Abstract: A unique torch assembly having specific characteristics determinative of the desired operating parameters of the torch assembly wherein the torch assembly has a connector plug for selectively connecting the torch assembly onto a universal control station for providing electrical power and gas to said torch assembly, which power and gas flow are to match said operating parameters of the torch assembly. The assembly is provided with an identification circuit for identifying unique torch assemblies with the identification circuit having an electrical property unique to said specific characteristics of unique torch assembly and is also provided with an arrangement to interrogate the identification circuit to sense said electrical property of the circuit. In this manner, the torch assembly can be positively identified.

Abstract: A high frequency power supply for supplying a welding current through a choke to a welding station including an electrode element and a workpiece element. The power supply includes a first transformer with a first core and means for receiving on said first core a first secondary winding with the first core being magnetized in a first flux direction upon creation of first current pulse and a second transformer with a second core and means for receiving on said second core a second secondary winding with said second core being magnetized in a second flux direction upon creation of a second current pulse in the direction opposite to the first pulse. The first transformer is operated by a first capacitor means for applying a first voltage to the first transformer upon operation of a first switch means and the second transformer is operated by a second capacitor means for applying second voltage to the second transformer upon operation of a second switch means.

Abstract: A high frequency power supply for supplying a yielding current through a choke to a welding station including an electrode element and a workpiece element, wherein the power supply includes a transformer means for creating a first current pulse in a first secondary winding and a second current pulse in a second secondary winding and means for connecting said secondary windings to pass said current pulses through said choke and across said elements.

Abstract: An improvement in an A.C. TIG welder for passing a current across an arc gap between a workpiece and a non-consumable electrode alternating between a first direction of arc current flow with the electrode negative and a second direction of arc current flow with the electrode positive. This type of welder comprises a transformer with a load voltage creating secondary winding in series with the arc gap and with a squaring circuit. The improvement involves a current control circuit connected in parallel with the arc gap wherein the control circuit has an energy storing capacitor, charging means for allowing the capacitor to charge rapidly according to the voltage across the arc gap tending to cause current flow across the gap in the second direction and a discharge means for controlling discharge of the capacitor across the gap in the second direction when the arc is created across the arc gap for current flow in the second direction.

Abstract: A granular flux suitable for submerged arc electric welding comprising particles of composite fluxing ingredients of the agglomerated or fused type combined with a halogenated polymer as a reducing agent for diffusible hydrogen in the resulting weld metal and a method of making this granular flux wherein the polymer is mixed with the flux particles and then heated to a temperature above the melting temperature of the polymer and below the vaporization temperature of the polymer.

Abstract: A retainer ring for a container of low twist welding wire which container includes a cylindrical outer wall, a lower partition and an upper opening through which the welding wire is drawn from a hollow, cylindrical spool of welding wire formed from a multitude of convolutions of wire in layers provided in the container wherein the retainer ring comprises a generally flat outer portion with an outer periphery fitting into the outer wall of the container, minimally contacting the wire surface, and comprising a number of projecting lobe portions whereby the outer periphery of the ring contains alternate areas first being closer to and then being farther from the outer walls of the container when the retainer ring is resting upon the hollow spool of welding wire in the container and an inner bell mouthed portion extending upwardly and defining an innermost wire extraction opening with a diameter substantially smaller than the spool of wire in the container.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for a plurality of bipolar electrical components connected between two generally parallel electrical supports, each bipolar electrical component having a lower base terminal fixedly mounted to the first electrical support and a generally flat upper terminal having a random angular orientation about the central axis of the electrical components, an electrically conducting coupler which telescopically receives the upper terminal of the component to form a rigid electrical connection between the coupler and an electrical component at one end of the coupler and the other end of the coupler is electrically connected to the second electrical support.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a welding cycle of an arc welder comprising: a number of digital programs stored in a digital memory device, with each of the programs including a plurality of digitally coded welding parameters indicative of selected functions of a specific welding cycle; a weld controller for converting the selected functions of a digital program into welding parameters at the output of the welder; a display panel having a group of switches located in a given pattern and a decoder network at a selected position for creating a decoded signal indicative of the activation pattern of the decoder network; means responsive to the decoded signal for activating said switches in either a first condition where the switches activate means for modifying a selected one of said digital programs or a second condition where said switches activate means for creating a program select signal corresponding to a given digital program; means responsive to a program select signal for selecting one of the progra

Abstract: A consumable welding electrode for electric arc welding in a shielding gas and producing reduced amounts of fume during said welding comprising in combination a steel sheath and a filler within the sheath. The filler including metallic aluminum powder and a dual stabilizing agent of sodium oxide and potassium oxide, wherein the dual stabilizing agent and said aluminum have about a 2.4:1 to 3.5:1 weight ratio.

Abstract: Automatic welding apparatus of the type comprising a carriage self-propelled along a guide track encircling end-to-end adjoining metal tube sections through a welding pass therearound for forming a weld bead joint therebetween is provided with a welding head pivotally mounted on the carriage for pivotal movement thereon in the plane of the weld joint, about a pivot point located approximately at the tip end of the wire electrode projecting from the nozzle end of the welding head, between an initial forwardly inclined drag angle welding position at the top of the adjoining horizontally disposed tube sections to a rearwardly inclined push angle welding position when the welding head reaches around 120.degree. to 135.degree. of its welding pass around the weld joint.

Abstract: A consumable welding element for arc welding comprising a steel sheath surrounding a compacted core containing metal alloying powders and an essentially 100% basic compound in an amount less than about 1.60% of the total weight of said element. The basic compound is calcium fluoride powder which is preferably in the range of about 0.1% to about 0.9% calcium fluoride powder by total weight of the element. As another feature the core of the element contains a specific agent for decreasing the amount of diffusible hydrogen in the weld metal. This new element may be a filler metal for TIG welding; however, it is preferably a consumable electrode for MIG welding.

Abstract: A plasma-arc torch system is disclosed wherein a source provides gas and electrical power. A delivery device is connected to the source for supplying the gas and electrical power to a plasma-arc torch. A filter is disposed within the delivery device for filtering the gas being supplied to the plasma-arc torch. The filter provides more uniform operation and improved gas mixing.

Abstract: A unique torch assembly having specific characteristics determinative of the desired operating parameters of the torch assembly wherein the torch assembly has a connector plug for selectively connecting the torch assembly onto a universal control station for providing electrical power and gas to said torch assembly, which power and gas flow are to match said operating parameters of the torch assembly. The assembly is provided with an identification circuit for identifying unique torch assemblies with the identification circuit having an electrical property unique to said specific characteristics of unique torch assembly and is also provided with an arrangement to interrogate the identification circuit to sense said electrical property of the circuit. In this manner, the torch assembly can be positively identified.

Abstract: A system, method and circuit for protecting a plasma nozzle of the type including an electrode within the nozzle and a paper supply for creating an arc between the electrode and nozzle for establishing a plasma issuing from the nozzle toward a workpiece, which system, method and circuit detects when the nozzle contacts or drags along the workpiece and shifts the power supply to a low current operating mode if the power supply is in a high current operating mode.

Abstract: In an engine welder of the type including an output alternator having a rotor driven about a central axis with an outwardly facing, cylindrical surface and a stator with a cylindrical surface generally matching said cylindrical surface of the rotor and containing in a number of inwardly opening, circumferentially spaced, axially extending winding slots, wherein the slots include a first group adapted to receive welding current windings and a second group adapted to receive auxiliary power circuit windings. The improvement in this construction involves modifying the first group of slots to include structural means for causing a substantial increase in the flux leakage in the first group of slots, as compared to the flux leakage between the second group of slots. In this manner, the welding output of the engine welder has a substantial internal reactance and the auxiliary power circuit has a reduced internal reactance, all in the same stator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of welding along a pass line on a steel workpiece, which method and apparatus comprises simultaneously feeding two welding wires in generally parallel relationship toward a workpiece with extended welding wires generally intersecting the workpiece at individual points spaced from each other a distance in the range about 3/16 inch to about 3/8 inch; then creating a separate arc between each of the wires and the workpiece; passing a single protective envelope of shielding gas axially along two welding wires simultaneously and around said two separate arcs extending between welding wires and the workpiece; and, causing relative movement between the two gas shielded welding wires and the workpiece in the direction corresponding to the desired pass line on the workpiece.

Abstract: There is provided an improvement in a short circuiting arc welding system comprising a work station with a consumable electrode and workpiece, a D.C. power supply with a positive and a negative terminal, high frequency current control means for applying a welding circuit with a given time-based profile across the work station while the electrode is short circuited and while the electrode is spaced from the workpiece, a welding current circuit means including a first means for creating a first inductive reactance in series with the current control means and work station whereby the welding current follows the time-based profile in accordance with the first inductive reactance. The improvement comprises a background current circuit means between the power supply and the work station and in parallel with the current control means and first means for applying continuously a background current across the work station.

Abstract: A storage reel for copper coated iron welding electrode wire comprises a tubular core of plywood having opposite ends and flanges of plywood at the opposite ends. A vapor barrier layer preferably having outer layers of aluminum foil and an intermediate layer of paper is bonded to the axially inner surfaces of the flanges to provide a barrier against the migration of moisture and other vapor contaminate in the wood material to the welding electrode wire wound on the reel. A method of constructing the reel is also disclosed.

Abstract: A consumable welding element for arc welding comprising a steel sheath surrounding a compacted core containing metal alloying powders and an essentially 100% basic compound in an amount less than about 1.60% of the total weight of said element. The basic compound is calcium fluoride powder which is preferably in the range of about 0.1% to about 0.9% calcium fluoride powder by total weight of the element. As another feature the core of the element contains a specific agent for decreasing the amount of diffusible hydrogen in the weld metal. This new element may be a filler metal for TIG welding; however, it is preferably a consumable electrode for MIG welding.

Abstract: A flux for use in arc welding of a stainless steel workpiece with a consumable metal electrode having a precentage of chromium, which welding flux comprises a silica containing system for forming a slag on the surface of the deposited chromium-bearing alloy weld metal and a bismuth containing slag releasing agent selected from the class consisting of elemental bismuth, bismuth fluoride, bismuth sulfide, bismuth titanate, bismuth oxy carbonate, bismuth oxy-chloride and mixtures thereof. Also, there is provided an electrode employing this flux.