Variable Offset Tungsten Electrode Sharpening and Grinding Attachment for GTAW Welding Processes

Abstract

An electrode sharpener has a main housing, which has a threaded bore to attach to the end of a rotary tool. The housing has guides threaded into it, which position tungsten electrodes for grinding against an abrasive wheel that is inserted into the rotary tool's collet.

Claims

1) Multiple fixed guides arrayed about the axis of rotation, each one having a unique and defined offset from the axis of rotation of the rotary tool. That is, guide 9 is positioned at the innermost radial location, guide 10 is offset towards the outside of the bore 15 further than guide 9. Guide 11 is offset from guide 10 towards the outside, and so on, with guide 14 being positioned at the furthest location towards the outside of the bore 15.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0007] FIG. 1: Assembled view

[0008] Depicts the tungsten grinding attachment assembled with the user supplied rotary tool, abrasive wheel, and electrodes in place for grinding.

[0009] FIG. 2: Top View

[0010] Shows the array of guides with electrodes in place to describe the variable offsets from centerline.

[0011] FIG. 3: Side View

[0012] Describes the angle at which the guides position the electrodes to the abrasive wheel.

[0013] FIG. 4: Disassembled View

[0014] Depicts the attachment alone, which is machined from a solid bar of stock

[0015] FIG. 5: Offset Depiction

[0016] Depicts how electrodes are offset from centerline to allow full radial usage of the abrasive wheel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Construction:

[0017] The device being invented is machined from acetal copolymer, aluminum, or any material of equivalent physical properties. Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the attachment 1 is a solid piece of material, with a bore 8 allowing clearance for an abrasive wheel 3 and a threaded hole 6 for attachment to common rotary tools 5. Referring now to FIG. 5, guide holes 9-14 are then drilled and tapped into the body of the attachment at different angles relative to the face of the abrasive wheel and different offsets from the centerline axis of the rotary tool. The tapped hole 9

Method of Operation:

[0018] The user will thread the sharpening attachment 1 onto their rotary tool 5, then install the abrasive wheel 3 into the rotary tool's collet and tighten it through the access slot 7. Once their electrode 2 dulls from the welding process, the operator will power on the rotary tool 5, insert the electrode 2 into the guide 4 of their choice, and rotate the electrode 2 as it is ground on the abrasive wheel 3. Should the abrasive become worn, the operator can insert the electrode into a different guide pre-positioned at a different radial location of the abrasive wheel, requiring no tools and no adjustment.