Modular wire feeder assembly

Abstract

A wire feeder has a motor, mounting plate, intermediate mounting plate, and base assembly. The mounting plate has a plurality of mounting hole patterns and a shaft hole. The motor a mounting hole pattern that aligns with at least one of the plurality. One of a plurality of motor types can be mounted to the mounting plate. The mounting plate is mounted to the intermediate mounting plate, which is mounted to the base assembly. The base assembly includes a drive gear, which is connected to rotate with an insulating cap that receives a gear hub. The gear hub is connected to rotate with the motor shaft via matching keys. The insulating hub, intermediate mounting plate and mounting plate are electrically insulating, so that the base assembly is electrically isolated from the motor.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A wire feeder, comprising:
 a base assembly;   a motor, selected from one of a plurality of motors, each having a unique mounting hole pattern and a rotatable motor shaft;   means for mounting any of the plurality of motors, wherein the means for mounting is affixed to the base assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The wire feeder of  claim 10 , further comprising an intermediate means for means, wherein the intermediate means for mounting is mounted to the base assembly and the means for mounting is mounted on the intermediate means for mounting. 
     
     
         12 . The wire feeder of  claim 11  wherein the intermediate means for mounting and the means for mounting are mounted to the base assembly using a plurality of screws and the motor is mounted to the means for mounting using a second plurality of screws. 
     
     
         13 . The wire feeder of  claim 11  further comprising a means for receiving the motor shaft and a drive gear, wherein the drive gear is part of the base assembly, and the drive gear rotates with the means for receiving, and the means for receiving rotates with the motor shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The wire feeder of  claim 13  wherein the mean for receiving includes a gear hub with a hollowed interior that receives the motor shaft, and wherein the hollowed interior and the motor shaft have matching keys. 
     
     
         15 . The wire feeder of  claim 14  wherein the motor is one of a plurality of different sized motors with each motor having the same size shaft and matching key, and wherein the hollowed interior can receive any of the plurality of motor shafts. 
     
     
         16 . The wire feeder of  claim 14 , wherein the means for receiving includes an insulating cap having a hollow interior that receives the gear hub, and the insulating cap, intermediate means for mounting and the means for mounting are comprised of an electrical insulating material, wherein the base assembly can be at a first potential and the motor can be at a second potential without current flowing therebetween.