The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 06, 2003
Filed:
Aug. 25, 2000
Robert D. Steenis, Kaukauna, WI (US);
Richard M. Hutchison, New London, WI (US);
Richard W. Beeson, Appleton, WI (US);
Lin Zhang, Appleton, WI (US);
James L. Uecker, Appleton, WI (US);
Todd E. Holverson, Appleton, WI (US);
Illinois Tool Works, Glenview, IL (US);
Abstract
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.