Abstract: Welding power supplies having dynamic current responses are disclosed. Example welding power supplies include: power conversion circuitry configured to convert supply power to welding current; a voltage sense circuit configured to measure an output voltage of the power conversion circuitry; and control circuitry configured to: in response to detecting that the output voltage has decreased below a lower voltage limit: control an increasing ramp rate of the welding current output by the power conversion circuitry; and in response to detecting that the output voltage has increased above the lower voltage limit, control a decreasing ramp rate of the welding current output by the power conversion circuitry.

Abstract: Welding power supplies having adjustable current ramping rates are disclosed. An example welding power supply, comprising: a switched mode power supply to convert primary power to welding-type power having an output current based on a current control loop; a voltage sensing circuit to measure a weld voltage; a voltage comparator to determine whether the weld voltage corresponds to a welding arc condition or a short circuit condition; and a control circuit to: select a current ramping rate; and execute the current control loop to control the output current, the control circuit configured to, while the weld voltage corresponds to the short circuit condition, increase the output current at the current ramping rate.

Abstract: A method of operating a welding wire feeder includes receiving an input power signal from a power source and converting the input power signal to a bus power signal on an internal bus at a first time with a boost converter. The method also includes detecting bus voltage and bus current of the bus power signal on the internal bus and converting the bus power signal to a welding output signal at a second time with a buck converter. The welding output signal is suitable for a controlled waveform welding process. The method also includes detecting output voltage and output current of the weld output, and reducing a voltage ripple on the internal bus based at least in part on the detected bus and output current and/or voltages.

Abstract: For a WIG/TIG welding torch, gas distribution across a cross-section of the gas lens and/or the gas nozzle, is improved and as small a size and as low a weight of the components as possible can be achieved, when an insertion element with a bore in the center through which an electrode is to be guided is arranged, with fan-shaped flow elements being positioned around the bore and twisted relative to the plane of the bore so as to provide for radial deviation of a gas flowing therethrough. The gas lens consists of a base body having a gas distribution channel with at least one gas-lens filter, with an above-described insertion element being arranged in the gas-distribution channel, and with a gas-lens filter, seen in the out-flow direction of the gas, being arranged downstream of the insertion element.

Abstract: A method of and system for steering an arc and/or torch head in a weld joint is provided. The system includes a torch head that creates an arc in a weld groove formed in at least one workpiece. The system also includes a control unit that includes a feedback system that monitors at least one of a voltage of the arc, a current of the arc, a power output of the torch power supply, and a contact tip to weld distance. The control unit outputs a feedback signal corresponding to the monitoring. The control unit also includes a comparison circuit that compares the feedback signal with at least one predetermined value corresponding to a position of at least one of the arc and the torch head in the weld groove. The control unit further includes an arc steering system that outputs a steering signal based on the comparison.

Abstract: A laser sensor to scan the weld joint before welding begins as a pre-weld scanning operation to adjust pre-programmed arc welding parameters. A “line” type laser sensor device projects a laser line within a fixed operating window. The line laser produces a reflective position of anything the laser line “sees” within the operating window. By triangulation, the exact distance an object is from the laser can be measured at any point along the “line” of the laser. Measurements of the weld bevel are stored in an electronic storage medium and a data processor. The stored measurements and data processor are used in conjunction with automated welding equipment to adjust the welding parameters as required. Because the exact joint/weld geometry is known for every portion of the weld, the welding equipment can respond or “adapt” to variations in the weld joint between the work pieces.

Abstract: A method for securing a component to a tank includes forming the tank having a wall of multiple layers of polymer material with an opening in the wall, outer layers of polymer, and an inner layer of polymer having an inner surface whose color is dark relative to a natural color of the outer layers. The component is formed with a mounting surface of polymer. The tube wall opening is used to install the component in the tank such that the mounting surface contacts the inner surface. Energy is transmitted onto an area of a surface of the tank wall where the mounting surface contacts the inner surface. The transmitted energy is use to produce a weld between the mounting surface and the tank wall.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluidizing base comprising a flat sheet (1) with holes (2) produced using a laser or electron beam. A sheet of this type has good fluidizing properties and also good cleanability. The invention also provides a method for producing a fluidizing base of this type and a fluidizing device comprising a fluidizing base of this type.

Abstract: An improved method of weldbonding utilizing inclusion bodies, placed directly between materials to be bonded or included in a weldbonding adhesive. The inclusion bodies maintain a gap between the materials to be welded which provides a gas releasing egress route to disperse the gas and gaseous byproducts produced during welding. This egress route substantially prevents the gases and gaseous byproducts from being expelled through the weld pool and the resultant degradation of the quality of the weld pool, particularly with coated materials, partial penetration welds, and such materials as 6000 series aluminum. The method further comprises an optional step of including a crack-reducing additive, applied either directly to the materials to be welded or included in the adhesive. A laser weldbonding embodiment may use a plurality of phased heat cycles to reduce weld imperfections, and enhance the effects of the adhesive and optional crack-reducing additive.

Abstract: A wire bonding apparatus including a capillary, which allows a tip end of a bonding wire to protrude from the bottom, and a discharge electrode, which generates a spark between the electrode and the tip end of the wire by an electrical discharge; and auxiliary electrodes being disposed so as to surround the area between the tip end of the wire and the tip end of the discharge electrode. The end portion of the spark on the wire side is guided onto the axial line of the portion of the wire that protrudes from the capillary by the electric fields from the auxiliary electrodes, and the end portion of the spark on the discharge electrode side is guided onto the axial line of the discharge electrode. Dissociated ions are adsorbed on the auxiliary electrodes, preventing the discharge electrode from being contaminated.

Abstract: In an arc welding method and apparatus, a plasma (13) is generated at a welding intended position on a base material (2) by a laser (16) irradiated to the base material (2). When a discharge electrode (12) is at a minus potential, an arc discharge (4) takes place in the direction of the plasma (13) and is induced at a position irradiated with the laser (16). When the electrode (12) is at a plus potential, arc electrons are generated from a laser irradiated point and discharged to the electrode (12). When a voltage applied between the electrode (12) and the base material (2) is alternating, the polarities of the electrode (12) and the base material (2) alternately change so that the foregoing phenomena alternately occur. When the base material (2) is at a minus potential, an arc discharge (4) takes place from a laser spot.

Abstract: In a welding system for performing butt welding which comprises butting the end surfaces of steel plates, materials to be welded, placed on the upper surface of a table of a welding stage and welding the end surfaces together,

Abstract: A method for forming a substantially spherical free air ball on a fine non-oxidizable wire in a computerized bonder, which has a computerized flame-off (EFO) apparatus operable to generate pulses of different heights and widths. A train of EFO current pulses is applied between electrode and wire; examples are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The pulse heights are controlled to melt a predetermined volume of wire while minimizing the heat-affected zone of the wire as well as the wire necking, thus creating free air balls of small diameters and high ball/wire strength. The pulse widths are controlled to create a substantially spherical ball shape. The pulse train of various heights and widths is minimized in order to minimize the time needed for one bond and to maximize the number of bonds provided per second.

Abstract: The present invention introduces an arc shaping member to be used in fiber optic fusion splicers. The use of the an arc shaping member may minimize the undesirable effects of grunge and/or deposits than can buildup on arc electrodes. The buildup of grunge or other deposits can cause formation of an irregular electrical arc possibly resulting in an undesirable splice. The arc shaping member may be a passive or active. In a fiber optic splicer, the arc shaping member may be mounted in a plane parallel to the optical fiber(s) being spliced and in a plane perpendicular to the arc electrodes. The arc shaping member may be installed such that the member surrounds the electric arc created by the arc electrodes. The presence of the arc shaping member causes the electric arc to maintain the desired shape and/or intensity. An operator may control, independent of the arc voltage, the shape, size and heat intensity of the electrical arc.

Abstract: In a fixed type discharge electrode system employed for forming a ball on a bonding wire so that a discharge electrode is provided near the tip end of a bonding wire, a gas, such as air, is blown to the spark discharged between the discharge electrode and the tip end of the bonding wire in the direction from the discharge electrode so as to bend the discharged spark and the discharged spark that faces the bonding wire is positioned beneath the bonding wire.

Abstract: An arc welding process for welding a circumferential surface of a fixed pipe etc. by shielding a work part with a shield gas is provided. It is welded by a flat arc formed in a flat sectional view by simultaneously ejecting a gas from nozzles (19) to the arc formed between a welding torch (10) and a product for welding by placing a pair of the gas nozzle (19) for ejecting the gas at the end of the welding torch (10).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the welding and heat treating of metal parts in which an electric arc extends between a pair of adjacent metal parts or between an electrode and one or more metal parts with the arc traversing the metal part or parts a plurality of times during the heating cycle. For finite length metal parts, i.e. when the surface or surfaces to be heated do not provide closed paths to be followed by the arc, the arc is initiated, caused to follow the surface, extinguished and then reinitiated, or is caused to traverse the surfaces in alternately opposite directions after initiation. With finite length metal parts, run-off tabs are provided at the ends of the surfaces to prevent overheating at such ends. A magnetic field causes the arc to traverse the surfaces and may be modified in strength or distribution to vary traverse rate.

Abstract: A narrow weld-groove welding process, in which a bare welding wire is fed into a weld groove defined between the opposed surfaces of two pieces of metals for producing a metal arc therein for welding. In this process, a welding wire is subjected to a plastic deformation of a wave form, before being fed into a nozzle hole provided in a contact tip, and then the wire is fed into a nozzle hole, while maintaining elasticity tending to cause waving, whereby the tip of a welding wire being fed through a nozzle exit is automatically waved between the opposed surfaces of metals to be joined, with the tip of wire being alternately faced in the opposite directions, in response to the weaving motion thereof, with the feeding of the welding wire and progress of welding. In addition, the apparatus for use in a narrow weld-groove welding process is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for arc welding of a pair of spaced steel plates from one side only using a grooved back-up plate which gives a good weld bead shape on the under side, gives high linear welding speeds, and avoids contamination of the deposited weld metal by the metal from the back-up plate. A pair of consumable electrodes connected in electrical series between the output terminals of the power source and with one connected by an independent connection to the workpiece are advanced into the weld gap on lines of movement which intersect at a point above the lower surfaces of the plates so that an arc is maintained between the electrodes spaced from the base of the back-up plate groove. A separately energized electrode trails the first two electrodes and deposits a weld bead on the first deposited weld metal while it is still hot.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the welding and heat treating of metal parts in which an electric arc extends between a pair of adjacent metal parts or between an electrode and one or more metal parts with the arc traversing the metal part or parts a plurality of times during the heating cycle. For finite length metal parts, i.e. when the surface or surfaces to be heated do not provide closed paths to be followed by the arc, the arc is initiated, caused to follow the surface, extinguished and then reinitiated, or is caused to traverse the surfaces in alternately opposite directions after initiation. With finite length metal parts, run-off tabs are provided at the ends of the surfaces to prevent overheating at such ends. A magnetic field causes the arc to traverse the surfaces and may be modified in strength or distribution to vary traverse rate.

Abstract: A method is disclosed in which gas shield arc welding is carried out while applying a gas at a higher pressure than the shield gas to the rear part of the surface of molten metal during welding. By this method, welding proceeds while the molten pool is being maintained in the desirable shape, and the welding can be performed at high currents and speeds without causing bead defects such as undercut formation or humping.

Abstract: A self-propelled arc welding device, which uses an inert gas within a primary zone to protect superheated metal from contact with atmospheric elements, is shielded with an outer compartment to protect against external air currents in the form of a portable shroud which closes off air currents along the work surface, at least partially. Particularly, for protecting girth welds in pipelines welded by a track-guided machine moving orbitally about the pipe, the compartment includes elements which make a substantially line contact with the pipe surface. The carriage which supports the welding device preferably carries the arc-enclosing shield. An observation window or opening for watching the arc is provided and free access to controls and adjustment means is permitted so that normal control operations are not hampered.

Abstract: This invention relates to welding torches of the kind comprising a torch body which incorporates a tubular core having means of clamping a refractory electrode which projects beyond the torch body, flow-means for an arc-gas, which flow-means consists of an annular passage between the electrode and an axial flow-controlling sleeve which is arranged about said electrode and co-axially therewith, and means for circulating water to cool the torch body; and a nozzle for shielding the gas surrounding the torch body with a gap therebetween. Such torches are referred to in the industry as "TIG" torches. In such a torch the invention consists in a combination of several features viz:A. the axial length of the annular passage is at least 10mm. and its radial width is between 0.5 and 3 mm. for an axial distance of at least 5 mm. from its upstream end;B. the annular passage is connected upstream to a chamber for distributing the arc-gas andC.