GB760839A - A method of and apparatus for making butt seam joints by means of resistance welding - Google Patents

Abstract

760,839. Welding by pressure. BUSSE, F. April 21, 1954, No. 11430/54. Class 83 (4). In making a resistance butt-welded seam joint between two plates &c. the plates are clamped to a support and at least one roller electrode is brought into alignment with the joint line and relative movement between the plates and roller is caused, there being a welding strip, which becomes welded to the plates between the roller and the plates. In one embodiment two plates 8, 9, Fig. 1, are abutted on an electrode bar 4 in a lower head 2 connected to one side of a transformer and are clamped by pivoted members 6 and 7 (not shown). A roller electrode 11 movable along an upper head 3 also connected to the transformer rotates on a shaft 12 in a bracket 10 and a bracket 13 abutting a stop 14 is pivoted on the shaft 12. A reel 19 of strip, two feed rolls 21, 22, and a guide 15 are mounted on the bracket 13. In operation, with the plates clamped on the head 2, strip is fed through the guide by rotating roller 21 by hand to a position beneath the roller 11. As the roller is advanced it pulls strip from the wheel and welds it to the plates as the plates are welded. In a modification a strip feed device is arranged both in front of and behind the electrode roller, the device appropriate to the direction of electrode movement being used. In a further modification the lower electrode bar is replaced by a roller electrode and strip feed device similar to that above. For welding long seams in which it is necessary to tack weld the strip and plates before effecting final seam-welding transformers 33, 34, Fig. 6, are connected to rails 35, 36 and roller electrode devices 39, 40, similar to those already described, are in contact with the rails. A support 41 for plates to be welded is slotted and the lower device 40 operates through the slot. Preferably electromagnetic clamps are used for the plates. The electrodes are traversed by screw-drive from right to left to spot-tack weld the strips and on the return traverse from left to right the final seam welds are made. A pair of electrode devices may be provided on each rail so that in one traverse the forward one may spot-weld and the latter one make the final weld. It is stated that the plates may be clamped to a reciprocating table which is moved. relatively to a stationary electrode device.