Welding wire payout drum

Abstract

A welding wire payout drum comprising an outer cylindrical sleeve with an internal diameter and having a top opening with a central wire supporting stem in said drum. The stem has a cylindrical body generally concentric with the cylindrical sleeve of the drum and an upper guide ring near the top opening of the drum. The guide ring has an outer circular perimeter with a diameter less than the internal diameter of the sleeve wherein the upper guide ring has a downwardly decreasing contoured underside shape between the perimeter and the cylindrical body of the stem.

Having thus defined the invention, the following is claimed:  
     
         1 . A welding wire payout drum comprising an outer cylindrical sleeve with an internal diameter and having a top opening and a central wire supporting stem in said drum, said stem having a cylindrical body generally concentric with said cylindrical sleeve and an upper guide ring near said top opening, said guide ring having an outer circular perimeter with a diameter less than said internal diameter of said sleeve to thereby define an annular wire payout gap, and wherein said upper guide ring has a downwardly decreasing contoured shape between said perimeter and said cylindrical body of said stem.  
     
     
         2 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 1  wherein said stem has a lower generally flat flange defining with said guide ring the wire supporting volume of said stem.  
     
     
         3 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 2  wherein said lower flat flange is integral with said cylindrical body.  
     
     
         4 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 2  wherein said lower flat flange is releasably attached to said cylindrical body.  
     
     
         5 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 4  wherein said lower flat flange has an area extending under said sleeve.  
     
     
         6 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 3  wherein said lower flat flange has an area extending under said sleeve.  
     
     
         7 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 3  wherein said shape is a taper.  
     
     
         8 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 2  wherein said shape is a taper.  
     
     
         9 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 1  wherein said shape is a taper.  
     
     
         10 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 3  wherein said shape is convex.  
     
     
         11 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 2  wherein said shape is convex.  
     
     
         12 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 1  wherein said shape is convex.  
     
     
         13 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 3  wherein said shape is concave.  
     
     
         14 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 2  wherein said shape is concave.  
     
     
         15 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 1  wherein said shape is concave.  
     
     
         16 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 3  wherein said cylindrical body of said stem has a diameter greater than about 16 inches.  
     
     
         17 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 2  wherein said cylindrical body of said stem has a diameter greater than about 16 inches.  
     
     
         18 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 1  wherein said cylindrical body of said stem has a diameter greater than about 16 inches.  
     
     
         19 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 3  wherein said cylindrical body of said stem has a diameter in the general range of 16-20 inches.  
     
     
         20 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 2  wherein said cylindrical body of said stem has a diameter in the general range of 16-20 inches.  
     
     
         21 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 1  wherein said cylindrical body of said stem has a diameter in the general range of 16-20 inches.  
     
     
         22 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 21  wherein said payout gap is in the general range of  {fraction (1/2)}- 1.0 inches.  
     
     
         23 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 18  wherein said payout gap is in the general range of  {fraction (1/2 )}- 1.0 inches.  
     
     
         24 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 3  wherein said payout gap is in the general range of  {fraction (1/2)}- 1.0 inches.  
     
     
         25 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 2  wherein said payout gap is in the general range of  {fraction (1/2)}- 1.0 inches.  
     
     
         26 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 1  wherein said payout gap is in the general range of  {fraction (1/2)}- 1.0 inches.  
     
     
         27 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 26  wherein said diameter of said circular perimeter is in the general range of 21-22 inches.  
     
     
         28 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 25  wherein said diameter ofsaid circular perimeter is in the general range of 21-22 inches.  
     
     
         29 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 24  wherein said diameter of said circular perimeter is in the general range of 21-22 inches.  
     
     
         30 . Apayout drum as defined in  claim 23  wherein said diameter ofsaid circular perimeter is in the general range of 21-22 inches.  
     
     
         31 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 22  wherein said diameter of said circular perimeter is in the general range of 21-22 inches.  
     
     
         32 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 21  wherein said diameter of said circular perimeter is in the general range of 21-22 inches.  
     
     
         33 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 18  wherein said diameter ofsaid circular perimeter is in the general range of 21-22 inches.  
     
     
         34 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 3  wherein said diameter of said circular perimeter is in the general range of 21-22 inches.  
     
     
         35 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 2  wherein said diameter of said circular perimeter is in the general range of 21-22 inches.  
     
     
         36 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 1  wherein said diameter of said circular perimeter is in the general range of 21-22 inches.  
     
     
         37 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 3  wherein said stem contains well over 1000 pounds of welding wire wound in layers of ever-increasing diameters on said cylindrical body.  
     
     
         38 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 2  wherein said stem contains well over 1000 pounds of welding wire wound in layers of ever-increasing diameters on said cylindrical body.  
     
     
         39 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 1  wherein said stem contains well over 1000 pounds of welding wire wound in layers of ever-increasing diameters on said cylindrical body.  
     
     
         40 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 16  wherein said stem contains well over 1000 pounds of welding wire wound in layers of ever-increasing diameters on said cylindrical body.  
     
     
         41 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 17  wherein said stem contains well over 1000 pounds of welding wire wound in layers of ever-increasing diameters on said cylindrical body.  
     
     
         42 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 18  wherein said stem contains well over 1000 pounds of welding wire wound in layers of ever-increasing diameters on said cylindrical body.  
     
     
         43 . A welding wire storage stem for payout in a given direction, said stem having cylindrical body generally concentric with an axis parallel to said given direction and an upper guide ring on one end of said cylindrical body and facing said given direction, said guide ring having an outer circular perimeter with an outer diameter and a downwardly decreasing shape between said perimeter and said cylindrical body.  
     
     
         44 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 43  wherein said stem has a lower generally flat flange defining with said guide ring the wire supporting volume of said stem.  
     
     
         45 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 44  wherein said lower flat flange is integral with said cylindrical body.  
     
     
         46 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 44  wherein said lower flat flange is attached to said cylindrical body.  
     
     
         47 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 44  wherein said lower flat flange has an area extending under said sleeve.  
     
     
         48 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 43  wherein said lower flat flange has an area extending under said sleeve.  
     
     
         49 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 44  wherein said shape is a taper.  
     
     
         50 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 43  wherein said shape is a taper.  
     
     
         51 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 44  wherein said shape is convex.  
     
     
         52 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 43  wherein said shape is convex.  
     
     
         53 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 44  wherein said shape is concave.  
     
     
         54 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 43  wherein said shape is concave.  
     
     
         55 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 44  wherein said diameter of said circular perimeter is in the general range of 21-22 inches.  
     
     
         56 . A payout drum as defined in  claim 43  wherein said diameter of said circular perimeter is in the general range of 21-22 inches.  
     
     
         57 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 43  including a mass of welding wire wound upon said cylindrical body without removing the preset cast and helix of the welding wire.  
     
     
         58 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 44  including a mass of welding wire wound upon said cylindrical body without removing the preset cast and helix of the welding wire.  
     
     
         59 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 48  including a mass of welding wire wound upon said cylindrical body without removing the preset cast and helix of the welding wire.  
     
     
         60 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 50  including a mass of welding wire wound upon said cylindrical body without removing the preset cast and helix of the welding wire.  
     
     
         61 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 52  including a mass of welding wire wound upon said cylindrical body without removing the preset cast and helix of the welding wire.  
     
     
         62 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 54  including a mass of welding wire wound upon said cylindrical body without removing the preset cast and helix of the welding wire.  
     
     
         63 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 56  including a mass of welding wire wound upon said cylindrical body without removing the preset cast and helix of the welding wire.  
     
     
         64 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 55  wherein said stem has an axial height of over 30 inches.  
     
     
         65 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 53  wherein said stem has an axial height of over 30 inches.  
     
     
         66 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 51  wherein said stem has an axial height of over 30 inches.  
     
     
         67 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 49  wherein said stem has an axial height of over 30 inches.  
     
     
         68 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 47  wherein said stem has an axial height of over 30 inches.  
     
     
         69 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 45  wherein said stem has an axial height of over 30 inches.  
     
     
         70 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 44  wherein said stem has an axial height of over 30 inches.  
     
     
         71 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 54  wherein said shape has an angle of at least 25° from the horizontal.  
     
     
         72 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 52  wherein said shape has an angle of at least 25° from the horizontal.  
     
     
         73 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 50  wherein said shape has an angle of at least 25° from the horizontal.  
     
     
         74 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 45  wherein said shape has an angle of at least 25° from the horizontal.  
     
     
         75 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 44  wherein said shape has an angle of at least 25° from the horizontal.  
     
     
         76 . A wire storage stem as defined in  claim 43  wherein said shape has an angle of at least 25° from the horizontal.