Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Robert D Steenis

Richard Martin Hutchison

Todd Earl Holverson

James Lee Uecker

Richard W Beeson

Lin Zhang

David J Lease

A current path for a mig welding gun assures a reliable and stable interface between a welding gun and a weld wire. In one embodiment, the current path is through a conductive insert that fits in the welding gun diffuser. Fingers of the insert resiliently contact the weld wire and thereby provide stable paths for welding power from the gun to the weld wire. In another embodiment, a contact tip assembly comprises a contact tip having resilient fingers in electrical contact with a body. An inner frusto-conical surface of a sleeve is urged against concentric frusto-conical outer surfaces of the fingers to bias the fingers radially inwardly against the weld wire. An insulative liner in the contact tip guides the weld wire between the fingers. A shield surrounds the contact tip and the sleeve. In a further embodiment, a single finger is pivotally connected to the contact tip. A spring biases a finger end against the weld wire. In an alternate embodiment, the finger is wedge shaped and is held in an angled slot in the contact tip.

Contact tip assembly for mig gun

Alternate current path for mig gun

A welding apparatus for submerged arc welding is disclosed. The welding apparatus includes a welding power supply and a wire feeder in electrical communication with the power supply. A torch is in electrical communication with the power supply and is adapted to deliver an electrode wire from the wire feeder to an arc. A flux system having a flow path for delivering flux to the arc includes a pinch valve disposed to open and close the flow path.

Method and apparatus for submerged arc welding

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Kaukauna, WI, United States of America

Robert D Steenis