Abstract: An electric-arc discharge device includes an annular gas-flow nozzle surrounding the discharge electrode, the nozzle being configured for discharging gas flows at trans-sonic to supersonic velocity, with circumferential uniformity of the gas flow around the axis of the electrode, and directed downstream to surround and radially inwardly confine and shape the arc. The trans-sonic speeds of gas discharge are the result of special annular gas-nozzle design and suitable pressure of gas supply thereto, whereby a region of criticality characterizes gas flow within the nozzle, i.e., prior to discharge at trans-sonic speeds, the discharge being around the electrode and with such thrusting momentum as to establish shaping confinement and directional stability of the region of electric-arc development.

Abstract: An electrical resistance grid welding machine for welding a family of wires as it passes through the machine along a feedpath into a strip of welded mesh which has a row of electrodes and a row of counterelectrodes arranged above and below the family of wires. The electrodes and counterelectrodes are supported at intervals by separate electrode beams which are driven back and forth, thus coupling the electrodes and counterelectrodes in a common motion. Pressure beams, which are connected to the electrode beams by rigid connectors, can be driven only perpendicular to the feed path. These pressure beams transmit the welding pressure to the electrodes but permit the electrode beams to carry out their reciprocating motion. The electrodes are guided in their associated electrode beam so as to be able to shift in the beam and are loaded by springs.

Abstract: An electric-arc discharge device includes an annular gas-flow nozzle surrounding the discharge electrode, the nozzle being configured for discharging gas flows at trans-sonic to supersonic velocity, with circumferential uniformity of the gas flow around the axis of the electrode, and directed downstream to surround and radially inwardly confine and shape the arc. The trans-sonic speeds of gas discharge are the result of special annular gas-nozzle design and suitable pressure of gas supply thereto, whereby a region of criticality characterizes gas flow within the nozzle, i.e., prior to discharge at trans-sonic speeds, the discharge being around the electrode and with such thrusting momentum as to establish shaping confinement and directional stability of the region of electric-arc development.

Abstract: A method for joining individual pieces of material together includes the steps of heating the pieces to be welded together, at least one of which consists of a metal matrix with a relatively low melting point and a reinforcement material distributed therein, the reinforcement having a relatively high melting point. The other piece may be a similar metal matrix composite, or may be a metal or alloy which is to be joined to the first piece. The pieces are heated to a temperature which is above the melting points of the metals and below the melting point of the reinforcement. The pieces so heated are brought into contact with one another and then cooled to a temperature below the melting points of the metals. One technique for practicing the method of the invention is that of capacitor discharge welding.

Abstract: A nozzle for gas shielded arc welding having a support ring to be mounted on a welding torch, a cylindrical nozzle member to be mounted on the support ring and a holddown ring for securing the nozzle member to the support ring. The nozzle member is formed of a heat-resistant non-conductive material so that spatters seldom adhere to the nozzle member. The nozzle member is fixed by being pressed against the support ring, which structure facilitates the manufacture of the nozzle member. This is useful especially as a nozzle for CO.sub.2 arc welding.

Abstract: An arc spray gun has a generally frusto-conical head member of electrically insulating material, with the small end facing forwardly in the direction of spray. Wire is fed through a pair of electrically conductive tubular wire guides containing pressure contact means that extend through the head member and converge to contact the wire ends for arc formation and melting of the metal. A gas jet nozzle provides compressed gas for atomization and spraying of the molten metal. A first gas cap is disposed coaxially on the head with rear and forward gas seals so as to define an annular gas chamber. A secondary gas is supplied to the annular chamber, and the first gas cap has a pair of diametrically opposite orifices therein for directing the secondary gas from the chamber to modify the molten metal spray in a fan shape. The orifice may have elongated cross sections to produce a rough coating surface if desired.

Abstract: A torch for use in welding has a first embodiment for gas metal arc welding and a second embodiment used for hot wire gas-tungsten arc welding. Both embodiments include a torch housing having a first and second end. A wire guide tube is centrally disposed within the housing. An upper electrode contact tip, a lower electrode contact tip and a dielectric material disposed therebetween are positioned at one end of the wire guide tube. An inner power cooling assembly comprises a first cylindrical member concentrically disposed about the wire guide tube and provides electric power to the upper electrode contact tip. The inner power cooling assembly defines a first chamber within which cooling water is circulated in contact with the upper electrode contact tip. An outer power cooling assemblycomprises a second cylindrical member and is electrically isolating from the inner power assembly.

Abstract: A method for assembling a nuclear reactor fuel element including a head part, a base part and grid-shaped spacer parts for accommodating fuel rods containing nuclear fuel and for accommodating control rod guide tubes having holding bodies for at least one of the head, base and spacer parts at given welding spots, includes threading the control rod guide tubes into the spacers, subsequently inserting a rod with support reinforcements into the control guide tube with one of the support reinforcements located at least at each respective given welding spot, and subsequently pressing and resistance spot welding the holding bodies against the outside of the control rod guide tube at the welding spots with welding electrodes of electric welding tongs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a circumferential seam weld in surrounding relationship to a cylindrical workpiece. The workpiece is moved continuously along a work path at a preselected velocity, and is simultaneously supported for free rotation about its longitudinal central axis. The workpiece moves into engagement with opposed surfaces defined by a pair of electrodes, one of which moves relative to the other and relative to the workpiece for causing rotation of the workpiece through approximately one-half revolution, whereby the two electrodes simultaneously form two welds which are about 180.degree. apart and which may individually extend up to a total angle of rotation of about 180.degree., or slightly in excess thereof, so that the welds overlap.

Abstract: A method of making a watchcase, in which two projections are formed on a joining surface of a part of the watchcase, such as a band connecting lug. The part is joined to another part such as a case body by projection welding to make the watchcase.

Abstract: A method of mounting a thermocouple assembly on a surface of a metal member by fusion welding of the thermocouple assembly sheath to the metal surface whereby the welding operation can be entirely carried out from a remote location either in air or in an underwater environment. The method generally comprises: positioning the thermocouple assembly so that the axis of the sheath extends perpendicular to the surface of the metal member, pressing the thermocouple assembly against the surface of the metal member so that the outer end surface of the tip portion of the sheath contacts the surface of the metal member; and fusion welding the tip portion to the surface of the metal member by connecting a source of d.c. potential across the sheath and the metal member and passing a d.c. current through the metal sheath and the metal member for a desired period of time.

Abstract: A portable spot welder includes a hand-held electrode clamp assembly. The hand-held clamp has a fixed electrode and a movable electrode adapted to be moved toward and away from the fixed electrode. A spring loaded toggle is used to pivot the movable electrode to clamp a workpiece between the electrodes to exert a predetermined and repeatable pressure. The invention includes an air cooling system. Air is forced through the electrical cables connecting the hand-held electrode clamp to the welder transformer. At the hand-held clamp, the air escapes to the atmosphere through passageways near the electrodes, thereby enabling heat generated within the cables and at the electrodes to be transferred to the flowing air.

Abstract: A welding fixture by which two elongate members are manipulated in a manner to become butt welded together. Two gripping members in the form of groups of spaced slip assemblies are enclosed in mounted relationship within a housing. The slips of each group circumferentially extend about a longitudinal axis of the housing, with the slips of each group being radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of the members to be joined. A first group of slips are mounted for movement within a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the members to be joined. The other group of slips are likewise arranged within a plane spaced from and parallel to the first plane. All of the slips are moved with great force towards the longitudinal axis of the members to be joined. The fixture includes means by which the members are moved toward one another with great force. Each group of slips further include an electrical contact which provides a source of current to each of the members to be joined.

Abstract: A wrist portion assembly for a workpiece feeding apparatus of a seam welding machine wherein a workpiece is supported through a chucking device on an operational end of a robot so that a portion of the workpiece to be welded is fed between a pair of upper and lower electrode rolls. The wrist portion includes plural turnable members. At least one of the turnable members which serves to move the chucking device upwardly and downwardly by the turning thereof is formed into an idle turnable member having no driving source.

Abstract: A combination of a seam welding machine having a machine body and a pair of electrode rolls thereon and a workpiece feeding mechanism for feeding a portion of a three dimensionally curved workpiece between the electrode rolls. The mechanism includes a robot which is three-dimensionally movable and which has a wrist portion of three shaft construction supporting a chucking device for holding the workpiece. The robot is mounted on the machine body of the seam welding machine.

Abstract: A method of resistance-welding two laminates each having a basic structure of a metal layer/a thermally softenable insulating layer/a metal layer, which allows welding with excellent welding strength and good outer appearance of a welded spot. In this method, two laminates are prepared in which each metal layer has a thickness of 0.02 to 0.5 mm, and a ratio of the total thickness of the metal layers of each laminate to the thickness of the laminate falls within a range between 1/3 and 2/3. Electrodes held at a temperature above the softening temperature of the insulating layers are urged against the laminates to soften the insulating layers and so bring the metal layers into contact with each other and to resistance-weld the laminates.

Abstract: Soldering apparatus for effecting, for example, a firm connection of the lead pins on IC-packages to a printed circuit board bearing corresponding lead lines. The workpiece such as an IC-package is placed at a predetermined position on the printed circuit board such that the lead pins on the IC-package and the corresponding lead lines on the circuit board, on which the solder has been applied, are in contact with each other. These sites of contact are subjected to radiant heating to cause soldering of them, by the use of apparatus which comprises a mounting base provided with a pair of diagonally disposed arms together with, if necessary, another pair of arms disposed also diagonally but rectangularly to the first pair of arms. Heat sources such as lamp units produce the radiant heat rays and focus them onto the sites of contact of the lead pins with the lead lines to be soldered.

Abstract: A fusing machine and method employ a first electrode which defines a fusing station and a second electrode which is movable toward and away from the first electrode. Two wires which have been fused together at the fusing station are automatically cut without removing the fused wires from the fusing station prior to cutting them. Also disclosed is an electrode set including a first electrode having an inwardly tapered slot sized and shaped so as to releasably capture wires to be fused and a second electrode having a straight-sided tip sized and shaped so as to be freely movable into and out of the slot in the first electrode.

Abstract: The apparatus possesses work locating fixtures or clamping devices for clamping edge areas of hollow cylindrical blanks as well as a facility for pressing together the mutually confronting edges of axial slits of the blanks. One of the jaws of each work locating fixture or clamping device is connected to a source of welding current. To prevent substantial elastic deformations of the apparatus caused by the very high clamping forces of the work locating fixtures or clamping devices as well as compression forces before, during and after welding and to render possible a feeding and removing of the blanks or wheel rim hoops, transverse to the axis of the blanks, each work locating fixture or clamping device possesses two movable clamp or pincer-type partial jaw members which cooperate with an associated fixed clamping jaw.

Abstract: A blank guide device for a resistance welding machine guides cylindrically-rolled blanks employed to produce can bodies to the welding point. The blank guide device includes a pair of blocks respectively constituting opposed L-shaped surfaces in place of a conventional Z-shaped guide portion.