Welding diffuser with debris removal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9527155-B2
Application number	US-201313798905-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2013
Priority date	Mar 13, 2013
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A welding diffuser and contact tip assembly is provided for use with a welding apparatus. The assembly includes a diffuser with an interior chamber and a plurality of openings defining exit passages from the interior chamber to an exterior of the diffuser, and a contact tip coupled to the diffuser. The contact tip includes a front portion, a rear portion, and a contact tip bore extending therethrough configured to receive electrode wire. A diffuser insert is disposed within the interior chamber of the diffuser, including an insert bore extending therethrough configured to receive electrode wire, and an angled outer surface configured to direct debris from within the interior chamber of the diffuser towards exit passages to thereby discharge the debris to an exterior of the diffuser. In one example, the rear portion of the contact tip includes an angled outer surface defining the diffuser insert.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A welding diffuser and contact tip assembly for use with a welding apparatus, the assembly comprising:
a diffuser comprising an interior chamber and a plurality of openings defining exit passages from the interior chamber to an exterior of the diffuser, the exit passages being utilized as gas passages for shielding gas used during a welding operation;
a contact tip removably coupled to the diffuser, comprising a front portion, a rear portion, and a contact tip bore extending therethrough configured to receive electrode wire; and
a diffuser insert disposed within the interior chamber of the diffuser, comprising an insert bore extending therethrough with a first end having a diameter substantially similar to a diameter of electrode wire received within the insert bore, and an angled outer surface, the diffuser insert positioned within the interior chamber of the diffuser such that the angled outer surface of the diffuser insert extends into the interior chamber and directs air and debris flowing therealong in a generally outward radial direction from within the interior chamber of the diffuser towards the exit passages to thereby discharge the debris to an exterior of the diffuser wherein the diffuser insert is arranged to abut the rear portion of the contact tip.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser insert is formed together with the contact tip as a monolithic element.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the exit passages is arranged at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the diffuser, and wherein the angled outer surface of the diffuser insert is configured to substantially match the angle of said at least one exit passage.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the angled outer surface of the diffuser insert is position within the interior chamber of the diffuser to extend radially from a location proximate a longitudinal axis of the diffuser to a location proximate an inner surface of the diffuser.

5. A welding diffuser and contact tip assembly for use with a welding apparatus, the assembly comprising:
a diffuser comprising an interior chamber and a plurality of openings defining exit passages from the interior chamber to an exterior of the diffuser;
a contact tip coupled to the diffuser, comprising a front portion, a rear portion, and a contact tip bore extending therethrough configured to receive electrode wire; and
a diffuser insert disposed within the interior chamber of the diffuser, comprising an insert bore extending therethrough configured to receive electrode wire, and an angled outer surface, the diffuser insert positioned within the interior chamber of the diffuser such that the angled outer surface of the diffuser insert extends into the interior chamber and directs air and debris flowing therealong in a generally outward radial direction from the interior chamber of the diffuser towards the exit passages to thereby discharge the debris to an exterior of the diffuser wherein the diffuser insert is arranged to abut the rear portion of the contact tip.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the diffuser insert is secured to the diffuser within the interior chamber.

7. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the contact tip bore is located substantially at a center of the contact tip, and the insert bore is located substantially at a center of the diffuser insert.

8. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the contact tip is coupled to the diffuser via a threaded connection.

9. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of openings of the diffuser further comprise gas passages for shielding gas used during a welding operation.

10. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the exit passages is arranged at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the diffuser, and wherein the angled outer surface of the diffuser insert is configured to substantially match the angle of said at least one exit passage.

11. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the angled outer surface of the diffuser insert comprises a conical geometry.

12. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the insert bore comprises a conical geometry with a relatively larger cross-sectional area adjacent the contact tip.

13. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the diffuser insert is formed together with the contact tip as a monolithic element.

14. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the diffuser is configured for use with a welding gun that comprises a first source of gas used as shielding gas during a welding operation, and a second source of gas used as a purge gas to remove debris from within the interior chamber of the diffuser to an exterior of the diffuser.

15. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the angled outer surface of the diffuser insert is positioned within the interior chamber of the diffuser to extend radially from a location proximate a longitudinal axis of the diffuser to a location proximate an inner surface of the diffuser.

16. A welding diffuser and contact tip assembly for use with a welding apparatus, the assembly comprising:
a diffuser comprising an interior chamber and a plurality of openings defining exit passages from the interior chamber to an exterior of the diffuser; and
a contact tip coupled to the diffuser, comprising a front portion, a rear portion, and a contact tip bore extending therethrough configured to receive electrode wire, the rear portion of the contact tip further comprising an angled outer surface that extends into the interior chamber of the diffuser and directs air and debris flowing therealong in a generally outward radial direction from the interior chamber of the diffuser towards the exit passages to thereby discharge the debris to an exterior of the diffuser.

17. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the contact tip bore is located substantially at a center of the contact tip and along a longitudinal axis of the diffuser.

18. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the contact tip is coupled to the diffuser via a threaded connection.

19. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the exit passages is arranged at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the diffuser, and wherein the angled outer surface of the rear portion of the contact tip is configured to substantially match the angle of said at least one exit passage.

20. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the angled outer surface of the rear portion of the contact tip comprises a conical geometry.

21. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the angled outer surface of the contact tip is position within the interior chamber of the diffuser to extend radially from a location proximate a longitudinal axis of the diffuser to a location proximate an inner surface of the diffuser.

Assignees

• Lincoln Global Inc

Inventors

• Meess Brian
• Kachline Jeff
• Gregg Wayne
• Sadowski Grant
• Enyedy Ed

Classifications

• B23K9/328

  Cleaning of weld torches, i.e. removing weld-spatter; Preventing weld-spatter, e.g. applying anti-adhesives · CPC title

• B23K9/173 Primary

  and of a consumable electrode · CPC title

• B23K9/26

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

• B23K9/295

  using consumable wire electrodes · CPC title