METHOD OF WELDING TWO SIDES OF A JOINT SIMULTANEOUSLY

• US 20090120919A1
• Filed: 01/04/2008
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Flagg, Michael S., O'Donnell, Timothy M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,044,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/130.100
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 33/004 Filling of continuous seams
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/025 for rectilinear seams
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/092 characterised by the shape of the pulses produced
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1062 with computing means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/188 making use of several electrodes

Abstract

A system for arc welding two sides of a joint simultaneously is disclosed. By customizing welding waveforms and the distance between two or more electrodes, weld currents can be designed to transfer current to and through one or more electrodes in addition to the current traditionally passed only to the common node.

Claims

1. A method of arc welding two sides of a joint simultaneously, comprising:

supplying a first welding waveform to a first electrode using a first power source;

supplying a second welding waveform to a second electrode using a second power source;

welding a weld joint that requires a first side and a second side to be welded;

welding the first side with the first electrode;

welding the second side with the second electrode;

transferring current from the first electrode to the second electrode, or from the second electrode to the first electrode; and

moving the first and second electrodes along the weld joint in the same direction and at or near the same speed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode leads the second electrode by up to 6 inches.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode leads the second electrode by up to 12 inches.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second welding waveform is out of phase with the first welding waveform by some degree other than 45°

, 60°

, 90°

, 120°

, 180°

, or 270°

.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the weld is a butt weld.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the weld is a butt weld in the 2G position.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the weld is a fillet weld.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the weld is a fillet weld in the 2F position.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein simulated representations of the first and second welding waveforms are supplied to a simulation circuit in a computer that predicts at least the current flowing from the first electrode to the second electrode, or the current flowing from the second electrode to the first electrode.

10. A system for arc welding two sides of a joint simultaneously, comprising:

a first power source connected to and supplying a first welding waveform to a first electrode;

a second power source connected to and supplying a second welding waveform to a second electrode;

a first and second base metal positioned such that a weld joint is to be welded on a first side and a second side;

the first electrode is positioned to weld the first side;

the second electrode is positioned to weld the second side;

the first and second electrodes move along the weld joint in the same direction and at or near the same speed; and

current transfers from the first electrode to the second electrode, or from the second electrode to the first electrode.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first electrode leads the second electrode by up to 6 inches.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first electrode leads the second electrode by up to 12 inches.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the second welding waveform is out of phase with the first welding waveform by some degree other than 45°

, 60°

, 90°

, 120°

, 180°

, or 270°

.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the weld is a butt weld.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the weld is a butt weld in the 2G position.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the weld is a fillet weld.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the weld is a fillet weld in the 2F position.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein a computer takes as inputs simulated representations of the first and second welding waveforms, which are supplied to a simulation circuit in the computer that predicts at least the current flowing from the first electrode to the second electrode, or the current flowing from the second electrode to the first electrode.