Slideable welding power source housing assembly

• US 8,253,069 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2010
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Buday, Jeremie, Koprivnak, George, Dodge, Robert, Perrin, David
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN
• Application Number:
  US12/723,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20110220627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 219/130.1, 219/86.31, 219/137.PS, 219/137.62, 219/385, 219/478, 219/520, 219/660
• US Class Current: 219/130.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1006 Power supply

Abstract

An electric arc welder power supply housing assembly is described in which it is possible to clean internal component parts is achieved by positioning cooling components on a rail system. The rail system may include at least one telescoping track assembly. When the telescoping track assembly is engaged, the housing assembly is in an open position, thus providing access for the maintenance of internal components therein without having to disassemble unnecessary components or parts of the welding power supply.

Claims

1. An electric arc welder power supply having an airflow with contaminants embedded within said airflow, said power supply comprising:

an essentially hollow housing;

at least one internal component requiring cooling mounted within said hollow housing;

at least one cooling component mounted within said hollow housing;

at least one sliding track assembly within said housing and attached thereto, said sliding track assembly having said at least one cooling component mounted thereupon; and

wherein

said sliding track assembly moves from a first closed position to a second open position which at least partially exposes said at least one cooling component.

2. The welder power supply of claim 1 which further comprises:

an access panel attached to an end of said track assembly.

3. The welder power supply of claim 1 which further comprises:

an access panel pivotally attached to a vertical edge of said housing.

4. The welder power supply of claim 1 wherein

said sliding track assembly is a telescoping track assembly.

5. The welder power supply of claim 1 wherein

said at least one sliding track assembly is a pair of essentially parallel sliding track assemblies.

6. The welder power supply of claim 5 wherein

said pair of track assemblies comprises a pair of essentially parallel rails.

7. The welder power supply of claim 5 wherein

said pair of sliding track assemblies is at least two pairs of essentially parallel sliding track assemblies.

8. The welder power supply of claim 1 which further comprises:

at least a second sliding track assembly within said housing and attached thereto, said sliding track assembly moving from a first closed position to a second open position through a front side of said housing.

9. The welder power supply of claim 1 which further comprises:

at least a second sliding track assembly within said housing and attached thereto, said sliding track assembly moving from a first closed position to a second open position through a lateral side of said housing.

10. An electric arc welder power supply housing having an airflow having contaminants embedded within said airflow, said housing assembly comprising:

an essentially hollow housing assembly, which at least partially allows airflow therethrough;

at least one internal component requiring cooling mounted within said housing;

at least one cooling means mounted within said housing;

a means for moving said at least one cooling means from a first closed position to a second open position which at least partially exposes said at least one cooling means.

11. The welder power supply of claim 10 which further comprises:

an access panel attached to an end of said means for moving.

12. The welder power supply of claim 10 which further comprises:

an access panel pivotally attached to a vertical edge of said housing.

13. The welder power supply of claim 10 wherein

said means for moving is a sliding track assembly.

14. The welder power supply of claim 10 wherein

said sliding track assembly is a telescoping track assembly.

15. The welder power supply of claim 10 which further comprises:

a pair of essentially parallel sliding track assemblies.

16. The welder power supply of claim 15 wherein

said track assemblies comprises a pair of essentially parallel rails.

17. The welder power supply of claim 15 which further comprises:

at least two pairs of essentially parallel sliding track assemblies.

18. The welder power supply of claim 10 which further comprises:

at least a second means for moving within said housing and attached thereto, said second means moving from a first closed position to a second open position through a front side of said housing.

19. The welder power supply of claim 10 which further comprises:

at least a second means for moving within said housing and attached thereto, said second means moving from a first closed position to a second open position through a lateral side of said housing.

20. A method for accessing and maintaining internal components of an electric arc welding power supply comprising the steps of:

providing a welding power supply housing which allows airflow therethrough;

providing at least one sliding track assembly within said housing and attached thereto, said sliding track assembly having at least one cooling component mounted thereupon; and

wherein

engaging said sliding track assembly from a first closed position to a second open position which at least partially exposes said at least one cooling component for cleaning thereof.