Welding system with support base
An example wire feeder includes: a wire supply support configured to supply welding wire; a wire drive assembly configured to feed wire to a welding gun from the wire supply support; a support base defining a lower surface, the wire supply support and the wire drive assembly supported by the support base, the support base being pivotable from an operational position to a travel position; a handle at a first end of the support base; and at least one reduced friction element extending from a second end of the support base so that the support base is in contact with a support surface when the support base is in the operational position, and the reduced friction element is in engagement with the support surface and the support base is out of contact with the support surface when the support base is pivoted to the travel position.
1 . A wire feeder, comprising:
a wire supply support configured to supply welding wire;
a wire drive assembly configured to feed wire to a welding gun from the wire supply support;
a support plate defining a lower surface, the wire supply support and the wire drive assembly mounted to the support plate, the support plate being pivotable from an operational position to a travel position;
a handle at a first end of the support plate; and
at least one reduced friction element extending from a second end of the support plate so that the support plate is in contact with a support surface when the support plate is in the operational position, and the reduced friction element is in engagement with the support surface and the support plate is out of contact with the support surface when the support plate is pivoted to the travel position,
wherein the support plate is pivotable from the operational position to plural travel positions including a first angled position in which the reduced friction element and the lower surface of the support plate are in engagement with the support surface, and a second angled position in which the reduced friction element is in engagement with the support surface and the lower surface of the support plate is out of engagement with the support surface.
2 . The wire feeder of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reduced friction element comprises at least one caster, the wire feeder further comprising a caster support bracket extending from the support plate that spaces the at least one caster from the lower surface of the support plate.
3 . The wire feeder of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reduced friction element comprises at least two casters extending from the second end of the support plate and spaced from the lower surface of the support plate so that the casters are out of engagement with the support surface when the support plate is in the operational position and the casters are in engagement with the support surface when the support plate is pivoted to the travel position.
4 . The wire feeder of claim 1 , further comprising a support stand extending from the second end of the support plate.
5 . The wire feeder of claim 4 , wherein:
the support plate is pivotable to a stored position; and
the support stand is configured to support the wire feeder in the stored position.
6 . The wire feeder of claim 5 , wherein the reduced friction element is out of engagement with the support surface when the wire feeder is pivoted to the stored position.
7 . The wire feeder of claim 4 , wherein the support stand comprises a plate.
8 . The wire feeder of claim 4 , wherein the stored position is an upright position.
9 . The wire feeder of claim 1 , further comprising at least one rail extending from the bottom of the support plate, the at least one rail defining the lower surface of the support plate and configured to support the wire feeder when the support plate is in the operational position.
10 . The wire feeder of claim 1 , wherein the at least one reduced friction element is out of engagement with the support surface when the support plate is in the operational position.
11 . A sled for a wire feeder, the wire feeder including a wire supply support configured to supply welding wire and a drive assembly configured to feed wire to a welding gun from the wire supply support, the sled comprising:
a support plate defining a lower surface and configured to mount the wire supply support and the wire drive assembly to the support plate, the support plate being pivotable from a horizontal operational position to an angled travel position; and
at least one reduced friction element extending from a second end of the support plate so that the support plate is in contact with a support surface when the support plate is in an operational position, and the reduced friction element is in engagement with the support surface and the support plate is out of contact with the support surface when the support plate is pivoted to the travel position,
wherein the support plate is pivotable from the operational position to plural travel positions including a first angled position in which the reduced friction element and the lower surface of the support plate are in engagement with the support surface, and a second angled position in which the reduced friction element is in engagement with the support surface and the lower surface of the support plate is out of engagement with the support surface.
12 . The sled of claim 11 , further comprising a support bracket extending from the support plate that spaces the reduced friction element from the lower surface of the support plate.
13 . The sled of claim 11 , wherein the at least one reduced friction element comprises at least two casters extending from the second end of the support plate and spaced from the lower surface of the support plate so that the casters are out of engagement with the support surface when the support plate is in the operational position and the casters are in engagement with the support surface when the support plate is pivoted to the travel position.
14 . The sled of claim 11 , further comprising a support stand extending from the second end of the support plate.
15 . The sled of claim 14 , wherein:
the support plate is pivotable to an upright storage position; and
the support stand extends from the support plate and is configured to support the wire feeder in the upright storage position.
16 . The sled of claim 11 , wherein the reduced friction element comprises a caster.
17 . The sled of claim 11 , wherein a first end of the support plate has a handle comprising one or more openings, the first end of the support plate on an opposite end of the support plate from the second end.
18 . The sled of claim 17 , wherein the wire drive assembly is mounted to the support plate closer to the first end than the second end, and the wire supply support is mounted to the support plate closer to the second end than the first end.
19 . A wire feeder, comprising:
a wire supply support configured to supply welding wire;
a wire drive assembly configured to feed wire to a welding gun from the wire supply support;
a support plate defining a lower surface, the wire supply support and the wire drive assembly mounted to the support plate, the support plate being pivotable from an operational position to a travel position; and
at least one reduced friction element coupled to the support plate, so that the support plate is in contact with a support surface when the support plate is in the operational position, and the reduced friction element is in engagement with the support surface and the support plate is out of contact with the support surface when the support plate is pivoted to the travel position,
wherein the support plate is pivotable from the operational position to plural travel positions including a first angled position in which the reduced friction element and the lower surface of the support plate are in engagement with the support surface, and a second angled position in which the reduced friction element is in engagement with the support surface and the lower surface of the support plate is out of engagement with the support surface.