Electric Welding

Invented by : Elihu Thomson

Invented in year : 1877

The process of heating and welding two pieces of metal together using a powerful electric current is known as Electric Welding. The process of Electric Welding involves joining ant two metal pieces using copper clamps. Electricity is passed through the pieces, heating them and connecting them at the point where the two metal pieces meet. It appears as though the heat would be the greatest at the meeting point of the two metals, but the area where the metals are looped and not touching become hot first and then radiate outward to the joints. The heat distribution is regulated by providing a consistent motion using a regulatory lever. This ensures that both metals become soft and join to one another at the same time. When the electric welding process is complete, a seamless joint is formed.

History and Development of Electric Welding

In 1802, Vasily Petrov, a Russian experimental physicist discovered the continuous electric arc and subsequently proposed its possible practical applications, including welding. But for quite sometime, his vision was not put into application. But elsewhere, Elihu Thomson, (29th March, 1853 – 13th March, 1937) a British engineer and inventor had a passion for mechanical and electrical material and their application. It was in 1877 that he invented Electric Welding. He filed for his invention on 14th June, 1890 and was issued the Patent Number: 451345 by April 28th, 1891. The prevalent method of Electric welding before the invention of Elihu Thomson involved the pressure, hammering, or other uniting force to be applied simultaneously with the application, of the heating electric current designed to bring the material to the proper plastic condition. Thomas's invention allowed the electric current to flow until the pieces of metal were brought to the desired welding or working temperature before they could be joined. In other words - In Thomson's invention welding, forging, or shaping was done after the material had been brought to a proper plastic condition. After this the current was withdrawn and then the material was welded, forged or treated with hammers, rolls, dies, or other suitable devices as per the requirements of the client. It was Multi-step procedure rather than the cumbersome single procedure.

By the end of 19th century various methods of welding developed.

Various methods of Electric Welding

Arc Welding - Arc welding is a type of welding that uses a welding power supply to create an electric arc between an electrode and the base material to melt the metals at the welding point. It is used to join metal by fusion of the parent metal and the addition of metal to the joint usually provided by a consumable electrode. This method was invented in 1881-82, by a Russian inventor Nikolai Bernardos. He created the first electric arc welding method known as Carbon Arc welding, using carbon electrodes. By late 19th century Russian, Nikolai Slavyanov and American, C. L. Coffin invented metal electrodes. Around 1900, A. P. Strohmenger released in Britain a coated metal electrode which gave a more stable arc. In 1905 Russian scientist Vladimir Mitkevich proposed the usage of three-phase electric arc for welding. In 1919, alternating current welding was invented by C.J. Holslag.

Submerged Arc Welding - It was invented in 1930 and is still popular.

Underwater Electric Arc Welding - In 1932 a Russian, Konstantin Khrenov successfully implemented the first underwater electric arc welding.

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding - It was perfected in 1941.

Gas Metal Arc Welding - Invented in 1948, it allowed fast welding of non-ferrous materials.

Flux-Cored Arc Welding - This welding method was invented in 1957. In this method the self-shielded wire electrode could be used with automatic equipment, resulting in greatly increased welding speeds.

Plasma Arc Welding - It was also invented in the year 1958.

Electroslag Welding - It was invented in 1958.

Electrogas Welding - A cousin of Electroslag Welding it was invented in 1961.

Role of Electric Welding in the Improvement Of Human Life

• Electric welding does not waste excess fuel and provides targeted precision. The heat does not move far beyond the weld point. This makes it ideal for insulated wires. The ends of each wire can be welded, while still leaving the insulation in tact.

• Thomas's Electric Welding lead to the development and manufacture of various machines for electric welding. These machines simplified the process of welding to such a level that some of them are automatic in their working. These save manual labour to a minimum and it can be operated even by mechanics who have limited technical knowledge.

• Electric welding also led to the development of various methods of electric welding, differing from each other both in principle and application.

• Electric welding today is used in many industrial purposes surpassing it's original usage in various industries.