Gas diffuser for GMAW manual/robotic arc welding MIG guns

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9481047-B2
Application number	US-201213674843-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 12, 2012
Priority date	Nov 13, 2011
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

Abstract

A conductor tube for use in an arc welding apparatus is disclosed that diffuses gas from an aperture in the conductor tube. The conductor tube has an internal passageway and a distal end portion. In one form of the present disclosure, proximate to the distal end portion there is at least one aperture disposed wherein the gas flowing through the internal passageway is at least partially dispersed through the at least one aperture.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An arc welding apparatus, comprising:
a conductor tube defining an internal passageway, a distal end portion, and at least one aperture disposed proximate the distal end portion and extending through a cylindrical sidewall of the conductor tube, wherein a gas flowing through the internal passageway is at least partially dispersed through the at least one aperture, and wherein the conductor tube further defines a proximal end portion directly coupled to a handle of the welding apparatus; and
a contact tip comprising:
a body defining an internal cavity extending from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion;
an exit orifice extending through the distal end portion of the body; and
a contact surface disposed around the proximal end portion of the body, the contact surface defining a profile configured to abut a corresponding profile on the conductor tube, wherein the conductor tube defines a contact surface disposed around the distal end, the contact surface defining a profile configured to abut a corresponding profile on the contact tip such that the at least one aperture extends outward from the internal passageway proximate to a distal end portion of the conductor tube.

2. The arc welding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture extends normally in relation to an outer wall of the conductor tube.

3. The arc welding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture extends at an angle in relation to an outer wall of the conductor tube.

4. The arc welding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture defines at least one angled passage wall in relation to an angle normal to an outer wall of the conductor tube.

5. The arc welding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture defines at least one rounded passage wall.

6. The arc welding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture comprises at least one polygonal opening.

7. The arc welding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one aperture comprises at least one slot.

8. The arc welding apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one slot extends at an angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the conductor tube.

9. The arc welding apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one slot extends at an angle perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conductor tube.

10. The arc welding apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one slot extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the conductor tube.

11. The arc welding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apertures are defined a combination of holes and slots.

12. The arc welding apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the slots are evenly spaced radially about the internal cavity and the holes are evenly spaced radially about the internal cavity.

13. The arc welding apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the slots define at least one row of slots in relation to the longitudinal axis of the conductor tube and the holes define at least one row of holes in relation to the longitudinal axis of the conductor tube.

14. An arc welding apparatus comprising:
a conductor tube defining an internal passageway, a distal end portion, and at least one aperture disposed proximate the distal end portion, wherein a gas flowing through the internal passageway is at least partially dispersed through the at least one aperture; and
a contact tip comprising:
a body defining an internal cavity extending from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion;
an exit orifice extending through the distal end portion of the body; and
a contact surface disposed around the proximal end portion of the body, the contact surface defining a profile configured to abut a corresponding profile on the conductor tube, wherein the conductor tube defines a contact surface disposed around the distal end, the contact surface defining a profile configured to abut a corresponding profile on the contact tip such that the at least one aperture extends outward from the internal passageway proximate to a distal end portion of the conductor tube.

15. The arc welding apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising the exit orifice defining a radiused inlet.

16. The arc welding apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising a shoulder disposed at a distal end of the internal cavity.

17. The arc welding apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the contact surface of the conductor tube is defined as an internal contact surface and the contact surface of the contact tip is defined as an external contact surface.

18. The arc welding apparatus according to claim 17 , further comprising the external contact surface defining a taper expanding outward from the proximal end toward the distal end.

19. The arc welding apparatus according to claim 17 , further comprising the external contact surface defining a spherical contact surface expanding outward from the proximal end.

20. The arc welding apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the external contact surface defines a spherical contact surface expanding outward from the proximal end and an annular groove.

21. A method of operating an arc welding apparatus comprising:
providing a conductor tube defining an internal passageway, a distal end portion, and at least one aperture disposed proximate the distal end portion;
providing a contact tip comprising:
a body defining an internal cavity extending from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion;
an exit orifice extending through the distal end portion of the body; and
a contact surface disposed around the proximal end portion of the body, the contact surface defining a profile configured to abut a corresponding profile on the conductor tube, wherein the conductor tube defines a contact surface disposed around the distal end, the contact surface defining a profile configured to abut a corresponding profile on the contact tip such that the at least one aperture extends outward from the internal passageway proximate to a distal end portion of the conductor tube;

directing a flow of shielding gas through the at least one aperture formed through a cylindrical sidewall of the conductor tube, wherein the at least one aperture is located in a distal end portion of the conductor tube, and wherein the conductor tube further defines a proximal end portion directly coupled to a handle of the welding apparatus; and
directing a welding wire through an exit orifice in the contact tip, wherein the at least one aperture diffuses a shielding gas and provides cooling to the contact tip, and the exit orifice provides contact for the welding wire.

22. The method according to claim 21 further comprising conducting current through a tapered external contact surface of a contact tip, from the conductor tube.

23. The method according to claim 21 further comprising conducting current through a spherical external contact surface of a contact tip, from the conductor tube.

24. The method according to claim 21 further comprising directing the welding wire along a radiused inlet of the exit orifice to reduce scraping and shaving of the welding wire.

Assignees

• Victor Equipment Co

Inventors

• Hassan Khalid

Classifications

• B23K9/295 Primary

  using consumable wire electrodes · CPC title

• B23K9/291

  the shielding means being a gas · CPC title

• B23K9/28

  Supporting devices for electrodes · CPC title

• B23K9/26

  Accessories for electrodes, e.g. ignition tips · CPC title

• B23K9/173

  and of a consumable electrode · CPC title