Welding torch with wire feed speed control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10081072-B2
Application number	US-201213430403-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2012
Priority date	Mar 29, 2011
Publication date	Sep 25, 2018
Grant date	Sep 25, 2018

Abstract

A welding torch has a torch handle. A wire drive assembly is disposed in the torch handle and includes a drive motor and a drive roller. The wire drive assembly contacts the welding wire and is configured to drive the welding wire from a wire feeder to a welding operation. In addition, the welding torch has a trigger and a wire feed speed adjustment assembly. The trigger is disposed near a rear end of the torch handle and is configured to be depressed by an operator for initiating feed of the welding wire. The adjustment assembly is positioned near the rear end of the handle adjacent to the trigger and on the same side of the handle as the trigger. The adjustment assembly allows operator adjustment of a feed speed of the welding wire.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A welding torch comprising:
a torch handle;
a wire drive assembly disposed in the torch handle and comprising a drive motor and a drive roller that contacts a welding wire and configured to drive the welding wire from a wire feeder to a welding operation;
a trigger disposed near a rear end of the handle and configured to be depressed by an operator for initiating feed of the welding wire; and
a wire feed speed adjustment assembly positioned near the rear end of the handle adjacent to the trigger and on a same side of the handle as the trigger for allowing operator adjustment of a feed speed of the welding wire.

2. The welding torch of claim 1 , wherein the trigger is disposed on a bottom side of the handle and configured to be depressed by one or more fingers of the operator.

3. The welding torch of claim 2 , wherein the trigger is pivoted about a rear pivot axis.

4. The welding torch of claim 1 , wherein the wire feed adjustment assembly comprises an adjustment wheel mounted to rotate about an axis generally parallel to the torch handle.

5. The welding torch of claim 4 , wherein the adjustment wheel is generally centered laterally on a bottom side of the torch handle.

6. The welding torch of claim 4 , wherein the adjustment wheel is mounted forward of the trigger.

7. The welding torch of claim 4 , wherein the adjustment wheel is recessed within the torch handle.

8. The welding torch of claim 1 , wherein the trigger and the wire feed adjustment assembly are positioned to permit one-handed initiation of welding wire feed and adjustment of wire feed speed.

9. The welding torch of claim 1 , comprising a switch actuated by depression of the trigger and a rotary potentiometer for adjustment of the welding wire feed speed.

10. The welding torch of claim 9 , wherein the switch and the rotary potentiometer are part of a single subassembly disposed within the torch handle.

11. A welding torch comprising:
a torch handle;
a wire drive assembly disposed in the torch handle and comprising a drive motor and a drive roller that contacts a welding wire and configured to drive the welding wire from a wire feeder to a welding operation;
a trigger configured to be depressed by an operator for initiating feed of the welding wire; and
a wire feed speed adjustment assembly positioned adjacent to the trigger and on a same side of the handle as the trigger for allowing operator adjustment of a feed speed of the welding wire with a single hand.

12. The welding torch of claim 11 , wherein the trigger and the wire feed speed adjustment assembly are disposed on a side of the torch handle contacted by the one or more fingers of the operator during a welding operation.

13. The welding torch of claim 12 , wherein the trigger and the wire feed speed adjustment assembly are disposed near a rear end of the handle.

14. The welding torch of claim 11 , wherein the wire feed speed adjustment assembly comprises an adjustment wheel mounted forward of the trigger.

15. The welding torch of claim 14 , wherein the adjustment wheel is recessed within the torch handle.

16. A welding torch comprising:
a torch handle;
a trigger disposed near a rear end of the handle and configured to be depressed by an operator for initiating feed of a welding wire through the welding torch; and
a wire feed speed adjustment assembly positioned near the rear end of the handle adjacent to the trigger and on a same side of the handle as the trigger for allowing operator adjustment of a feed speed of the welding wire.

17. The welding torch of claim 16 , wherein the trigger and the wire feed adjustment assembly are positioned to permit one-handed initiation of welding wire feed and adjustment of wire feed speed.

18. The welding torch of claim 17 , comprising a switch actuated by depression of the trigger and a rotary potentiometer for adjustment of the welding wire feed speed.

Assignees

• Garvey Paul William
• Roehl Chris J
• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Garvey Paul William
• Roehl Chris J

Classifications

• B23K9/1336

  Driving means · CPC title

• B23K9/133 Primary

  Means for feeding electrodes, e.g. drums, rolls, motors · CPC title