Gouger Attachment For Conventional Electrode Holder

Abstract

An attachment is provided for a conventional electrical welding electrode holder. The attachment substitutes a nozzle for the conventional electrode tooth member so that compressed air is blown along the electrode to blow away molten metal. The attachment converts a standard electrode holder to a gouging device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to hand-type electric arc tools for gouging metal by heating with an electric arc and blowing the molten metal by compressed air.

2. Description of the prior art

It is known that metals may be gouged by melting the metal with an electrical arc and then blowing away the molten metal with a blast of air directed along the electrode.

STEPATH et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,706,236; ADAMS, U.S. Pat. No. 2,784,293; and HOESE, U.S. Pat. No. 2,899,536, each disclose a tool of this type. However, it will be noted in each case a special electrode holder is provided which has longitudinal passageways drilled through a jaw of the holder, terminating in a nozzle tooth member which is connected to the passageway through the jaw.

BOWERS, U.S. Pat. No. 1,137,834; ADAMS, U.S. Pat. No. 2,527,490; COPLESTON, U.S. Pat No. 2,797,301; and HAWK, U.S. Pat. No. 3,035,155, also show different types of gas jets at or about the arc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

1. New and Different Function

We have invented an attachment which will fit upon standard electrode holders commercially available on the market and in widespread common use in shops and factories. The attachment readily converts the holder to a gouger without the necessity of purchasing a complete special tool for this purpose. Our attachment includes a head which is bolted to one of the jaws, but is completely electrically insulated from the jaw so that there will not be an electrical arc between the attachment and other conducting surfaces. Also, the nozzle is designed to provide a full flow of air along the electrode.

2. Objects of the Invention.

An object of this invention is to gouge metal.

Another object is to provide an attachment to be attached to a conventional electrode holder to convert it from an electric welding device to an electric gouging device.

Further objects are to achieve the above with a device that is sturdy, compact, durable, lightweight, simple, safe, efficient, versatile, and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture, install, operate, and maintain.

The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses, and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawing, the different views of which are not to the same scale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to this invention connected to a standard electrode holder.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, primarily broken away on an axial section line to show details of construction.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the nozzle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As seen in the drawing, there is depicted a conventional electrode holder. Specifically depicted is a "Cooltong 400" a product of the Lincoln Company as is commonly available on the market. This electrode holder has upper jaw 10 and lower jaw 12, which are hinged together by pin 14. The jaws 10 and 12 are electrically connected to electric cable 11. Spring 16 biases the jaws closed. Hand lever 18 extends from the lower jaw 12 so that the operator may grip it and rigid cable cover 20 which is attached to the upper jaw 10, thus opening the jaws for the insertion of an electrode between them. The cover 20 over the cable 11 forms a handle. Insulating cover 22 extends over the lower jaw 12.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the structure as specifically described to this point is common to electrode holders as are produced by many different companies.

Many of the electrode holders and specifically the "Cooltong 400" have hole 24 through the upper jaw. Originally the toothed member to hold the electrode has a bolt extending through this hole. However, according to our invention, this bolt is removed, laid aside and tube 26 of nozzle 28 is inserted through the hole 24. Referring particularly to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 it may be seen that the underside 30 of the nozzle 28 has an elongated arcuate surface so that an electrode (not shown) may be inserted in the holder and kept in place by the holder and the underside 30 of the nozzle 28. Also, it will be noted that the underside of the nozzle is not a completely smooth arcuate surface, it has a hump or bump 32 therein caused by the particular configuration of the die that forms it. The nozzle 28 is made by first piercing it and attaching (as by brasing) the tube 26 to it, and then stamping the tube 28 with a die to create the particular configuration having the elongated concave arcuate underside 30. The nozzle 28 has a uniform wall thickness and is open in the front and closed at the rear. The front opening is aligned with the arcuate concave undersurface so that air blown through the tube 26 and nozzle 28 is discharged from the open end of the nozzle 28 and blows along the electrode which is clamped between the arcuate underside 30 of the nozzle 28 and the lower jaw 12.

Head 34 is attached to the upper jaw 10 by bolt 36 which extends through the head and into tapped hole 38 in the top of the jaw 10. In the particular electrode holder used, the tapped hole 38 is in the jaw and was used originally to hold an insulating cover upon the upper jaw 10, quite similar to the cover 22 on the lower jaw 12.

The head 34 has hole 40 in it. The head hole 40 is aligned with the jaw hole 24 and the tube 26 extends from the hole to the jaw 10 into the hole in the head 34. The hole 40 in the head is in fluid communication with passageway 42 which extends longitudinally of the head 34 and which is also longitudinal of the electrode holder. The rear of the passageway 42 is threaded to receive valve 44. By suitable fitting 46, air hose 48 is connected to the valve 44. As may be seen in the drawing, the air hose 48 angles upward from the valve 44 so that the operator may grasp the rigid handle 20 with his hand, his hand going under the air hose 48, which is connected at a spaced interval to the rear of the rigid cable cover 20 by clip 50. The hose 48 is adapted to be connected to compressed air hose; therefore, it may be said that it forms a source of air under pressure to be connected to the passageway 42.

Insulating plate 52 is attached as by adhesive to the undersurface of the head 34 and therefore, in assembled position is located between the head and the upper jaw 10. Insulating bolt sleeve 54 surrounds the bolt 36 within the head 34 and insulating washer 56 surrounds the bolt 36 within the head 34 and insulating washer 56 surrounds the head of the bolt. Insulating tube sleeve 58 completely lines the hole 40 in the head 34. Thus, the head 34 is completely insulated from the jaw 10. Although the tube 26 will be in electrical contact with the jaw 10, the tube 26 is insulated from the head 34 by the tube sleeve 58. Likewise, although the bolt 36 will be in electrical contact with the jaw 10, the bolt will be insulated from the head by the bolt sleeve 54 and washer 56.

The nozzle 28 can be rotated about the axis of the hole 24 in the jaw 10 which is coaxial with the hole 40 in the head 34. The bolt 36 with its sleeve 54 extends upward through the air passageway 42, however, the passageway 42 in this portion of the head is enlarged so there is sufficient passageway around the sleeve 54. Although difficult to see in the drawing, the passageway 42 is angled slightly to the axis of the upper jaw 10 so there is sufficient clearance for the valve 44 and the fitting 46 from the insulation 60 and the cable cover 20. The insulation 60 insulates that portion of the upper jaw 10 which is not covered by the head 34. The axis of the nozzle 28 is about normal to the axis of the tube 26. If the jaw 10 does not already have a hole 24 and a tapped hole 38, these are readily made with simple tools.

The embodiment shown and described above is only exemplary. We do not claim to have invented all the parts, elements or steps described. Various modifications can be made in the construction, material, arrangement, and operation, and still be within the scope of our invention. The limits of the invention and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the following claims. The restrictive description and drawing of the specific example above do not point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but are to enable the reader to make and use the invention.

Claims

We claim as our invention:

1. A gouging device for attachment to an electrode holder having

a. a first jaw and a second jaw

b. insulated and hinged together,

c. spring means between the jaws for biasing the jaws together to hold an electrode between the jaws,

d. an electrical cable connected to the jaws, and

e. a transverse hole through the first jaw;

f. said gouging device comprising:

g. a tube inserted through the hole,

h. a nozzle on the end of the tube,

j. said nozzle having a concave elongated arcuate surface facing the second jaw adapted to receive and hold a carbon electrode between the nozzle and second jaw,

k. said nozzle opening aligned with said elongated arcuate surface so that air through the nozzle will be directed along the electrode,

m. a head bolted to the first jaw,

n. a hole in the head aligned with the hole in the first jaw,

o. said tube extending into said hole in the head,

p. a passageway in the head from one edge of the head to the hole in the head, and

q. a source of air under pressure connected to the passageway so that air is blown through the passageway into the tube, out the nozzle and along the electrode.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitations of

r. said electrode holder having a rigid handle attached to said jaws and surrounding said cable,

s. said source of air connected to said head by

i. a valve attached to the passageway in the head, and

ii. a hose attached to the valve and clipped to the end of the handle away from said jaws.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitations of

r. said nozzle being an elongated tubular structure

i. of uniform wall thickness,

ii. closed at one end,

iii. open at the other end, and

iv. connected to said tube between said ends,

v. with the nozzle axis about normal to the tube axis.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 with the additional limitations of

s. said holder having a rigid handle attached to said jaws and surrounding said cable,

t. said source of air connected to said head by

i. a valve attached to the passageway in the head, and

ii. a hose attached to the valve and clipped to the end of the handle away from said jaws.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 with the additional limitations of

r. an insulation plate between the head and first jaw,

s. a bolt extended through said head and into said first jaw thus bolting the head to the first jaw as defined above,

t. an insulating bolt sleeve in the head surrounding the bolt, and

u. an insulating tube sleeve in the head surrounding said tube.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 with the additional limitations of

v. said nozzle being an elongated tubular structure

i. of uniform wall thickness,

ii. closed at one end,

iii. open at the other end, and

iv. connected to said tube between said ends,

v. with the nozzle axis normal to the tube axis.

7. The invention as defined in claim 5 with the additional limitations of

v. said holder having a rigid handle attached to said jaws and surrounding said cable,

w. said source of air connected to said head by

i. a valve attached to the passageway in the head, and

ii. a hose attached to the valve and clipped to the end of the handle away from said jaws.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 with the additional limitations of

x. said nozzle being an elongated tubular structure

i. of uniform wall thickness,

ii. closed at one end,

iii. open at the other end, and

iv. connected to said tube between said ends,

v. with the nozzle axis normal to the tube axis.