초록 ▼

A gripping device for a set of pinch rollers used in a wire feeder that supplies a welding operation with a consumable welding wire. The welding wire passes between the pinch rollers whereby the pinch rollers engage the wire with a gripping force and incrementally rotate to control the outflow of t

A gripping device for a set of pinch rollers used in a wire feeder that supplies a welding operation with a consumable welding wire. The welding wire passes between the pinch rollers whereby the pinch rollers engage the wire with a gripping force and incrementally rotate to control the outflow of the wire to the welding operation. The gripping device has a first member which is displaceable relative to a second member and a spring mechanism extending between the first and second members which has at least a first and a second spring modulus. The spring mechanism produces the gripping force as the first and the second members are displaced toward one another. The gripper urges one roller of the set of pinch rollers toward the other roller of the set to engage the wire and to apply the gripping force. By including a spring with a first and second spring modulus, the gripper can apply a first range of gripping forces with the force produced by the first spring modulus and a second range of gripping forces with the force produced by the second spring modulus.

대표청구항 ▼

Having thus described the invention, it is so claimed: 1. A wire gripping device for a welding wire feeder, said gripping device comprising: a support member, a first pinch roll mounted on said support member, a lever arm pivotally connected to said support member, and having a second pinch roll mo

Having thus described the invention, it is so claimed: 1. A wire gripping device for a welding wire feeder, said gripping device comprising: a support member, a first pinch roll mounted on said support member, a lever arm pivotally connected to said support member, and having a second pinch roll mounted thereon for pivotal displacement therewith toward said first pinch roll to grip a wire therebetween, and an adjustable spring device between said support member and said lever for biasing said second pinch roll toward said first pinch roll to produce a gripping force on a wire therebetween, said spring device including a first member, a second member displaceable toward and away from said first member along a stroke of said spring device, and a spring mechanism between said first and second members, said spring mechanism having at least a first and a second spring modulus for producing said gripping force as said first and second members are displaced toward one another along said stroke, said spring mechanism applying a first range of gripping forces along a first portion of said stroke with the force produced by said first spring modulus and a second range of gripping forces along a second portion of said stroke with force produced by said second spring modulus. 2. The gripping device of claim 1, wherein said spring mechanism includes at least a first and a second spring. 3. The gripping device of claim 2, wherein said first and second springs are compression springs, said first spring having a first spring height and said second spring having a second spring height, said first and second spring heights being unequal. 4. The gripping device of claim 1, wherein said spring mechanism includes a spring having at least two spring moduli. 5. The gripping device of claim 1, wherein said spring mechanism includes a plurality of springs each having a uniform spring rate. 6. The gripping device of claim 1, wherein said spring mechanism includes a variable rate spring. 7. The gripping device of claim 1, wherein said spring mechanism includes a first and a second spring, said first spring having a first spring height and a first spring diameter, said second spring having a second spring height and a second spring diameter, said first and second spring heights being unequal, and said first and second spring diameters being unequal such that one of said first and second springs is positionable within the other. 8. The gripping device of claim 7, wherein said adjustable spring device further includes a post, said post being pivotally connected to said support member at a first end to allow pivotal movement of the post between a drive position and a released position, said post threadingly engaging said second member to enable said displacement thereof toward and away from said first member. 9. The gripping device of claim 8, wherein said first and second members are elongated members having a spring pocket for receiving said first and second springs, said spring pocket at least partially enclosing said first and second springs. 10. The gripping device of claim 8, wherein said first and second members are mounted on said post and said first and second springs are coaxial with said post. 11. The gripping device of claim 1, wherein said spring device further includes a cylinder post, said cylinder post being connected to said support member at a first end and threadingly engaging with said second member to enable said displacement of said second member toward and away from said first member. 12. The gripping device of claim 11, wherein said first end of said cylinder post is pivotally connected to said support member to allow pivotal movement of the post between a drive position and a released position. 13. The gripping device of claim 1, wherein said adjustable spring device has a spring device axis and further includes a post coaxial with said axis, said post being pivotally connected to said support member at a first end to allow pivotal movement of the post between a drive position and a released position, said post threadingly engaging said second member to enable said displacement thereof toward and away from said first member, said first and second members being elongated members coaxial with said spring device axis and having a spring pocket for receiving said spring mechanism, said spring pocket at least partially enclosing said spring mechanism. 14. The gripping device of claim 13, wherein said first member further includes an end wall facing said lever arm with a through hole, said post extending through said hole. 15. The gripping device of claim 1, wherein said adjustable spring device further includes a post, said post being pivotally connected to said support member at a first end to allow pivotal movement of the post between a drive position and a released position, said post threadingly engaging said second member to enable said displacement thereof toward and away from said first member, said first and second members are elongated members having a spring pocket for receiving said spring mechanism, said spring pocket at least partially enclosing said spring mechanism, said second member further including a top with a thread extender extending downwardly from said top into said spring pocket. 16. The gripping device of claim 15, wherein said first member further includes a bottom, said spring device including at least one compression spring extending between said top and bottom within said spring pocket, a portion of said at least one spring extending about said thread extender. 17. The gripping device of claim 1, wherein said lever is pivotally connected to said support member at a first end and said spring device engages said lever arm at a second end, said second pinch roller being rotatably connected to said lever between said first and second ends. 18. A wire gripping device for a welding wire feeder, said gripping device comprising: a support member, a first pinch roll mounted on said support member, a lever arm pivotally connected to said support member, and having a second pinch roll mounted thereon for pivotal displacement therewith toward said first pinch roll to grip a wire therebetween, and an adjustable spring device between said support member and said lever for biasing said second pinch roll toward said first pinch roll to produce a gripping force on a wire therebetween, said spring device including a first member, a second member displaceable toward and away from said first member, and a spring mechanism between said first and second members, said spring mechanism having at least a first and a second spring modulus for producing said gripping force as said first and second members are displaced toward one another, said spring mechanism applying a first range of gripping forces with the force produced by said first spring modulus and a second range of gripping forces with force produced by said second spring modulus; wherein said spring device further includes a cylinder post, said cylinder post being connected to said support member at a first end to allow pivotal movement of said post between a drive position and a released position, said post threadingly engaging with said second member to enable said displacement of said second member toward and away from said first member, said first member having an end wall facing said lever arm, one of said end wall and said support member including a locking ridge and the other of said end wall and said lever arm including a locking groove, said locking ridge engaging said locking groove to retain said spring device in said drive position. 19. The gripping device of claim 18, wherein said spring mechanism includes at least a first and a second spring. 20. The gripping device of claim 19, wherein said first and second springs are compression springs, said first spring having a first spring height and said second spring having a second spring height, said first and second spring heights being unequal. 21. The gripping device of claim 18, wherein said spring mechanism includes a spring having at least two spring moduli. 22. The gripping device of claim 18, wherein said spring mechanism includes a plurality of springs each having a uniform spring rate. 23. The gripping device of claim 18, wherein said spring mechanism includes a variable rate spring. 24. The gripping device of claim 18, wherein said spring mechanism includes a first and a second spring, said first spring having a first spring height and a first spring diameter, said second spring having a second spring height and a second spring diameter, said first and second spring heights being unequal, and said first and second spring diameters being unequal such that one of said first and second springs is positionable within the other. 25. The gripping device of claim 24, wherein said adjustable spring device further includes a post, said post being pivotally connected to said support member at a first end to allow pivotal movement of the post between a drive position and a released position, said post threadingly engaging said second member to enable said displacement thereof toward and away from said first member. 26. The gripping device of claim 25, wherein said first and second members are elongated members having a spring pocket for receiving said first and second springs, said spring pocket at least partially enclosing said first and second springs. 27. The gripping device of claim 25, wherein said first and second members are mounted on said post and said first and second springs are coaxial with said post. 28. The gripping device of claim 18, wherein said spring device further includes a cylinder post, said cylinder post being connected to said support member at a first end and threadingly engaging with said second member to enable said displacement of said second member toward and away from said first member. 29. The gripping device of claim 28, wherein said first end of said cylinder post is pivotally connected to said support member to allow pivotal movement of the post between a drive position and a released position. 30. The gripping device of claim 18, wherein said adjustable spring device has a spring device axis and further includes a post coaxial with said axis, said post being pivotally connected to said support member at a first end to allow pivotal movement of the post between a drive position and a released position, said post threadingly engaging said second member to enable said displacement thereof toward and away from said first member, said first and second members being elongated members coaxial with said spring device axis and having a spring pocket for receiving said spring mechanism, said spring pocket at least partially enclosing said spring mechanism. 31. The gripping device of claim 30, wherein said first member further includes an end wall facing said lever arm with a through hole, said post extending through said hole. 32. The gripping device of claim 18, wherein said adjustable spring device further includes a post, said post being pivotally connected to said support member at a first end to allow pivotal movement of the post between a drive position and a released position, said post threadingly engaging said second member to enable said displacement thereof toward and away from said first member, said first and second members are elongated members having a spring pocket for receiving said spring mechanism, said spring pocket at least partially enclosing said spring mechanism, said second member further including a top with a thread extender extending downwardly from said top into said spring pocket. 33. The gripping device of claim 32, wherein said first member further includes a bottom, said spring device including at least one compression spring extending between said top and bottom within said spring pocket, a portion of said at least one spring extending about said thread extender. 34. The gripping device of claim 18, wherein said lever is pivotally connected to said support member at a first end and said spring device engages said lever arm at a second end, said second pinch roller being rotatably connected to said lever between said first and second ends. 35. A wire gripping device for a welding wire feeder, said gripping device comprising: a support member, a first pinch roll mounted on said support member, a lever arm pivotally connected to said support member, and having a second pinch roll mounted thereon for pivotal displacement therewith toward said first pinch roll to grip a wire therebetween, and an adjustable spring device between said support member and said lever for biasing said second pinch roll toward said first pinch roll to produce a gripping force on a wire therebetween, said spring device including a first member, a second member displaceable toward and away from said first member, and a spring mechanism between said first and second members, said spring mechanism having at least a first and a second spring modulus for producing said gripping force as said first and second members are displaced toward one another, said spring mechanism applying a first range of gripping forces with the force produced by said first spring modulus and a second range of gripping forces with force produced by said second spring modulus; wherein said first and second members are elongated members having a spring pocket for receiving said spring mechanism, said spring pocket at least partially enclosing said spring mechanism, said first and second members including a first and a second side wall respectively with respective first and second outer surfaces, one of said first and second outer surfaces including adjustment graduations. 36. A compression cylinder for a set of pinch rollers in a welding wire feeder wherein the wire passes between the pinch rollers which engage the wire with a gripping force, said cylinder comprising: a first member; a second member displaceable relative to said first member along a stroke of said cylinder; and a spring mechanism extending between said first and second members having at least a first and a second spring modulus, said spring mechanism producing said gripping force as said first and second members are displaced relative to one another along said stroke, said cylinder urging one roller of the set of pinch rollers toward the other to apply the gripping force, and said cylinder applying a first range of gripping forces along a first portion of said stroke with force produced by said first spring modulus and a second range of gripping forces along a second portion of said stroke with force produced by said second spring modulus. 37. The compression cylinder of claim 36, wherein said spring mechanism includes at least a first and a second spring. 38. The compression cylinder of claim 37, wherein said first and second springs are compression springs, said first spring having a first spring height and said second spring having a second spring height, said first and second spring heights being unequal. 39. The compression cylinder of claim 37, wherein said first and second members are elongated members having a spring pocket for receiving said first and second springs, said spring pocket at least partially enclosing said first and second springs. 40. The compression cylinder of claim 36, wherein said spring mechanism includes a spring having at least two spring moduli. 41. The compression cylinder of claim 36, wherein said spring mechanism includes a variable rate spring. 42. The compression cylinder of claim 36, wherein said spring mechanism includes a first and a second spring, said first spring having a first spring height and a first spring diameter, said second spring having a second spring height and a second spring diameter, said first and second spring heights being unequal, and said first and second spring diameters being unequal such that one of said first and second springs is positionable within the other. 43. The compression cylinder of claim 36, further comprising a post, said post being pivotally connectable to a support member of the wire feeder at a first end thereof to allow pivotal movement of said post between a drive position and a released position, said post threadingly engaging said second member to enable said displacement thereof toward and away from said first member. 44. The compression cylinder of claim 36, further comprising a post, said post being pivotally connectable to a support member of the wire feeder at a first end thereof to allow pivotal movement of the post between a drive position and a released position, said post threadingly engaging said second member to enable said displacement thereof toward and away from said first member, said first and second members being elongated members having a spring pocket for receiving said spring mechanism, said spring pocket at least partially enclosing said spring mechanism, said second member further including a top with a thread extender extending downwardly from said top into said spring pocket. 45. A compression cylinder for a set of pinch rollers in a welding wire feeder wherein the wire passes between the pinch rollers which engage the wire with a gripping force, said cylinder comprising: a first member; a second member displaceable relative to said first member; and a spring mechanism extending between said first and second members having at least a first and a second spring modulus, said spring mechanism producing said gripping force as said first and second members are displaced relative to one another, said cylinder urging one roller of the set of pinch rollers toward the other to apply the gripping force, and said cylinder applying a first range of gripping forces with force produced by said first spring modulus and a second range of gripping forces with force produced by said second spring modulus; wherein said spring device further includes a cylinder post, said cylinder post being connectable to a support member of the wire feeder at a first end thereof to allow pivotal movement of the post between a drive position and a released position, said post threadingly engaging with said second member to enable said displacement of said second member toward and away from said first member, said first member having an end wall facing said lever arm, one of said end wall and said support member including a locking ridge and the other of said end wall and said lever arm including a locking groove, said locking ridge engaging said locking groove to retain said spring device in said drive position. 46. A compression cylinder for a set of pinch rollers in a welding wire feeder wherein the wire passes between the pinch rollers which engage the wire with a gripping force, said cylinder comprising: a first member; a second member displaceable relative to said first member; and a spring mechanism extending between said first and second members having at least a first and a second spring modulus, said spring mechanism producing said gripping force as said first and second members are displaced relative to one another, said cylinder urging one roller of the set of pinch rollers toward the other to apply the gripping force, and said cylinder applying a first range of gripping forces with force produced by said first spring modulus and a second range of gripping forces with force produced by said second spring modulus; wherein said first and second members are elongated members having a spring pocket for receiving said spring mechanism, said spring pocket at least partially enclosing said spring mechanism, said first and second members including a first and a second side wall respectively with respective first and second outer surfaces, one of said first and second outer surfaces including adjustment graduations. 47. The compression cylinder of claim 46, wherein said spring mechanism includes at least a first and a second spring. 48. The compression cylinder of claim 47, wherein said first and second springs are compression springs, said first spring having a first spring height and said second spring having a second spring height, said first and second spring heights being unequal. 49. The compression cylinder of claim 47, wherein said first and second members are elongated members having a spring pocket for receiving said first and second springs, said spring pocket at least partially enclosing said first and second springs. 50. The compression cylinder of claim 46, wherein said spring mechanism includes a spring having at least two spring moduli. 51. The compression cylinder of claim 46, wherein said spring mechanism includes a variable rate spring. 52. The compression cylinder of claim 46, wherein said spring mechanism includes a first and a second spring, said first spring having a first spring height and a first spring diameter, said second spring having a second spring height and a second spring diameter, said first and second spring heights being unequal, and said first and second spring diameters being unequal such that one of said first and second springs is positionable within the other. 53. The compression cylinder of claim 46, further comprising a post, said post being pivotally connectable to a support member of the wire feeder at a first end thereof to allow pivotal movement of said post between a drive position and a released position, said post threadingly engaging said second member to enable said displacement thereof toward and away from said first member. 54. The compression cylinder of claim 46, further comprising a post, said post being pivotally connectable to a support member of the wire feeder at a first end thereof to allow pivotal movement of the post between a drive position and a released position, said post threadingly engaging said second member to enable said displacement thereof toward and away from said first member, said first and second members being elongated members having a spring pocket for receiving said spring mechanism, said spring pocket at least partially enclosing said spring mechanism, said second member further including a top with a thread extender extending downwardly from said top into said spring pocket.