Plug part, jack part and connecting device as well as adapter element for releasably connecting a liquid-cooled welding torch to a hose package

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016236304-A1
Application number	US-201615044439-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 16, 2016
Priority date	Feb 17, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A plug part releasably connects a liquid-cooled welding torch to a jack part arranged on a hose package, and a connecting device releasably connects a liquid-cooled welding torch to a hose package. In order to provide a connecting device which is suitable for high welding currents and use with hollow shaft robots, each welding current line on the plug part is arranged around a cooling duct, at least in the region of the front face, and the contact area of each welding current line is arranged axially offset from the orifices of the cooling ducts. On the jack part, each welding current line is arranged around a cooling duct, at least in the region of the end piece, and the contact area of each welding current line is arranged axially offset from the orifices of the cooling ducts.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A plug part ( 4 ) for releasably connecting a liquid-cooled welding torch ( 2 ) to a jack part ( 5 ) arranged on a hose package ( 3 ), having a front face ( 9 ), a cylindrical pipe element ( 8 ), at least two axially extending welding wire ducts ( 10 ), at least two cooling ducts ( 11 ) each having an orifice ( 19 ) and at least two welding current lines ( 12 ) each having a contact area ( 17 ), wherein each welding current line ( 12 ) is arranged around a cooling duct ( 11 ), at least in the region of the front face ( 9 ), and the contact area ( 17 ) of each welding current line ( 12 ) is arranged axially offset from the orifices ( 19 ) of the cooling ducts ( 11 ).

2 . The plug part ( 4 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the orifices ( 19 ) of the cooling ducts ( 11 ) are arranged protruding away from the front face ( 9 ) and the contact areas ( 17 ) of each welding current line ( 12 ) are arranged between the front face ( 9 ) and the orifices ( 19 ) of the cooling ducts ( 11 ).

3 . The plug part ( 4 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a pin-like element ( 29 ) is provided on the front face ( 9 ) for being received in a corresponding receiving hole ( 30 ) of the jack part ( 5 ) in order to determine the angular position of the plug part ( 4 ) with respect to the jack part ( 5 ).

4 . The plug part ( 4 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the welding current lines ( 12 ) are formed by a pipe made of a conductive material at least in the region of the contact areas ( 17 ).

5 . The plug part ( 4 ) according to claim 1 , wherein each welding current line ( 12 ) surrounds a cooling duct ( 11 ) concentrically, at least in the region of the contact area ( 17 ).

6 . The plug part ( 4 ) according to claim 1 , wherein each welding current line ( 12 ) forms a cooling duct ( 11 ), at least in the region of the contact area ( 17 ).

7 . The plug part ( 4 ) according to claim 1 , wherein in the region of the front face ( 9 ), the welding current lines ( 12 ) with the cooling ducts ( 11 ) and the welding wire ducts ( 10 ) are arranged diametrically with respect to one another and preferably at equal angular distances with respect to one another.

8 . The plug part ( 4 ) according to claim 1 , wherein preferably replaceable valves ( 27 ) are arranged in the cooling ducts ( 11 ) in the region of the orifices ( 19 ).

9 . The plug part ( 4 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the valves ( 27 ) are arranged in current mandrels ( 37 ), which current mandrels ( 37 ) form the contact areas ( 17 ) of the welding current lines ( 12 ).

10 . The plug part ( 4 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the outer diameter of the cylindrical pipe element ( 8 ) is below 80 mm, in particular between 50 and 65 mm.

11 . The plug part ( 4 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical pipe element ( 8 ) is sealed using an insulating material, in particular epoxy resin, in the region of the front face ( 9 ).

12 . A jack part ( 5 ) for releasably connecting a hose package ( 3 ) to a liquid-cooled welding torch ( 2 ), having a cylindrical end piece ( 21 ), at least two axially extending welding wire ducts ( 41 ), at least two cooling ducts ( 22 ) each having an orifice ( 45 ) and at least two welding current lines ( 20 ) each having a contact area ( 18 ), wherein each welding current line ( 20 ) is arranged around a cooling duct ( 22 ), at least in the region of the end piece ( 21 ), and the contact area ( 18 ) of each welding current line ( 20 ) is arranged axially offset from the orifices ( 45 ) of the cooling ducts ( 22 ).

13 . The jack part ( 5 ) according to claim 12 , wherein the contact area ( 18 ) of each welding current line ( 20 ) includes at least one contact element ( 25 ), in particular a contact spring ( 26 ) or contact blades.

14 . The jack part ( 5 ) according to claim 12 , wherein a receiving hole ( 30 ) for receiving a corresponding pin-like element ( 29 ) of the plug part ( 4 ) is provided in the cylindrical end piece ( 21 ) in order to determine the angular position of the jack part ( 5 ) with respect to the plug part ( 4 ).

15 . The jack part ( 5 ) according to claim 12 , wherein the welding current lines ( 20 ) are formed by a pipe made of a conductive material at least in the region of the contact areas ( 18 ).

16 . The jack part ( 5 ) according to claim 12 , wherein preferably replaceable valves ( 23 ) are arranged in the cooling ducts ( 22 ) in the region of the orifices ( 45 ).

17 . The jack part ( 5 ) according to claim 12 , wherein the outer diameter of the cylindrical end piece ( 21 ) is below 80 mm, in particular between 50 and 65 mm.

18 . The jack part ( 5 ) according to claim 12 , wherein the cylindrical end piece ( 21 ) is sealed using an insulating material, in particular epoxy resin.

19 . A connecting device ( 1 ) for releasably connecting a liquid-cooled welding torch ( 2 ) to a hose package ( 3 ), wherein the welding torch ( 2 ) has a plug part ( 4 ) according to claim 1 and the hose package ( 3 ) has a jack part ( 5 ).

20 . An adapter element ( 50 ) for releasably connecting a liquid-cooled single-wire welding torch ( 2 ′) to a hose package ( 3 ) for a multi-wire welding torch ( 2 ), wherein the adapter element ( 50 ) has a plug part ( 4 ) according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Fronius Int Gmbh

Inventors

• Grossauer Wolfgang
• Resch Christian

Classifications

• B23K37/003 Primary

  Cooling means for welding or cutting · CPC title

• H01R13/64

  Means for preventing incorrect coupling · CPC title

• H01R4/48

  utilising a spring, clip, or other resilient member (H01R4/52 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23K9/323 Primary

  Combined coupling means, e.g. gas, electricity, water or the like · CPC title

• B23K9/28 Primary

  Supporting devices for electrodes · CPC title