ENCLOSURE WITH INTEGRAL WIRE REEL SUPPORT
Embodiments of the present invention include a welding wire feeder enclosure, the enclosure including a front, a rear, a top, and a bottom forming a perimeter of the enclosure. The enclosure further includes opposing side openings separated by a width of the enclosure, each of the side openings being adapted for receiving a side panel. Particular embodiments further include a divider panel extending substantially between the front, rear, top, and bottom, and positioned along an intermediate portion of the width of the enclosure to divide an internal volume of the enclosure into a service side and a user side, the divider panel being formed monolithically with the front, rear, top, and bottom of the enclosure, the divider panel further including an integral spindle shaft location.
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This application is a divisional application of patent application Ser. No. 12/645,449 filed on 22 Dec. 2009, the co-pending application fully incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to enclosures for retaining welding wire reels. Such enclosures may comprise, without limitation, a welding wire feeder, or a welding unit also including a welding wire reel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONWire feeders, like those used in arc welding applications, convey wire from a continuous feed source to a weld torch. In many instances, the wire is fed from a reel or drum rotationally attached to a spindle. The spindle is attached to a mast, which supports the spindle and the weight of any reel attached thereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONParticular embodiments of the present invention include apparatus for enclosing and housing a welding wire feeder, and in particular embodiments a welding wire feeder and a welder. Embodiments of the present invention include a welding wire feeder enclosure, the enclosure including a front, a rear, a top, and a bottom forming a perimeter of the enclosure. The enclosure further includes opposing side openings separated by a width of the enclosure, each of the side openings being adapted for receiving a side panel. Particular embodiments of the enclosure further include a divider panel extending substantially between the front, rear, top, and bottom, and positioned along an intermediate portion of the width of the enclosure to divide an internal volume of the enclosure into a service side and a user side, the divider panel being formed monolithically with the front, rear, top, and bottom of the enclosure, the divider panel further including an integral spindle shaft location.
Particular embodiments of the present invention provide enclosures for housing a welding wire feeder, which may also include a welding unit. The enclosures include panels (or walls), which may include an integral wire reel support shaft or strengthening member, where said panels may also be integral with said enclosures. In particular embodiments, particular components of the panel may be formed monolithically with the panel, while the panel may be formed monolithically with portions of the enclosure.
With reference to
With continued reference to
The interior volume 24 may be partitioned by a divider panel (or wall) 40. For example, in
As generally shown in the
Panel 40 may also be monolithically formed with other components of enclosure 10. For example, divider panel 40 may be monolithically formed with the top 12, bottom 14, front 16, and rear 18 as shown in an exemplary configuration in
With reference to
According to an aspect of this invention, each enclosure 10 includes a spindle shaft 50 that is integral with any panel or wall of enclosure 10. In the embodiments shown in
The welding wire reel 30 may rest directly on the shaft 50, or a rotating assembly may be positioned between the reel 30 and shaft 50, which may be operably secured to either the shaft (as exemplarily shown in
In other embodiments, it is also understood that the rotating assembly may simply comprise one or more bearings or bushings disposed between any of the shaft 50, sleeve 52, and reel 30, whereby such one or more bearings or bushings may be secured to any of the shaft 50, sleeve 52, or reel 30. As suggested above, a rotating assembly may not be provided, as reel 30 may simply rotate along shaft 50 or a stationary protective sleeve 52. In any embodiment discussed above, any means of retaining reel 30 along shaft 50 or sleeve 52 may be employed, which may comprise, without limitation, any fastener, pin, or collar. For example, one or more apertures (not shown) may be provided for receiving a pin, fastener, or other device for retaining a welding wire reel 30 upon the shaft 50 or sleeve 52. In other examples, the end of spindle shaft 50 or sleeve 52 may be threaded to receive a collar or other device for retaining spool 30 upon spindle shaft 50.
According to another an aspect of this invention, enclosure 10 includes one or more integral strengthening members 60 extending from a panel also containing an integral spindle shaft 50. Strengthening members 60 extend outwardly from a side of any divider or side panel to further strengthen the corresponding panel and to resist the forces generated by mounting a wire spool 30 upon spindle shaft 50. To achieve its purpose, strengthening members 60 are positioned in close proximity to, or, in other words, adjacent to, the integral spindle shaft 50 or the spindle shaft location 49, from which a spindle shaft 50 is intended to extend from. In being adjacent to the spindle shaft location 49 or to the spindle shaft 50, a strengthening member 60 may be aligned with, or offset a distance d from, the spindle shaft location 49 or spindle shaft 50. For example, the pair of strengthening members 60 shown in
Regardless of whether a strengthening member 60 is offset from or aligned with the spindle shaft location and spindle shaft 50, it is further understood that strengthening members 60 may be adjacently positioned relative to the spindle shaft location 49 or spindle shaft 50 when the strengthening member 60 is positioned on the same side or side surface of panel 40 as is the spindle shaft location 49 or spindle shaft 50, such as is shown by way of example in
In the embodiments shown, strengthening members 60 generally extend outwardly and vertically from any side of a panel or wall. For example, strengthening members 60 may extend in a straight vertical line or within a plane, such as is generally shown in
Strengthening members 60 generally extend vertically along a side of any panel 40. It is understood that members 60 may extend any distance along the height h of any panel, and in particular embodiments, members 60 extend substantially the full height h as generally shown in
For further improvements in strength and rigidity, members 60 may extend between a side panel 20a, 22a and a divider panel 40. This is generally shown in
It is understood that a strengthening member 60 may comprise any of a variety of configurations or structures. For example, with reference to
Any panel 40 may be made from any desired material, such as, for example, any plastic or metal, and manufactured by any means known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Exemplary plastics include polycarbonate (PC), a polycarbonate/acrylontitrile-butadiene styrene blend (PC/ABS), polycarbonate/polybutylene terephthalate blend (PC/PBT), and a polyester blend. When any such panel is made of plastic, the panel may be formed by any desired molding process. When any such panel is made of metal, the panel may be formed by any molding or fabrication process. The spindle shaft 50 and/or any strengthening members 60 may be permanently or removably attached to an associated panel to form an integral spindle and/or integral strengthening members 60. In such embodiments, attachment may be achieved by use of welding, adhesives, fasteners, or any other means known to one of ordinary skill in the art. It is also understood that a spindle shaft 50 and/or any strengthening members 60 may be formed monolithically with any associated panel, such as by a molding process for example. Any spindle shaft 50 and/or strengthening member 60 may be hollow or solid in cross-section.
While this invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it shall be understood that such description is by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. Accordingly, the scope and content of the invention are to be defined only by the terms of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A divider panel for a welding wire enclosure, the enclosure having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, and opposing sides separated by a width, the divider panel comprising:
- a panel sized to substantially extend between the top and bottom, and the front and rear of the enclosure for positioning between the opposing sides,
- the panel having one or more strengthening members extending outwardly from, and at least partially vertically along, a side surface of the panel in proximity to a spindle shaft location,
- the one or more strengthening members extending from a side of the panel opposite the spindle shaft location.
2. The panel of claim 1, wherein
- the divider panel and the one or more strengthening members are monolithic.
3. The panel of claim 1, wherein
- the spindle shaft location includes one or more apertures for attaching a spindle to the divider panel.
4. The panel of claim 1, wherein
- a spindle shaft is monolithic with the panel, the spindle shaft extending from the spindle shaft location.
5. The panel of claim 1, wherein
- the at least one of the one or more strengthening members comprise one or more lateral members extending from the panel.
6. The panel of claim 1, wherein
- the one or more strengthening members include a recess.
7. A divider panel for a welding wire enclosure, the enclosure having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, and opposing sides separated by a width, the divider panel comprising:
- a panel sized to substantially extend between the top and bottom, and the front and rear of the enclosure for positioning between the opposing sides,
- the panel having one or more strengthening members extending outwardly from, and at least partially along, a side surface of the panel in proximity to a spindle shaft location,
- the one or more strengthening members extending from a same side of the panel as the spindle shaft location.
8. The panel of claim 7, wherein
- the divider panel and the one or more strengthening members are monolithic.
9. The panel of claim 7, wherein
- the spindle shaft location includes one or more apertures for attaching a spindle to the divider panel.
10. The panel of claim 7, wherein
- a spindle shaft is monolithic with the panel, the spindle shaft extending from the spindle shaft location.
11. The panel of claim 7, wherein
- at least one of the one or more strengthening members comprises one or more vertical members extending from the panel.
12. The panel of claim 11, wherein
- at least one of the one or more strengthening members comprises one or more lateral members extending from the panel.
13. The panel of claim 11, wherein
- the at least one or more strengthening members further comprise one or more non-lateral members.
14. The panel of claim 13, wherein
- the at least one or more non-lateral strengthening members are selected from the group consisting of curvilinear and zig-zag.
15. A divider panel for a welding wire enclosure, the enclosure having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, and opposing sides separated by a width, the divider panel comprising:
- a panel sized to substantially extend between the top and bottom, and the front and rear of the enclosure for positioning between the opposing sides,
- the panel having one or more strengthening members extending outwardly from, and at least partially along, at least one side surface of the panel in proximity to a spindle shaft location.
16. The panel of claim 15, wherein
- the divider panel and the one or more strengthening members are monolithic.
- at least one of the one or more strengthening members comprises one or more vertical members extending from the panel.
17. The panel of claim 15, wherein
- at least one of the one or more strengthening members comprises one or more lateral members extending from the panel.
18. The panel of claim 15, wherein
- the at least one or more strengthening members further comprise one or more non-lateral members.
19. The panel of claim 18, wherein
- the at least one or more non-lateral strengthening members are selected from the group consisting of curvilinear and zig-zag.
20. The panel of claim 15 wherein
- the spindle shaft location includes one or more apertures for attaching a spindle to the divider panel.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 31, 2012
Publication Date: Nov 22, 2012
Applicant: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC. (City of Industry, CA)
Inventors: Edward A. Enyedy (Eastlake, OH), Kenneth Justice (Wickliffe, OH), Michael Kindig (Chagrin Falls, OH), Jason Leach (Cleveland Heights, OH), Luke Petrila (Westlake, OH)
Application Number: 13/562,671
International Classification: B65D 25/04 (20060101); B65H 49/26 (20060101); B65D 25/10 (20060101);