Abstract: An article of manufacture having a synthetic, thermoplastic substructure, a metallic plating on the external surface of the substructure, and a metallic stud joined to the article in contact with the plating, is adapted to be electrically welded to a metallic supporting structure, whether or not the surface of the structure to which the article is to be welded is coated with an electrically nonconductive material, and a sealing of the area of the structure adjacent the welded joint is effected during the welding operation, with the material forming the seal having derived from the body of the substructure.

Abstract: An improved welding tool for end welding studs to workpieces is set forth. The tool includes simplified and inexpensive means for removably connecting a chuck to a chuck leg of the tool. The tool further includes a welding foot for holding a floating spark shield which can move toward and away from the tool body to assure that the shield will be in contact with the workpiece during welding. The tool has threaded spacing means for accurately positioning the welding foot at selected distances from the tool body to control the plunge stroke of the stud during a welding cycle. The rear of a chuck leg of the tool has a coil plunge spring thereon and a seating shoulder engaging an end of the spring to plunge the chuck leg and the chuck toward the workpiece when the spring is under compression. An adjustable seating sleeve is located around the rear portion of the chuck leg, but separate therefrom, and engages the other end of the spring.

Abstract: A bolt welding gun is provided with supporting legs extending outwardly from the gun housing which can be displaced to accommodate different bolt-attaching situations. The supporting legs can be mounted in a ring-shaped housing part which is rotatable about the driving axis of the gun. Alternatively, the ring-shaped housing part can be formed of individual segments with at least one segment arranged to be pivoted about an axis parallel to the driving axis. In another embodiment, the part of the housing to which the supporting legs are secured, can be provided with a plurality of receptacles greater in number than the supporting legs used so that the legs can be moved between the receptacles in accordance with the support arrangement desired.

Abstract: A welding gun for a capacitor discharge bolt welding device includes a thrust unit axially movably positionable within the housing. A collet chuck is fitted on the forward end of the thrust unit and holds individual bolts in position for the welding operation. A stop threadedly secured within the housing is adjustably positionable in the axial direction of the thrust unit relative to the housing for selectively adjusting the lead between the forward end of a bolt held in the collet chuck and the forward end of the supporting feet extending axially from the forward end of the housing.

Abstract: A capacitance discharge stud welding apparatus which comprises a housing. A coil is positioned in the housing and an armature is located within the coil and is movable between first and second positions relative to the coil. A stud chuck is provided for the purpose of holding a stud and is connected to the armature for movement therewith. A relatively light spring constantly urges the armature and the stud chuck toward the first position of the armature in the direction of a metal member to which a stud held by the chuck is to be welded. Engagement of the stud held by the chuck with a metal member causes the armature to move to the second position relative to the coil and against the urging of the light spring. An electrical welding current circuit is provided and electrical connection means connect the welding current circuit to the chuck and to a stud held thereby.