Abstract: A welding apparatus comprises a welding unit for welding a workpiece. The welding unit comprises a welding assistance system for generating control commands by evaluating a voice dialogue performed with a welder, and a weld control unit for setting weld control parameters in dependence upon the control commands. A welding system includes a plurality of such welding apparatuses, wherein the welding assistance system is connected to the weld control units of the welding apparatuses via a data network. A method for welding a workpiece by means of a welding unit comprises providing a welding assistance system, evaluating a voice dialogue performed with a welder operating the welding unit, producing control commands for a weld control unit, and setting weld control parameters in dependence upon the produced control commands.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus (1) for cleaning welding torches (5), comprising at least two coils (4, 11) and an opening (3) in order to introduce the welding torch (5) for the electromagnetic cleaning thereof, a supply device (7) connected to the coils (4, 11), and optionally an apparatus for applying a cleaning fluid to the tip of the welding torch (5), wherein preferably all components are disposed in a common housing (2) and regulated by a controller (8), and to a corresponding method for cleaning welding torches (5). In order to increase the cleaning quality and the cleaning range, according to the invention the coils (4, 11) can be supplied independently of each other with electrical energy by the supply device (7) for the purpose of cleaning the welding torch (5), and a cooling apparatus (14) is provided for cooling the coils (4, 11).

Abstract: The invention relates to a vapor plasma burner (6) comprising a burner handle (6a) and a burner base (6b). Inside the burner base (6b), a liquid feed pipe (32), a heating device (26), a burner chamber (27), a cathode (22), connected to a cathode support (28), and an anode (24) which is configured as a nozzle (23) and has an exit opening (25) are arranged. The invention also relates to a cathode (22) and to a nozzle (23) for such a vapor plasma burner (6). The aim of the invention is to provide a vapor plasma burner (6) that can be optimally ignited and the wearing parts of which can be easily removed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a steam cutting device (1), comprising at least one container (5), for a fluid (8), a current source (2), a controller (3) and a burner (6), connected to the container (5), by means of a supply line (7), for generation of a steam jet exiting through a nozzle. According to the invention, such a steam cutting device (1), in which no, or almost no fluid is found in the burner in stand-by mode or after switch-off of the steam cutting device such that post-evaporation can be avoided, may be achieved, whereby a relief line (22) is connected to the supply line (7), for relieving the supply line (7) and/or the burner (6), on or after the ending of the steam cutting process. A regulation valve (24) can be provided in the relief line, which can be connected to the controller (3) itself coupled to a sensor (25), for determining the pressure in the burner (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus (1) for cleaning welding torches (5), comprising at least two coils (4, 11) and an opening (3) in order to introduce the welding torch (5) for the electromagnetic cleaning thereof, a supply device (7) connected to the coils (4, 11), and optionally an apparatus for applying a cleaning fluid to the tip of the welding torch (5), wherein preferably all components are disposed in a common housing (2) and regulated by a controller (8), and to a corresponding method for cleaning welding torches (5). In order to increase the cleaning quality and the cleaning range, according to the invention the coils (4, 11) can be supplied independently of each other with electrical energy by the supply device (7) for the purpose of cleaning the welding torch (5), and a cooling apparatus (14) is provided for cooling the coils (4, 11).

Abstract: A device for cleaning welding torches includes a device for applying cleaning or wetting liquid to the tip of the welding torch and a coil with an opening for inserting the welding torch in order to subject it to an electromagnetic cleaning. The device also includes an electric power supply device that is connected to the coil. The device for applying cleaning liquid, which consists of, for example, a reservoir or nozzles, and the coil are placed inside a common housing together with a refuse reservoir, which is located underneath the coil while serving to hold the electromagnetically removed foreign substances. Preferably, the device for applying cleaning liquid is placed inside or underneath the opening of the coil thereby enabling the welding torch to be located in essentially the same position during cleaning.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for exchanging a nozzle (21) of a vapor plasma burner (6), comprising a housing, a cathode (38) connected to a cathode support, and an anode, configured as a nozzle (31) and having an exit opening (22). The nozzle (21) can be connected to a base (69) of the vapor plasma burner (6). An insulating protective cap (23) is disposed in the area of the exit opening (22). The protective cap (23) can be detached via a spring element (66) and is rotationally secured to the base (69) of the vapor plasma burner (6). The protective cap (23), at its front, has a recess (24) which corresponds to the nozzle (21) and into which the nozzle (21) can be inserted. The nozzle (21) can be detached from or secured to the base (69) without the use of auxiliary means by displacing the protective cap (23).

Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning device, for the cleaning of welding torches, comprising a device, for cleaning the welding torch, made of a coil with an opening, for the introduction of the welding torch, and optionally, a device for the application of cleaning fluid to the tip of the welding torch. According to the invention, such a cleaning device, which provides a rapid and possibly automated cleaning, particularly suitable for welding robot applications and which is of the simplest and cheapest construction, may be achieved, whereby at least one second device, for cleaning the welding torch, embodied to clean the welding torch by means of a cold medium, in particular with CO2-dry ice, is arranged in a common housing, in addition to the device for magnetic cleaning and a common controller, a common input/output device and a common power supply or current source for the control, adjustment and energy supply of the cleaning devices are arranged in the housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a steam cutting device (1), comprising at least one container (5), for a fluid (8), a current source (2), a controller (3) and a burner (6), connected to the container (5), by means of a supply line (7), for generation of a steam jet exiting through a nozzle. According to the invention, such a steam cutting device (1), in which no, or almost no fluid is found in the burner in stand-by mode or after switch-off of the steam cutting device such that post-evaporation can be avoided, may be achieved, whereby a relief line (22) is connected to the supply line (7), for relieving the supply line (7) and/or the burner (6), on or after the ending of the steam cutting process. A regulation valve (24) can be provided in the relief line, which can be connected to the controller (3) itself coupled to a sensor (25), for determining the pressure in the burner (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to a protective cap for at least one contact pipe of a welding torch, the pipe or pipes having a respective bore for guiding and contacting a respective welding rod that is fed through the pipe or pipes. The cap comprises a housing consisting of or coated with a poor electrically conductive material, for receiving the contact pipe and a bore, which allows the welding rod to emerge. The aim of the invention is to increase the service life of a contact pipe or a welding torch comprising at least one contact pipe of this type. To achieve this, at least two openings are provided in the housing for receiving at least two contact pipes and each opening is connected to one respective bore in the housing for receiving at least two contact pipes and each opening is connected to one respective bore in the housing. Each bore is positioned in such a way that it corresponds with the course of the welding rod in the contact pipe, once the protective cap has been mounted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas nozzle and to a welding torch equipped with the gas nozzle, a nozzle assembly and with a contact tube that have an artificially produced patina layer for the purpose of reducing the adhesion of welding spatters at least on a partial area of the surface thereof. The invention also relates to a cleaning device for welding torches having a brush provided with bristles. These bristles are made of a very soft elastic material, preferably plastic, and abrasive grains are embedded in the bristles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protective cap for at least one contact pipe of a welding torch, the pipe or pipes having a respective bore for guiding and contacting a respective welding rod that is fed through the pipe or pipes. The cap comprises a housing consisting of or coated with a poor electrically conductive material, for receiving the contact pipe and a bore, which allows the welding rod to emerge. The aim of the invention is to increase the service life of a contact pipe or a welding torch comprising at least one contact pipe of this type. To achieve this, at least two openings are provided in the housing for receiving at least two contact pipes and each opening is connected to one respective bore in the housing for receiving at least two contact pipes and each opening is connected to one respective bore in the housing. Each bore is positioned in such a way that it corresponds with the course of the welding rod in the contact pipe, once the protective cap has been mounted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cleaning welding torches (11) and to a device for cleaning welding torches (11), comprising a device for applying cleaning or wetting liquid to the tip of the welding torch (11) and comprising a coil (3) with an opening (4) for inserting the welding torch (11) in order to subject it to an electromagnetic cleaning. The inventive device also comprises an electric power supply device (7) that is connected to said coil (3). The aim of the invention is to provide a cleaning method that can be executed in a manner that is as rapid and automatable as possible and to create a corresponding cleaning device. To this end, the device for applying cleaning liquid, which consists of, for example, a reservoir (2) or nozzles (32), and the coil (3) are placed inside a common housing (1) together with a refuse reservoir (6), which is located underneath the coil (3) while serving to hold the electromagnetically removed foreign substances.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrochemical method for the cleaning surfaces of metallic work pieces and an electrode (1) for the electrochemical cleaning of surfaces of metallic work pieces (2), especially surfaces in the region of welded seams. The electrode comprises a connection (4) enabling it to be connected to an electric voltage source (5), and an insulating layer (7) for the impregnation of an electrolyte (8). The aim of the invention is to improve the cleaning effect and to accelerate the cleaning process and to provide maximum protection for an electrode (1). A device (9) for generating an oscillation, especially an ultra sound transmitter, is provided in or on the electrode (1).