Welding wire spool with breakaway tab
The present disclosure is generally directed to a welding wire spool and a method for welding wire loading and feeding. The welding wire spool comprises a drum, a first and second flange, and a tab. The tab may be frangibly attached to the first flange at an attachment area located along the perimeter of the first flange. The drum may include a drum opening. The method may include loading a spool onto a spooler, using the spooler to load wire onto the spool, hooking a length of wire through the tab opening, and unloading the spool from the spooler.
1 . A welding wire spool comprising:
a drum having an outer drum perimeter and extending between a first flange and a second flange, wherein each flange has an outer perimeter; and
a tab that is located along and extends beyond the outer perimeter of the first flange;
wherein the outer perimeter of each of the first and second flanges is greater than the outer drum perimeter;
wherein the first flange has a flange thickness and comprises a flange opening that extends through the flange thickness;
wherein the tab has a tab thickness and comprises a tab opening that extends through the tab thickness; and
wherein the tab opening is elliptical.
2 . A welding wire spool comprising:
a drum having an outer drum perimeter and extending between a first flange and a second flange, wherein each flange has an outer perimeter; and
a tab that is located along and extends beyond the outer perimeter of the first flange;
wherein the outer perimeter of each of the first and second flanges is greater than the outer drum perimeter;
wherein the first flange has a flange thickness and comprises a flange opening that extends through the flange thickness;
wherein the tab has a tab thickness and comprises a tab opening that extends through the tab thickness; and
wherein the tab is frangibly attached to the first flange at an attachment area located along the perimeter of the first flange.
3 . The welding wire spool of claim 2 , wherein the drum comprises a drum perimeter thickness and a drum opening that extends through the drum perimeter thickness.
4 . The welding wire spool of claim 3 , wherein the drum opening is located along a radial axis that bisects the flange opening.
5 . The welding wire spool of claim 2 , wherein the flange opening is located along a radial axis that bisects the tab opening.
6 . The welding wire spool of claim 2 , wherein the attachment area comprises a relief line.
7 . The welding wire spool of claim 6 , wherein the attachment area comprises perforations.
8 . A method for welding wire loading and feeding comprising:
loading a spool onto a spooler, wherein the spool comprises
a drum having an outer drum perimeter and extending between a first flange and a second flange, wherein each flange has an outer perimeter; and
a tab that is located along and extends beyond the outer perimeter of the first flange;
wherein the outer perimeter of each of the first and second flanges is greater than the outer drum perimeter;
wherein the first flange has a flange thickness and comprises a flange opening that extends through the flange thickness; and
wherein the tab has a tab thickness and comprises a tab opening that extends through the tab thickness;
wherein the tab opening is elliptical;
using the spooler to load wire onto the spool;
hooking a length of wire through the tab opening; and
unloading the spool from the spooler.
9 . A method for welding wire loading and feeding comprising:
loading a spool onto a spooler, wherein the spool comprises
a drum having an outer drum perimeter and extending between a first flange and a second flange, wherein each flange has an outer perimeter; and
a tab that is located along and extends beyond the outer perimeter of the first flange;
wherein the outer perimeter of each of the first and second flanges is greater than the outer drum perimeter;
wherein the first flange has a flange thickness and comprises a flange opening that extends through the flange thickness; and
wherein the tab has a tab thickness and comprises a tab opening that extends through the tab thickness;
wherein the tab is frangibly attached to the first flange at an attachment area located along the perimeter of the first flange;
using the spooler to load wire onto the spool;
hooking a length of wire through the tab opening; and
unloading the spool from the spooler.
10 . The method for welding wire loading and feeding of claim 9 , further comprising, after unloading the spool from the spooler, breaking the tab away from the spool.
11 . The method for welding wire loading and feeding of claim 9 , further comprising, after unloading the spool from the spooler, loading the spool into a wire feeder.
12 . The method for welding wire loading and feeding of claim 11 , further comprising, after loading the spool into a wire feeder, breaking the tab away from the spool.
13 . The method for welding wire loading and feeding of claim 9 , wherein the drum comprises a drum perimeter thickness and a drum opening that extends through the drum perimeter thickness.
14 . The method for welding wire loading and feeding of claim 13 , wherein the drum opening is located along a radial axis that bisects the flange opening.
15 . The method for welding wire loading and feeding of claim 9 , wherein the flange opening is located along a radial axis that bisects the tab opening.
16 . The method for welding wire loading and feeding of claim 9 , wherein the attachment area comprises a relief line.
17 . The method for welding wire loading and feeding of claim 16 , wherein the attachment area comprises perforations.