Wire brake for robotic welding torch
First Claim
1. A wire brake for use with a robotically controlled elongated torch, said torch having a longitudinal axis, an upper end, a lower end and a longitudinal bore extending from said upper end to said lower end, an electrode wire extending through said longitudinal bore and having an upper wire end protruding from said upper end of said torch and a lower wire end protruding from said lower end of said torch, said upper end of said torch having an outer boundary surrounding and spaced radially outwardly from said longitudinal axis;
- first securing means mounted on said upper end of said torch, said wire brake comprising;
an elongated adapter having a second securing means attachable to said first securing means on said upper end of said torch, said adapter having an adapter bore extending therethrough, said adapter bore being positioned to register with and form a continuation of said upper end of said longitudinal bore in said torch when said first and second securing means are attached to one another;
said adapter having a brake bore providing communication from outside said adapter to said adapter bore;
a cylinder body having a cylinder bore therein and having third securing means for securing said cylinder body to said adapter with said cylinder bore in communication with said adapter bore;
a piston mounted within said cylinder bore for reciprocating movement therein between a release position and a brake position;
a brake member movable with said piston and protruding at least partially into said adapter bore when said piston is in said brake position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wire brake for a robotic welding torch includes an adapter which is attached to the upper end of the welding torch and which includes an adapter bore through which the wire electrode is inserted. A cylinder body is threadably attached to the adapter and includes a reciprocating piston having a piston stem which is movable into a brake position engaging the wire electrode so as to hold the wire electrode against axial movement within the adapter bore.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A wire brake for use with a robotically controlled elongated torch, said torch having a longitudinal axis, an upper end, a lower end and a longitudinal bore extending from said upper end to said lower end, an electrode wire extending through said longitudinal bore and having an upper wire end protruding from said upper end of said torch and a lower wire end protruding from said lower end of said torch, said upper end of said torch having an outer boundary surrounding and spaced radially outwardly from said longitudinal axis;
- first securing means mounted on said upper end of said torch, said wire brake comprising;
an elongated adapter having a second securing means attachable to said first securing means on said upper end of said torch, said adapter having an adapter bore extending therethrough, said adapter bore being positioned to register with and form a continuation of said upper end of said longitudinal bore in said torch when said first and second securing means are attached to one another; said adapter having a brake bore providing communication from outside said adapter to said adapter bore; a cylinder body having a cylinder bore therein and having third securing means for securing said cylinder body to said adapter with said cylinder bore in communication with said adapter bore; a piston mounted within said cylinder bore for reciprocating movement therein between a release position and a brake position; a brake member movable with said piston and protruding at least partially into said adapter bore when said piston is in said brake position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- first securing means mounted on said upper end of said torch, said wire brake comprising;
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16. In combination:
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an elongated torch having a longitudinal axis, an upper end, a lower end, and a longitudinal bore extending from said upper end to said lower end; first securing means mounted on said upper end of said torch; an elongated adapter having a second securing means attachable to said first securing means on said upper end of said torch, said adapter having an adapter bore extending therethrough, said adapter bore being positioned to register with and form a continuation of said upper end of said longitudinal bore in said torch when said first and second securing means are attached to one another; said adapter having a brake bore providing communication from outside said adapter to said adapter bore; a cylinder body having a cylinder bore therein and having third securing means for securing said cylinder body to said adapter with said cylinder bore in communication with said adapter bore; a piston mounted within said cylinder bore for reciprocating movement therein between a release position and a brake position; a brake member movable with said piston and protruding at least partially into said adpater bore when said piston is in said brake position. an electrode wire extending through said brake bore of said adapter and said longitudinal bore of said torch; wire feed means engaging said electrode wire for moving said electrode wire longitudinally through said brake bore and said longitudinal bore of said torch, said feed means gripping said electrode wire with a predetermined gripping force; said brake member engaging said electrode wire when said piston is in said brake position with sufficient force to overcome said gripping force of said wire feed means during movement of said torch relative to said feed means.
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17. A method of securely holding an electrode wire to a welding torch having a longitudinal axis, an upper end, a lower end, a longitudinal bore extending from said upper end to said lower end, an electrode wire extending through said longitudinal bore, a first securing means mounted on said upper end of said torch, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an elongated adapter having a second securing means attachable to said first securing means, said adapter having an adapter bore extending therethrough, said adapter bore being positioned to register with and form a continuation of said longitudinal bore; providing a cylinder body having a cylinder bore therein, said cylinder body coupled to said adapter, said cylinder bore being in communication with said adapter bore; providing a piston disposed within said cylinder bore for reciprocating movement therein between a release position and a brake position; providing a brake member movable with said piston and protruding at least partially into said adapter bore when said piston is in said brake position; and forcing said piston into said brake position causing said brake member to engage said electrode wire clamping said electrode wire between said brake member and said adapter bore.
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Specification