CA1279379C - Flexible electrode holder - Google Patents
Flexible electrode holderInfo
- Publication number
- CA1279379C CA1279379C CA 587904 CA587904A CA1279379C CA 1279379 C CA1279379 C CA 1279379C CA 587904 CA587904 CA 587904 CA 587904 A CA587904 A CA 587904A CA 1279379 C CA1279379 C CA 1279379C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- electrode
- handle
- head
- plunger
- electrode holder
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K9/00—Arc welding or cutting
- B23K9/24—Features related to electrodes
- B23K9/28—Supporting devices for electrodes
- B23K9/29—Supporting devices adapted for making use of shielding means
- B23K9/291—Supporting devices adapted for making use of shielding means the shielding means being a gas
- B23K9/295—Supporting devices adapted for making use of shielding means the shielding means being a gas using consumable electrode-wire
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Discharge Heating (AREA)
Abstract
FLEXIBLE ELECTRODE HOLDER
Abstract of the Disclosure An electrode holder for use in arc welding has an elongate handle portion at one end of which is a head which includes jaws for engaging the end of a welding electrode. The jaws are spring loaded into the electrode engaging position, but may be released by means of a manually operated actuator in the head of the device. The head is pivotally mounted with respect to the handle so that the orientation of the welding electrode secured in the head can be varied as desired.
Abstract of the Disclosure An electrode holder for use in arc welding has an elongate handle portion at one end of which is a head which includes jaws for engaging the end of a welding electrode. The jaws are spring loaded into the electrode engaging position, but may be released by means of a manually operated actuator in the head of the device. The head is pivotally mounted with respect to the handle so that the orientation of the welding electrode secured in the head can be varied as desired.
Description
37~3 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention _ _ _ _ This invention relates to a new or improved holder for use in securing an electrode of the type employed in arc welding.
(b) Description of the Prior Art There are numerous arrangements of arc welding electrode holders Xnown in the prior art, and examples of these may be ~een in U.S. Patents 2,418,681 Wells, U.S. 2,371,306 Miller, U.S.
~,410,1~4 Jackson, U.S. 2,364,507 Bernard and U.S. 4,591,690 Van lo Reijmersdal. The above noted patents show examples of electrode holders havirlg jaws in heads that are screw-threadedly attached to the handle. Rotation of the head relative to the handle moves a pin against one end of the movable jaw to effect clamping of the electrode end.
U.S. ~,538,245 Hiller shows a holder in which a thum~
screw is employed to secure the electrode end~ Others examples of electrode holders `are skown in U.S. 2,383,9Sl Ba~s, U.S. 2,458,723 Nilsson and U.S. 2,338,913 Esposito, U.S. ~,l97,307 Goodwin and U.S. 2,870,32~ Albert.
~ enerally in the prior art, the electrode handle is coupled to the head b~ the screw-threaded connection and may be unscrewed to remove it from the head. The power cable is connected to a cable conl~ector inside the handle by a clamping screw of the like that can be rotated into clamping engagemen~
with the bare end of the cable within the connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an iSnproved , ~-~7~3~3 electrode holder for arc welding which will be more convenient and versatile in use than existing designs.
The invention provides an electrode holder for arc we:ld~
ing comprising:
an elongate handle;
a head pivotally ~ounted on said handle to pivot about an axis transverse to the length of said handle;
co-operating jaws in said head adapted to grip one end of a welding electrode therebetween, and - /o manually actuated control mea~s adapted to cause relative movement between said jaws to selectively engage and grip or release the welding electrode end.
The electrode holder preferably includes means for releasably retaining the head and a selected pivotal position relative to the handle so that the electrode can be located in a desired orientation relative to the handle. With previous designs of electrode holder this was not possible except by bending of the electrode rod itself and adjacent to its attachment to the holder.
However such ~ending causes breakage of separation of t}le flux cGa.lng of the electrode rendering the affected section of the electrode unusable.
The electrode holder preferably has a heavy gauge conductive metallic cable connector positioned within a contoured insulating hand grip, the connector being coupled to a curr~nt supply cable at one end and at the other end being pivotally connected to a conductive metal socket that define~ in the head a pair of jaws for engaging the end of the electrode. A fixed jaw ~27~3~3~7~3 is provided by a groove in the socket and a moving jaw by a pivotally mounted cam one end of which is engaged by a spring-loaded plunger which ur~es the movable jaw to pivot in an elec-trode gripping direction. A manually engageable actuator controls movement of the plunger and comprises a transversely arranged rod having projecting ends that can be alternatively depressed to retract or to release the plunger. The pivotal connection between the socket and cable connector is in a region between the head and the body of the holder, this region being surrounded by a flexible ~0 bellows arrangement.
The electrode holder as disclosed herein incorporates a number of i~provements over existing electrode holders, and is designed to reduce electrode waste and provide a safer and more comfortable hand tool. Wastage in welding electrodes is well known. The ~etal of the electrodes only being deposited when it is covered by flux. The flux provides a gaseous atmospheric shield under the heat generated in the welding process thereby allowing the filler metal from the electrode to be deposited and to solidify without developing porosity. When used in some ~o weLding positions, such electrodes have to be deformed near the clamping device in the electrode holder of the torch head.
However such bending of the electrode causes the flux to flaXe and fall off, so that the portion of the electrode wllere this has occurred is no longer usable. Such wasted electrode material represents a very significant expense.
With the improved electrode holder as disclosed herein no bending of the electrode is necessary, but rather the he~d of 7~3i79 the electrode holder can be pivoted or swivelled, so that there is no wastage of electrode, apart from the usual stub of the elec-trode rod that must in any event remain unconsumed.
The electrode holder also incorporates mechanical improvements as compared to currently used designs. In one commonly used type of electrode holder the head of the device must be rotated through a number of revolutions to retract a cam pin within it to allow the electrode end to be inserted, and then the head must be rotated in the opposite direction to clamp the elec-trode end therein. Because o~ the length of the projecting elec-trode, the operator is required to manipulate the electrode holder to engage the new electrode by holding his arms at a distance from his body, and this is not easily done in some working locations.
In contrast, with the improved electrode holder as disclosed herein the operator need merely press an actuator button with one hand to enable the electrode and to be inserted or released.
Additionally, the novel electrode holder incorporates a contoured handle that is designed for comfortable engagement by the palm and fingers of one hand. In the above described prior art device ~O involving rotation of the hand for angagement of the electrode end, the handle had to be revolutionary symmetrical since the angular position of the head about the axis of the handle would vary in accordance with the dimension of the electrode end that has to be gripped.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will further be described, by way of exam-ple only, with reference to the exhibiting drawing~, wherein 3~
Figure 1 is a longitudinal side elevation of an elec-trode holder in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the head of the elec-trode holder taking the direction of the arrow II in Figure l;
Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional side elevation of a portion of the electrode holder;
Figure 4 is a perspective view a socket used in the electrode holder;
Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a ~ellows /O and mounting arrangement; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a cable connector.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in Figure 1, the electrode holder 10 comprises an elongate handle 11 having at the upper end thereof a somewhat rounded head 12 separated fro~ the handle by a flexible bellows arrangement 13. The handle 11 is formed a hollow insulated casing of a suitable plastics material and it is contoured and sized to fit comfortably within the palm of one hand, having on its forward side four rounded depressions 14 for engagement by the fingers of O the operator.
The head 12 is likewise an insulated structure formed of suitable plastics materials comprising opposing half shells 15 which are secured together at the upper end by a threaded fastener 16.
As best seen in Figure 3, the handle li has a hollow through bore 17 in which is seated a generally tubular cable connector 18 which is fabricated in a suitable conductive metal such as brass and defines a blind bore 19 adapted to receive a conductive metal supply cable (not shown). A set screw 20 threa-ded in the wall of the cable connector 18 can be rotated to clamp the electrical conductor and form a conductive connection between it and the cable connector 18.
The cable connector 18 is position~d in a stepped seat 21 in the bore 17 and is held in place by a spring retaining ring 22 which engages in a peripheral groove 23 near the top of the connector 18, as shown in Figures 3 and 6. At the top end of the /0 connector 18-are two parallel ~pstanding the lugs 24 having aligned transverse bore 25 extending laterally therein and receiving a cylindrical pivot pin 26 passing through a bore 27 in a lug 28 of an elongate socket carrier 29 which is clamped in the head 12 by the half shells 15. The socket carrier is of conductive metal, and the pivot clamping forms a good elec~rical connection between the cable connector 18 and the ~ocket carrier 29. A spring loaded ball 30 positioned in the top of the cable connector between the lugs 24 is arranged to co-operate with a series of angularly spaced recesses on the arcuately curved ~-~ periphery of the lug 28 so that when the carrier 29 is pivoted to register the ball 30 with a selected recess 31, the ball acts as a detent to releasably retain the carrier in the associated pivotal position. The strength of this retaining force can be selected to be of any desired magnitude.
At the upper end of the carrier 29 there is an angularly arranged socket 32 formed by a U-shaped groove 33 between the walls of which is pivo~ed a cam lever 34 having a forwardly , projecting end 35 which together with the U-shaped groove 33 forms a pair OI jaws adapted to grip an electrode end tnot shown). As is seen particularly in Figure 4, the lower end of the groove 33 tapers in width.
The rounded rear end 36 of the cam lever 34 is eng~ged by a cylindrical plunger 37 extendin~ axially in the socket carrier 29, the plunger being biased upwardly by a coiled compres-sion spring 38 positioned below it. A light wire spring 39 posi-tioned between the head shells 15 and the cam lever 34 urges the later to pivot (clockwise as seen in Figure 3) to m~ve in a rod releasing direction.
Movement of the plunger 37 is controlled by an actuator 45 in th~ form of a transversely arranged elongated rod of insula-ting material that extends transversely through the head 12 and projects from both ends thereof. Specifically, the actuator 45 is of rectangular profile and comprises a large end 46 ~uided to move in a passage 47 in the head 12, a small end 48 guided to move in a passage 49 in the head 12 and a taperad intermediate section 50.
The actuator ~S passes throug~ rectangular apertures 51 in the socket carrier 29 aligned with the passage 47, and also through a slot 52 extending transversely through the plunger 37. The actua-tor 4~ thus constitutes a slider bar the opposite ends 46 and 4~
of which are formed as buttons accessible on opposite sides of the head 12, and the tapered intermediate section 50 of which forms a profiled cam surface engageable with the lower end of the plunyer slot 52 to control the movement thereof. Thus, in t~e pcsi~ion shown in Fi~ure 3, the narrower end of the tapered section 5 .
' ~7~3~
registers with the slot 52 so that the plunger 37 is upwardly extended and the cam lever 34 is positioned with its end 35 close to the bottom of the groove 33. Through this position, depression of the large end 46 of the actuator causes the plunger 37 to be depressed through interaction between the tapered sectivn 50 ~nd the lower edge of the slot 52 80 that the cam lèver 34 can be pivoted (clockwise as seen in Figure 3) to increa~e the gap between the front end 35 and the bottom of the groove 33.
The bellows 13 has its upper end secured by an internal resilient rihg 55 to a annular retaining ring 56 that encloses and is threadly connected to the lower ends of the half shells 15 of the head 12. Similarly, the lower end of the bellows is secured by an internal resilient ring 57 to a flanged annular r~
ring 58 that i`s in threaded engage~ent with the handle 11, the lower end of th~ retaining ~ 57 being seated upon the retaining ring 22 and thus fixing the latter relative to the handle 11. The bellow~ 13 is made of any suitable insulating flexible or elastic material and prevents the ingress of extraneous material to the region of the pivotal connection between the head 12 and the handle 11 while allowing sub3tantially unrestricted pivotal move-ment therebetween.
The operation of the electrode holder should be clear from the foregoing de~scription. When it is desired to insert an electrode into the holder, the large end 46 of the slider bar is depressed thus opening the jaws 33, 34 so that the electrode end (not shown) can be inserted therebetween. Thereafter, depressing the smal~er end 48 of the slider bar will allow ~he cam leve~ 34 ~7~37~
to be pivoted under the influence of the spring 38 to securely grip the end of the electrode. Proper positioning of the elec-trode relative to the handle can be effected by pivoting the head abut the pin 26.
Accordingly, the engagement or removal of the elec~rode rod with respect to the holder can be effected much more simply, safely, and rapidly than with prior art devices. The provision of a contoured handle provides the operator with a better "feel" for the tool and produces less hand fatigue than experienced with /0 prior art designs, by virtue of the contours provided for engage-ment by the ~igures. The new holder is of increased size as compared to prior art holders in that to accommodate the contoured depressions 14 the handle is of greater diameter and there~ore includes a greater mass of material. There is therefore less heat absorption and more protection is provided to the user's hand. I
desired, the cable connector 18 and the cable itself can be ~rapped in heat insulating material to further reduce the amount of heat transmitted to the user's hand through the handle. The handle therefore can be maintained cool and comfortable over protracted periods of continuous usage. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, the pivotal mounting of the head enables better use of the flux covered electrode rods and thus savings in material use~
(a) Field of the Invention _ _ _ _ This invention relates to a new or improved holder for use in securing an electrode of the type employed in arc welding.
(b) Description of the Prior Art There are numerous arrangements of arc welding electrode holders Xnown in the prior art, and examples of these may be ~een in U.S. Patents 2,418,681 Wells, U.S. 2,371,306 Miller, U.S.
~,410,1~4 Jackson, U.S. 2,364,507 Bernard and U.S. 4,591,690 Van lo Reijmersdal. The above noted patents show examples of electrode holders havirlg jaws in heads that are screw-threadedly attached to the handle. Rotation of the head relative to the handle moves a pin against one end of the movable jaw to effect clamping of the electrode end.
U.S. ~,538,245 Hiller shows a holder in which a thum~
screw is employed to secure the electrode end~ Others examples of electrode holders `are skown in U.S. 2,383,9Sl Ba~s, U.S. 2,458,723 Nilsson and U.S. 2,338,913 Esposito, U.S. ~,l97,307 Goodwin and U.S. 2,870,32~ Albert.
~ enerally in the prior art, the electrode handle is coupled to the head b~ the screw-threaded connection and may be unscrewed to remove it from the head. The power cable is connected to a cable conl~ector inside the handle by a clamping screw of the like that can be rotated into clamping engagemen~
with the bare end of the cable within the connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an iSnproved , ~-~7~3~3 electrode holder for arc welding which will be more convenient and versatile in use than existing designs.
The invention provides an electrode holder for arc we:ld~
ing comprising:
an elongate handle;
a head pivotally ~ounted on said handle to pivot about an axis transverse to the length of said handle;
co-operating jaws in said head adapted to grip one end of a welding electrode therebetween, and - /o manually actuated control mea~s adapted to cause relative movement between said jaws to selectively engage and grip or release the welding electrode end.
The electrode holder preferably includes means for releasably retaining the head and a selected pivotal position relative to the handle so that the electrode can be located in a desired orientation relative to the handle. With previous designs of electrode holder this was not possible except by bending of the electrode rod itself and adjacent to its attachment to the holder.
However such ~ending causes breakage of separation of t}le flux cGa.lng of the electrode rendering the affected section of the electrode unusable.
The electrode holder preferably has a heavy gauge conductive metallic cable connector positioned within a contoured insulating hand grip, the connector being coupled to a curr~nt supply cable at one end and at the other end being pivotally connected to a conductive metal socket that define~ in the head a pair of jaws for engaging the end of the electrode. A fixed jaw ~27~3~3~7~3 is provided by a groove in the socket and a moving jaw by a pivotally mounted cam one end of which is engaged by a spring-loaded plunger which ur~es the movable jaw to pivot in an elec-trode gripping direction. A manually engageable actuator controls movement of the plunger and comprises a transversely arranged rod having projecting ends that can be alternatively depressed to retract or to release the plunger. The pivotal connection between the socket and cable connector is in a region between the head and the body of the holder, this region being surrounded by a flexible ~0 bellows arrangement.
The electrode holder as disclosed herein incorporates a number of i~provements over existing electrode holders, and is designed to reduce electrode waste and provide a safer and more comfortable hand tool. Wastage in welding electrodes is well known. The ~etal of the electrodes only being deposited when it is covered by flux. The flux provides a gaseous atmospheric shield under the heat generated in the welding process thereby allowing the filler metal from the electrode to be deposited and to solidify without developing porosity. When used in some ~o weLding positions, such electrodes have to be deformed near the clamping device in the electrode holder of the torch head.
However such bending of the electrode causes the flux to flaXe and fall off, so that the portion of the electrode wllere this has occurred is no longer usable. Such wasted electrode material represents a very significant expense.
With the improved electrode holder as disclosed herein no bending of the electrode is necessary, but rather the he~d of 7~3i79 the electrode holder can be pivoted or swivelled, so that there is no wastage of electrode, apart from the usual stub of the elec-trode rod that must in any event remain unconsumed.
The electrode holder also incorporates mechanical improvements as compared to currently used designs. In one commonly used type of electrode holder the head of the device must be rotated through a number of revolutions to retract a cam pin within it to allow the electrode end to be inserted, and then the head must be rotated in the opposite direction to clamp the elec-trode end therein. Because o~ the length of the projecting elec-trode, the operator is required to manipulate the electrode holder to engage the new electrode by holding his arms at a distance from his body, and this is not easily done in some working locations.
In contrast, with the improved electrode holder as disclosed herein the operator need merely press an actuator button with one hand to enable the electrode and to be inserted or released.
Additionally, the novel electrode holder incorporates a contoured handle that is designed for comfortable engagement by the palm and fingers of one hand. In the above described prior art device ~O involving rotation of the hand for angagement of the electrode end, the handle had to be revolutionary symmetrical since the angular position of the head about the axis of the handle would vary in accordance with the dimension of the electrode end that has to be gripped.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will further be described, by way of exam-ple only, with reference to the exhibiting drawing~, wherein 3~
Figure 1 is a longitudinal side elevation of an elec-trode holder in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the head of the elec-trode holder taking the direction of the arrow II in Figure l;
Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional side elevation of a portion of the electrode holder;
Figure 4 is a perspective view a socket used in the electrode holder;
Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a ~ellows /O and mounting arrangement; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a cable connector.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in Figure 1, the electrode holder 10 comprises an elongate handle 11 having at the upper end thereof a somewhat rounded head 12 separated fro~ the handle by a flexible bellows arrangement 13. The handle 11 is formed a hollow insulated casing of a suitable plastics material and it is contoured and sized to fit comfortably within the palm of one hand, having on its forward side four rounded depressions 14 for engagement by the fingers of O the operator.
The head 12 is likewise an insulated structure formed of suitable plastics materials comprising opposing half shells 15 which are secured together at the upper end by a threaded fastener 16.
As best seen in Figure 3, the handle li has a hollow through bore 17 in which is seated a generally tubular cable connector 18 which is fabricated in a suitable conductive metal such as brass and defines a blind bore 19 adapted to receive a conductive metal supply cable (not shown). A set screw 20 threa-ded in the wall of the cable connector 18 can be rotated to clamp the electrical conductor and form a conductive connection between it and the cable connector 18.
The cable connector 18 is position~d in a stepped seat 21 in the bore 17 and is held in place by a spring retaining ring 22 which engages in a peripheral groove 23 near the top of the connector 18, as shown in Figures 3 and 6. At the top end of the /0 connector 18-are two parallel ~pstanding the lugs 24 having aligned transverse bore 25 extending laterally therein and receiving a cylindrical pivot pin 26 passing through a bore 27 in a lug 28 of an elongate socket carrier 29 which is clamped in the head 12 by the half shells 15. The socket carrier is of conductive metal, and the pivot clamping forms a good elec~rical connection between the cable connector 18 and the ~ocket carrier 29. A spring loaded ball 30 positioned in the top of the cable connector between the lugs 24 is arranged to co-operate with a series of angularly spaced recesses on the arcuately curved ~-~ periphery of the lug 28 so that when the carrier 29 is pivoted to register the ball 30 with a selected recess 31, the ball acts as a detent to releasably retain the carrier in the associated pivotal position. The strength of this retaining force can be selected to be of any desired magnitude.
At the upper end of the carrier 29 there is an angularly arranged socket 32 formed by a U-shaped groove 33 between the walls of which is pivo~ed a cam lever 34 having a forwardly , projecting end 35 which together with the U-shaped groove 33 forms a pair OI jaws adapted to grip an electrode end tnot shown). As is seen particularly in Figure 4, the lower end of the groove 33 tapers in width.
The rounded rear end 36 of the cam lever 34 is eng~ged by a cylindrical plunger 37 extendin~ axially in the socket carrier 29, the plunger being biased upwardly by a coiled compres-sion spring 38 positioned below it. A light wire spring 39 posi-tioned between the head shells 15 and the cam lever 34 urges the later to pivot (clockwise as seen in Figure 3) to m~ve in a rod releasing direction.
Movement of the plunger 37 is controlled by an actuator 45 in th~ form of a transversely arranged elongated rod of insula-ting material that extends transversely through the head 12 and projects from both ends thereof. Specifically, the actuator 45 is of rectangular profile and comprises a large end 46 ~uided to move in a passage 47 in the head 12, a small end 48 guided to move in a passage 49 in the head 12 and a taperad intermediate section 50.
The actuator ~S passes throug~ rectangular apertures 51 in the socket carrier 29 aligned with the passage 47, and also through a slot 52 extending transversely through the plunger 37. The actua-tor 4~ thus constitutes a slider bar the opposite ends 46 and 4~
of which are formed as buttons accessible on opposite sides of the head 12, and the tapered intermediate section 50 of which forms a profiled cam surface engageable with the lower end of the plunyer slot 52 to control the movement thereof. Thus, in t~e pcsi~ion shown in Fi~ure 3, the narrower end of the tapered section 5 .
' ~7~3~
registers with the slot 52 so that the plunger 37 is upwardly extended and the cam lever 34 is positioned with its end 35 close to the bottom of the groove 33. Through this position, depression of the large end 46 of the actuator causes the plunger 37 to be depressed through interaction between the tapered sectivn 50 ~nd the lower edge of the slot 52 80 that the cam lèver 34 can be pivoted (clockwise as seen in Figure 3) to increa~e the gap between the front end 35 and the bottom of the groove 33.
The bellows 13 has its upper end secured by an internal resilient rihg 55 to a annular retaining ring 56 that encloses and is threadly connected to the lower ends of the half shells 15 of the head 12. Similarly, the lower end of the bellows is secured by an internal resilient ring 57 to a flanged annular r~
ring 58 that i`s in threaded engage~ent with the handle 11, the lower end of th~ retaining ~ 57 being seated upon the retaining ring 22 and thus fixing the latter relative to the handle 11. The bellow~ 13 is made of any suitable insulating flexible or elastic material and prevents the ingress of extraneous material to the region of the pivotal connection between the head 12 and the handle 11 while allowing sub3tantially unrestricted pivotal move-ment therebetween.
The operation of the electrode holder should be clear from the foregoing de~scription. When it is desired to insert an electrode into the holder, the large end 46 of the slider bar is depressed thus opening the jaws 33, 34 so that the electrode end (not shown) can be inserted therebetween. Thereafter, depressing the smal~er end 48 of the slider bar will allow ~he cam leve~ 34 ~7~37~
to be pivoted under the influence of the spring 38 to securely grip the end of the electrode. Proper positioning of the elec-trode relative to the handle can be effected by pivoting the head abut the pin 26.
Accordingly, the engagement or removal of the elec~rode rod with respect to the holder can be effected much more simply, safely, and rapidly than with prior art devices. The provision of a contoured handle provides the operator with a better "feel" for the tool and produces less hand fatigue than experienced with /0 prior art designs, by virtue of the contours provided for engage-ment by the ~igures. The new holder is of increased size as compared to prior art holders in that to accommodate the contoured depressions 14 the handle is of greater diameter and there~ore includes a greater mass of material. There is therefore less heat absorption and more protection is provided to the user's hand. I
desired, the cable connector 18 and the cable itself can be ~rapped in heat insulating material to further reduce the amount of heat transmitted to the user's hand through the handle. The handle therefore can be maintained cool and comfortable over protracted periods of continuous usage. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, the pivotal mounting of the head enables better use of the flux covered electrode rods and thus savings in material use~
Claims (12)
1. An electrode holder for arc welding comprising:
an elongate handle a head pivotally mounted on said handle to pivot about an axis transverse to the length of said handle;
co-operating jaws in said head adapted to grip one end of a welding electrode therebetween; and manually actuated control means adapted to cause relative movement between said jaws to selectively engage and grip or release the welding electrode end.
an elongate handle a head pivotally mounted on said handle to pivot about an axis transverse to the length of said handle;
co-operating jaws in said head adapted to grip one end of a welding electrode therebetween; and manually actuated control means adapted to cause relative movement between said jaws to selectively engage and grip or release the welding electrode end.
2. An electrode holder as claimed in claim 1 further including means for releasably retaining said head in a selected pivotal position relative to said handle to locate the electrode in a desired orientation.
3. An electrode holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein said handle has an elongate conductive metallic cable connector therein adapted for attachment at one end to a current supply cable and extending longitudinally in the handle with an opposite end of the cable connector being pivotally connected to said head which comprises a conductive metallic socket that is adapted to receive said one end of the welding electrode, said jaws comprising a fixed jaw defined by a groove in said socket and a movable jaw mounted to co-operate with said groove.
4. An electrode holder as claimed in claim 3 wherein said movable jaw is mounted on said socket and guided to move towards the bottom of said groove to grip the electrode end thereagainst, said control means comprising a plunger guided to move longitudi-nally of said socket and co-operating with said movable jaw such that movement of said plunger in one direction causes said movable jaw to move in an electrode-gripping direction and movement in the opposite direction causes said movable jaw to move in an electrode-releasing direction.
5. An electrode holder as claimed in claim 4 wherein said socket groove extends at an angle relative to the length of the handle, and said movable jaw comprises a cam lever that is pivotally mounted in said socket and has one arm that co-operates with said groove and a second arm that co-operates with said plunger, said plunger being spring-loaded to advance and engage said cam lever and pivot it in the electrode-gripping direction.
6. An electrode holder as claimed in claim 5 wherein said head also includes an insulating casing surrounding said socket and plunger, and said control means comprises an actuator engaging said plunger, said actuator projecting laterally from said casing and being manually engageable to selectively displace said plunger in the electrode-gripping or the electrode-releasing direction.
7. An electrode holder as claimed in claim 6 wherein said actuator comprises a slider bar extending transversely through a guide passage in said insulating casing and a control slot in said plunger, said bar having a profiled cam surface engageable with an edge of said control slot and co-operating therewith to displace the plunger in the electrode-releasing direction upon movement of the slider bar in one direction.
8. An electrode holder as claimed in claim 7 including spring means acting to urge said cam lever in the electrode releasing direction when disengaged by the plunger.
9. An electrode holder as claimed in claim 7 wherein said slider bar projects to both sides of said insulating casing and has a button at each end for manual engagement to displace the bar in either direction.
10. An electrode holder as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for releasably retaining said head comprises a resilient detent in one of said socket and said cable connector and a series of complementary depressions in the other spaced in an arcuate path about the pivot axis, said detent being engageable with any of said recesses to retain the head in a corresponding pivotal position relative to said cable connector.
11. An electrode holder as claimed in claim 10 wherein said retaining means comprises a spring loaded ball mounted in said cable connector.
12. An electrode holder as claimed in claim 10 wherein said socket groove extends at an angle relative to the length of the handle, the socket being enclosed in an insulating casing, there being a flexible bellows connected between one end of this casing and said handle surrounding the pivotal connection.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 587904 CA1279379C (en) | 1989-01-11 | 1989-01-11 | Flexible electrode holder |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 587904 CA1279379C (en) | 1989-01-11 | 1989-01-11 | Flexible electrode holder |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1279379C true CA1279379C (en) | 1991-01-22 |
Family
ID=4139431
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 587904 Expired CA1279379C (en) | 1989-01-11 | 1989-01-11 | Flexible electrode holder |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1279379C (en) |
-
1989
- 1989-01-11 CA CA 587904 patent/CA1279379C/en not_active Expired
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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