Tweco Products, Inc.

Victor Equipment Company

Kyle H Stuart

Dale R Bervig

Bryan Young

David Allen Kinder

Rondell L Longhofer

A universal conduit assembly for a welding torch is provided that includes a conduit liner defining a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a conduit tip secured to the proximal end portion of the conduit liner, and an interchangeable conduit stop removably secured to the conduit tip. The interchangeable conduit stop is adapted for connection to a specific OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) power connector.

Universal conduit liner for a welding torch

A welding contact tip and diffuser assembly for use in a welding apparatus. The assembly includes an electrically conductive contact tip having a tapered exterior surface, a diffuser having a cavity with a tapered interior surface, and a releasable connection for holding the contact tip in the diffuser. The connection includes at least one detent element in either the diffuser or the contact tip, at least one recess forming a ramp in the other of the diffuser or contact tip, and at least one spring. The spring biases the detent element into the recess and against the ramp to generate an axial force against the ramp. The axial force tends to urge the tapered surfaces of the contact tip and diffuser into contact with one another.

Welding contact tip and diffuser

A welding gun assembly including a contact tip and gas diffuser having increased electrical conductivity and heat dissipation and a spool gun assembly having a rotatable and articulatable conductor tube mounted on the handle member thereof and a smoke gun assembly with a manually adjustable vacuum control member on the handle member and wherein the handle member conforms to the hand of the operator and includes an elongate trigger member thereon.

Welding gun assembly

Contact tips and diffusers, known as consumables, for MIG welding guns have a combined increase in mass over the prior art. The larger combined mass of the contact tips and diffusers, coupled with a three point thermal and electrical engagement, increase the life of the tips by a factor of between 2 and 6 times the prior art. The contact tip and diffuser engage; i) between a circumferential shoulder of the contact tip and the end of the circumferential opening of the lower interior chamber of the gas diffuser; ii) between the protrusion of the gas diffuser and a point on the circumferential channel of the contact tip; and iii) between a line on the contact tip opposite the protrusion of the gas diffuser and a line on an inner surface of the second interior chamber of the gas diffuser opposite the protrusion. A cam replaces prior art threads. The camming action is produced by a circumferential channel cut into the contact tip that intersects with a tangential flat in one end of the contact tip and which decreases in width and depth around to a point 180.degree. from the tangential flat. As the contact tip is rotated, the protrusion tracks within the channel to axially and radially wedge the contact tip within the diffuser.

Tips and diffusers for MIG welding guns

The present invention includes several features which can be used alone or in combination. The three (3) primary features are: 1) an ergonomically designed welding gun; 2) a quick disconnect cable assembly, and 3) an improved contact tip and diffuser. The ergonomic design for the welding gun includes one or more of the following features: a) the conductor tube can be rotated 360.degree. about the centerline of the handle by the welder without resort to tools or disassembly of the gun; b) the conductor tube can be articulated 15.degree. up or down, side to side, without resort to tools or disassembly of the gun; c) the rear portion of the handle includes a gentle curve of approximately 10.degree. off the centerline to facility gripping by the operator; d) the handle operator to actuate the gun while gripping same either at the rear portion of the handle of the front portion of the handle.

Ergonomic welding gun with quick disconnect cable assembly

A breakaway mount connects a tool such as a welding torch with a robot or other automated machine. The mount can fully separate and detach from a baseplate in the event of a collision between the tool and the workpiece. The pneumatically operated mount is reassembled with the baseplate in a two-step procedure which allows the operator to move his fingers and hands away from the apparatus to avoid injury when the components are fully assembled. The breakaway mount can include a wrist joint which swivels back and forth in response to a collision between the tool and the workpiece. The apparatus can also be affixed with sensors to detect partial or complete detachment between the mount and the baseplate. The sensors shut down the robot or other automatic machinery in the event of partial or complete detachment. A second series of sensors can also be added to detect the movement in the wrist joint to likewise shut down the machinery. In an alternative embodiment, the mount is manually operated with a threaded screw to attach the mount to the baseplate. The present invention protects the tool, the robot or automatic machinery, and the workpiece from damage due to high speed collisions. The unique configuration of this mount also protects the operator when it is necessary to reconnect the mount to the baseplate after a substantial collision.

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Wichita, KS, United States of America

Kyle H Stuart