GB2152900A

GB2152900A - A frame for supporting coiled welding wire or cable

Info

Publication number: GB2152900A
Application number: GB08333414A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Hiorns Garrett
Original assignee: Murex Welding Products Ltd
Current assignee: Murex Welding Products Ltd
Priority date: 1983-12-15
Filing date: 1983-12-15
Publication date: 1985-08-14
Also published as: GB8333414D0; GB2152900B

Abstract

A frame 10 for supporting coiled cable or wire in rotation comprises a base 12 and two sides 13,14 extending from the base. Each side has a recess 16 for receiving an end of a shaft 19 extending through the bore of the boil. The recess may take the form of an inclined slot and a pulley 25 and motor 26 may be provided to feed the wire or cable. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A frame for supporting coiled welding wire or cable This invention concerns a frame for supporting coiled welding wire or cable. Welding wire is often provided simply as a coil or is coiled onto a bobbin.

Quite commonly in welding shops, a coil of welding wire or a bobbin of welding wire is stood on end and the wire, as needed, is simply uncoiled. However, this requires the wire to turn through 360 degrees as each helix passes through the welding system. This continuous turning alters the position of the wire in the welding tip and causes a "flick" which welders find very difficult to control and irritating to experience. With automatic welding equipment this movement at the tip is totally unacceptable.

Gebrauchsmuster specification DE 7237615 shows an unwinding device for a bobbin of welding wire. This device comprises a frame having a base, one side extending from the base and a shaft extending from the side. The shaft is mounted at one end in a bearing fixed to the side. To load this device the frame is tilted about an edge of the base until the shaft is low enough for a bobbin to be mounted on it.

The invention provides a frame for supporting coiled cable or wire in rotation, the coiled cable or wire having a bore and a shaft extends through the bore, wherein the frame comprises a base and two sides extending from the base, each side having a recess for receiving an end of the shaft.

The invention also provides a combination of a frame according to the invention and coiled cable or wire supported in rotation on the frame, the coiled cable or wire being mounted on a shaft, the ends of the shaft being received in the recesses in the sides of the frame.

Further the invention provides, in combination, a bobbin having a bore, a shaft, two annular bearings each having an inner ring and an outer ring, the shaft being readily slidable through the bores of the inner rings, each outer ring having a radially extending and cranked arm, the outer rings being readily slidable at least a part of the way into the bore of the bobbin each cranked arm being engagable with the bobbin.

An embodiment of the invention will now the described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure l is a perspective view of a frame according to the invention having a capstan pulley and motor and with a bobbin of welding wire supported by the frame, Figure 2 is a view of the bobbin and the shaft with the bearings, Figure 3 is an enlarged view of one end of the bobbin with the shaft and bearings and one side of the frame showing the slot, Figure 4 is an enlarged view from the other side of the capstan pulley, Figure 5 shows the bobbin of welding wire and the frame prior to engagement of the bobbin by the frame, Figure 6 shows the frame being lifted to an upright position, Figure 7 shows the rolling position of the bobbin and the frame, and Figure 8 shows the carrying position of the bobbin and the frame.

Figure 1 shows a frame 10 supporting in rotation a bobbin unit 11 of welding wire. The frame 10 is of a continuous steel tubular construction comprising a base 12 and two sides 13 extending from the base. Each side 13 also includes an upstanding support arm 14.

The sides 13 extend round their upper ends to form a handle 15. Each support arm 14 has a slot 16 which is inclined at an angle and slopes downwardly from its opening in the forward facing edge of the arm. At the location 17 where the sides 13 adjoin the base 12, the frame is rounded.

As shown in Figure 2, the bobbin unit 11 comprises a bobbin 18, having a bore, a shaft 19 and two annular bearings 20.

Each bearing 20 comprises an inner ring and an outer ring, The shaft 19 is readily slidable through the bores of the inner rings. Each outer ring has a radially extending and cranked arm 21. Each outer ring is readily slidable into the bore of the bobbin 18 as far as the cranked arm 21. The bobbin 18 has at each end further bores 22 for reception of the cranked arm 21. One end of the shaft 19 is necked at 23 while the other end has a cross-cut groove 24 providing a flat surface.

To fit the bobbin 18 on the frame 10, the frame is laid so that its sides 13 extend across the ends of the bobbin with the support arms 14,underneath the main bore of the bobbin. The shaft 19 is then passed through the main bore of the bobbin 18 and the bearings 20 are fitted on to the ends of the shaft, the cranked arms 21 engaging in one of the bores 22. Then the end of the frame 10 having the handle 15 is lifted with the ends of the shaft 19 aligned with the slots 16 in the support arms 14.

This is shown in Figure 5. Upon lifting the frame 10 into the upright position, the necked end 23 of the shaft 19 engages in one slot 16 and the crosscut 24 of the other end engages in the other slot 16 as shown in Figure 6. The flat surface of the crosscut 24 prevents rotation of the shaft 19 relative to the frame 10. The rounded portions 17 of the frame 10 facilitate this lifting action: the slope of the slots 16 prevent the bobbin 18 from falling out.

Figure 4 shows how the frame 10 can be used to roll the bobbin 18, along, the frame being spaced from the floor. The angle at which the slots 16 are inclined prevents the frame 10 from dropping.

Means can be provided to close the open ends of the slots 16 and thereby lock the bobbin 18 and frame 10 together.

Figure 8 shows how, by grasping the base 12 and the handle end 15, the frame can be used to carry the bobbin. Mounted on the frame 10 are a capstan pulley 25 and a motor 26, the motor being coupled to gear box and being drivingly connected to the capstan pulley. The requisite insulation is provided for the capstan pulley 25 and motor 26, particularly in order to prevent any fire. The frame also includes a wire guide 27. As shown in Figure 1, the welding wire from the bobbin 18 is led through the wire guide 27 and around the capstan pulley 25. To prevent the wire from slipping off the pulley 4, rollers 28 are provided to confine the wire to the capstan pulley at spaced locations.

In use, the capstan pulley 25 is continuously driven by the motor 26 at a speed compatible with the wire feed requirements. When the arc is struck, the feed unit in the welding machine is automatically activated. This tensions the wire on the capstan pulley 25 which then assists in overcoming the inertia of the bobbin 18.

The frame 10 can be designed to support coiled welding wire weighing from as little as 15 kgs or as much as 500 kgs.

A spring loaded swinging arm brake device, which is released when there is tension in the wire and is applied when there is slack, may avoid the need for the rollers 28 and the wire guide 27.

With welding wire or cable which is simply provided as a coil, that is without a bobbin, the outer diameter of the bearings and the bore of the coil are chosen to match one another.

Claims

1. A frame for supporting coiled cable or wire in rotation, the coiled cable or wire having a bore and a shaft extends through the bore, wherein the frame comprises a base and two sides extending from the base, each side having a recess for receiving an end of the shaft.

2. A frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein each recess is a slot which slopes from its opening downwardly when the base is resting on the floor.

3. A frame as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the frame is rounded at the locations where the sides adjoin the base to facilitate turning of the frame between a position in which the base is resting on a floor and a position in which the base extends upwardly.

4. A frame as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a pulley wheel is mounted on the frame.

5. A frame as claimed in claim 4, wherein a motor is mounted on the frame and is drivingly connected to the pulley wheel.

6. A frame as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein means prevent cable or wire, when extending around the pulley wheel, from slipping off.

7. A frame as claimed in claim 6, wherein the means comprises a plurality of rollers for confining the cable or wire to the pulley wheel at spaced locations.

8. A frame for supporting coiled cable or wire in rotation substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. A combination of a frame as claimed in any preceding claim and coiled cable or wire supported in rotation on the frame,the coiled cable or wire being mounted on a shaft, the ends of the shaft being received in the 7 sides of the frame.

10. A combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein one end of the shaft and the recess in the side of the frame in which it is received are shaped to prevent rotation of the shaft with respect of the frame.

11. A combination as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the coiled cable or wire is mounted for rotation on the shaft by means of two bearings, at least one of which is readily slidable along the shaft, and both of which are readily slidable at least a part of the way into the bore of the coiled cable or wire.

12. A combination as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of the bearings comprises an outer ring and an inner ring and the outer ring is held stationary with respect to the coiled cable or wire.

13. A combination as claimed in claim 12, in which the cable or wire is coiled on a bobbin, wherein a cranked arm extends radially from the outer ring and engages the bobbin.

14. A combination of a frame and coiled cable or wire supported in rotation on the frame substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

15. In combination, a bobbin having a bore, a shaft, two annular bearings each having an inner ring and an outer ring, the shaft being readily slidable through the bores of the inner rings, each outer ring having a radially extending and cranked arm, the outer rings being readily slidable at least a part of the way into the bore of the bobbin and each cranked arm being engagable with the bobbin.