wire. In the area of the front-side dispensing opening, the housing is advantageously assigned an exchangeable protective cap. In this way, the housing can be approximated directly to the weld with the supplied from the insertion opening welding wire. In fact, it is even possible to insert the housing into a weld recess or to guide the housing here, as a result of the front-side interchangeable metallic and optionally fireproof protective cap.

The protective cap in question is typically locked to the housing so that it can be replaced when worn. In addition, it is usually worked with a conical shape of the protective cap, which can be particularly advantageously inserted into a weld cavity and guided therein.

In order to realize the interchangeability of the protective cap in a simple manner, the protective cap generally has a web which engages in a groove on the housing. Of course, several webs and grooves can be realized. In addition, it is within the scope of the invention to provide the protective cap with a groove and the housing with an associated web. Likewise, hybrid forms are conceivable.

The housing as such can be made of plastic. However, embodiments of aluminum or a ceramic, a plastic ceramic, etc. are just as well conceivable.

As a result, a welding wire transmitter is provided, which is characterized by a particularly simple feed or a correspondingly simple designed feed device. As a result, the costs can be kept low and only little space is needed. In this way, there is enough space for one or more accumulators to supply the electric motor available. All this is possible without leaving a generally slim and therefore ergonomically favorable shape of the housing and, incidentally, a simple operation which is favored as a result. Here are the main benefits.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment; show it:

1 and 2 different views of the welding wire dispenser according to the invention in the assembled state,

3 shows the welding wire dispenser with the housing open, with a view of the wire side of the dividing wall, and FIG. 4 shows the object according to FIGS. 1 and 2 likewise with the housing half removed and a view of the drive side of the dividing wall.

In the figures, a welding wire dispenser is shown, which serves to supply welding wire 1 to a weld, not shown. In most cases, the welding wire 1 is fed to the weld in the course of a TIG welding process. For this purpose, the welding wire transmitter has a two-part according to the embodiment of the housing 2, 3 with an upper half of the housing 2 and a lower housing half 3. Ausweislich of Fig. 2

the upper housing half 2 equipped with outside recessed grips 4. In contrast, the lower half of the housing 3, a control knob 5, by means of which the feed rate of the welding wire 1 is specified. The illustrated welding wire dispenser can be advantageously handled and operated with one hand.

In the housing 2, 3, a feed device 6-1 1 is arranged. The feed device 6-1 1 is equipped according to the invention with at least two feed rollers 6, which are driven by a common and central rotary element 8.

In fact, the central rotary member 8 operates on two opposing gears 7 and is designed for this purpose as a worm or drive worm 8. The two gears 7 are each rotatably coupled to the feed rollers 6. As soon as the respective gear 7 rotates, the associated feed roller 6 is rotated.

Since the two feed rollers 6 rotate in opposite directions as shown in FIG. 3, as indicated by the corresponding arrows in FIG. 3, the welding wire 1 received between the two feed rollers 6 and carried along by the latter experiences a linear movement, which is also shown in FIG Fig. 3 is indicated.

In this case, both a feed movement and a backward movement of the welding wire 1 is possible. This depends only on the direction of rotation of an electric motor 10, which acts on an intermediate gear 9, the screw or drive screw 8 either in one or in the other direction of rotation. As a result, the welding wire 1 is in normal operation via a back of the housing 2, 3 provided one

guide opening 12 through the housing 2, 3 conveyed by means of the feed device 6-1 1 and exits from a front-side dispensing opening 13 again. In reverse operation, the welding wire 1 can be moved back into the front-side dispensing opening 13 more or less.

To the advancing device 6-1 1 finally belongs to an accumulator or include several accumulators 1 1, which serve to supply power to the electric motor 10. The one or more accumulators 11 can remain in the interior of the housing 2, 3 and can be charged via an external charging socket 14 in the housing 2, 3. This is of course not mandatory, as can be used in the context of the invention with replaceable batteries 1 1 if necessary. According to a further variant, the accumulators 1 1 can also be arranged outside the housing 2, 3. In this case, it is possible, for example, to use one or more accumulators 11 which are attached as a battery pack to a belt buckle of an operator. In this case, the one accumulator 1 1 or the plurality of accumulators 1 1 are connected via the socket 14 to the remaining in the housing 2, 3 electric motor 10 and serve as described for its power supply.

Of particular importance for the invention is the fact that the drive 10, 1 1, so the electric motor 10 and the optional one or more accumulators 1 1 as energy storage for the electric motor 10, the transmission 9 and finally the rotary member or the drive screw. 8 are arranged behind each other, in this order. In fact, the drive 10, 1 1, the gear 9 and the drive screw 8 in this order together on a longitudinal axis or along a longitudinal plane L of the housing 2, 3 are arranged. In exactly this longitudinal plane L or along the longitudinal axis of the welding wire 1 moves during its feed through the

Housing 2, 3. For this purpose, the two feed rollers 6 are arranged horizontally in comparison to a dividing plane 15. The division plane 15 is defined by a partition wall 15 between the two housing halves 2, 3. In a comparative consideration of FIGS. 3 and 4 it can be seen that the drive 10, 1 1, the gear 9 and the drive screw 8 in the lower half of the housing 3, the drive housing half 3, are arranged. In fact, the drive 10, 1 1, the gear 9 and the drive screw 8 on one side of the partition wall 15, on the drive side 15 a, which can be seen in FIG. In contrast, there are the feed rollers 6 and the wire 1 on the opposite side of the partition wall 15, the wire side 15b of the partition wall 15, as shown in FIG. The wire 1 and the feed rollers 6 are for this purpose in the upper half of the housing 2, the wire housing half 2, received.

The wire side 15b of the partition wall 15 not only carries the feed rollers 6, but here also a wire centering unit 16 and a wire stabilizing device 17 are realized. In fact, the wire stabilizing device 17 is located approximately in the middle between two wire centering units 16. In this way, the welding wire 1 is passed a slight distance above the wire side 15b of the partition wall 15 through the housing 2, 3, driven by the two counter-rotating Feed rollers 6, which in the exemplary embodiment is rubber rollers or can act.

In addition to the drive 10, 1 1, the gear 9 and the two gears 7, which are driven by the drive screw 8 together, can be found on the drive side 15a of the partition 15 is still a control electronics 18. The control electronics 18 like the accumulator 1 1 of the drive 10, 1 1 im

Front side region of the housing 2, 3 or be arranged in the drive housing half 3, as shown in FIG. 4. In addition, the control electronics 18 is advantageously determined on the partition wall 15, in the context of the embodiment on the drive side 15 a.

With the help of the control electronics 18, the operation of the feed device 6-1 1 is controlled and in particular the rotational speed of the feed rollers 6 specified. Depending on this, the feed speed of the welding wire 1 can be sensitively adjusted. In addition, the control electronics 18 in the exemplary embodiment ensures that the accumulator 1 1 is charged via the external connection socket 14. That is, the control electronics 18 also acts as charging electronics for the accumulator 1 first

On the basis of a comparative examination of FIGS. 3 and 4, it can further be seen that the drive worm 8 engages between the two oppositely disposed gearwheels 7, which in each case are coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the associated feed rollers 6. In fact, the two gears 7 and the two feed rollers 6 with respect to the central parting plane or the partition wall 15 of the two housing halves 2, 3 opposite. In addition, the two gears 7 and the two feed rollers 6 are each mounted coaxially on the partition wall 15 in question. In addition, the gears 7 and the drive screw 8 are arranged in a common plane. This also applies to the feed rollers 6. Between these two levels, the partition 15 is placed approximately in the middle.

Of particular importance is the fact that the housing 2, 3 is equipped in the region of the front-side dispensing opening 13 with a replaceable protective cap 19. The protective cap 19 has a conical to conical shape and can be locked to the housing 2, 3.

For this purpose, the protective cap 19 in the exemplary embodiment has an inside and invisible web, which is arranged like an annular ring. To the web corresponds to a groove in the housing 2, 3, which also follows the circular ring shape of the web. As soon as the web engages in the groove, the protective cap 19 is locked to the housing 2, 3.

The housing 2, 3 per se can be made of plastic, aluminum, a ceramic, a heat-resistant plastic, etc. as well as material mixtures. The same applies to the protective cap 19. As a rule, the protective cap 19 is made of ceramic. This makes it possible to guide the illustrated welding wire dispenser with the protective cap 19 into the region of a welding groove or even use the welding groove as guide for the welding wire dispenser with the aid of the protective cap 19. As soon as the protective cap 19, which functions as a heat protection, has worn out, it can simply be exchanged for a new copy because of its exchangeable character.

Not shown is a separate switch, by means of which the feed for the welding wire 1 can be reversed in its direction. In the transmission 9 is advantageously a planetary gear, which rotational movements of an output shaft of the electric motor 10 coaxially converts and converted into corresponding squat rotational movements of the drive screw 8. Such a planetary gear has a small overall length, so that sufficient installation space for the accumulator 1 1 is available.

Claims

claims:

1. Welding wire dispenser for supplying welding wire (1) to a welding point, in particular in the course of TIG welding, with a housing (2, 3) for preferably one-handed handling and operation, and with a in the housing (2, 3) arranged feed device ( 6-11) with drive (10, 11) and gear (9) for acting on the welding wire (1) and its movement relative to the housing (2, 3), characterized in that the feed device (6-11) with at least two by a common central rotary element (8) driven feed rollers (6) is equipped.

2. Welding wire dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotary element (8) is a worm and in particular a drive worm (8).

3. Welding wire dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the drive (10, 11), the transmission (9) and the rotary element (8) are arranged one behind the other.

4. Welding wire dispenser according to claim 3, characterized in that the drive (10, 11), the gear (9) and the rotary element (8) in this order together on a longitudinal axis or in a longitudinal plane (L) of the housing (2, 3) are arranged.

5. Welding wire dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the two feed rollers (6) horizontally in comparison to a

Dividing plane (15) for the two housing halves (2, 3) composite housing (2, 3) are arranged.

6. Welding wire dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the drive (10, 1 1), the transmission (9) and the rotary member (8) are arranged in a lower drive housing half (3), while the welding wire (1) and place the feed rollers (6) in an upper wire housing half (2).

7. Welding wire dispenser according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the two housing halves (2, 3) are separated from each other by a dividing wall (15) arranged in the dividing plane (15).

8. Welding wire dispenser according to claim 7, characterized in that the drive (10, 1 1), the gear (9) and the rotary member (8) on one side of the partition (15) and the feed rollers (6) and the welding wire (1 ) are arranged on or on the opposite side of the partition wall (15).

9. Welding wire dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the rotary element (8) engages in two opposing gears (7) which act on the feed rollers (6).

10. Welding wire dispenser according to claim 9, characterized in that the two gears (7) and the two feed rollers (6) with respect to the central partition wall (15) of the two housing halves (2, 3) are opposite.

1 1. Welding wire dispenser according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the two gears (7) and the two feed rollers (6) are each mounted coaxially on the partition wall (15).

12. Welding wire dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 1 1 or according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the housing (2, 3)

a front-side dispensing opening (13) and a rear insertion opening (12) for the welding wire (1).

13. Welding wire dispenser according to claim 12, characterized in that the housing (2, 3) in the region of the front-side dispensing opening (13) is associated with a replaceable protective cap (19).

14. Welding wire dispenser according to claim 13, characterized in that the protective cap (19) with the housing (2, 3) is latched.

15. Welding wire dispenser according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the protective cap (19) is conical.