U.S. patent application number 15/072327 was filed with the patent office on 2016-07-07 for welding gun having non-threading contact tip.
The applicant listed for this patent is ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.. Invention is credited to William R. Giese.
Application Number | 20160193683 15/072327 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 30443749 |
Filed Date | 2016-07-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160193683 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Giese; William R. |
July 7, 2016 |
WELDING GUN HAVING NON-THREADING CONTACT TIP
Abstract
A nozzle assembly for a wire-feed welding implement is
disclosed, comprising a threadless contact tip and a movable
member. The movable member includes an opening extending
longitudinally through the movable member. The threadless contact
tip is positionable within the opening, and an end portion is
configured to direct gas towards a workpiece. The assembly further
includes a flange portion extending transversely to the opening.
The movable member is configured to be secured to the wire-feed
welding implement in a position in which the flange portion urges
the threadless contact tip towards the wire-feed welding implement.
A movable member is also disclosed having an opening, end portion
and flange portion. A method of securing a threadless contact tip
to a wire-feed welding implement with a movable member is also
disclosed, comprising positioning the threadless contact tip and
securing the movable member to the wire-feed welding implement with
a flange portion.
Inventors: |
Giese; William R.; (Beecher,
IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. |
Glenview |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
30443749 |
Appl. No.: |
15/072327 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14860305 |
Sep 21, 2015 |
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15072327 |
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14159154 |
Jan 20, 2014 |
9138824 |
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14860305 |
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11971743 |
Jan 9, 2008 |
8633422 |
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14159154 |
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11514416 |
Sep 1, 2006 |
7576300 |
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11971743 |
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10215811 |
Aug 9, 2002 |
7105775 |
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11514416 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
219/137.42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B23K 9/282 20130101;
B23K 9/123 20130101; B23K 9/295 20130101; B23K 9/173 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B23K 9/12 20060101
B23K009/12; B23K 9/29 20060101 B23K009/29 |
Claims
1. A nozzle assembly for a wire-feed welding implement, comprising:
a threadless contact tip including a channel through the threadless
contact tip configured to route welding electrode therethrough; and
a movable member including (i) an opening extending longitudinally
through the movable member, the threadless contact tip positionable
within the opening, (ii) an end portion configured to direct gas
towards a workpiece, and (iii) a flange portion extending
transversely to the opening, wherein the movable member is
configured to be secured to the wire-feed welding implement in a
position in which the flange portion urges the threadless contact
tip towards the wire-feed welding implement.
2. A nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein: the threadless contact
tip includes an outer portion extending at least partially around
the threadless contact tip; and the flange portion is configured to
abut the outer portion to urge the threadless contact tip towards
the wire-feed welding implement to secure the threadless contact
tip to the wire-feed welding implement.
3. A nozzle assembly of claim 2, wherein: the flange portion is
configured to abut the outer portion in a position in which the
threadless contact tip is secured between the flange portion and
the wire-feed welding implement.
4. A nozzle assembly of claim 2, wherein: the threadless contact
tip includes a shoulder extending transversely to the channel, the
outer portion defined on the shoulder.
5. The nozzle assembly of claim 4, wherein: the movable member
comprises a nozzle component that includes the flange portion.
6. The nozzle assembly of claim 2, wherein: the movable member
includes a connecting portion configured to secure the movable
member to the wire-feed welding implement in a position in which
the outer portion abuts the flange portion to, at least in part,
secure the threadless contact tip to the wire-feed welding
implement.
7. The nozzle assembly of claim 6, wherein: the connecting portion
includes threads configured to mate with corresponding threads of
the wire-feed welding implement.
8. A movable member for securing a threadless contact tip to a
wire-feed welding implement, comprising: an opening extending
longitudinally through the movable member, the threadless contact
tip positionable within the opening; an end portion configured to
direct gas towards a workpiece; and a flange portion extending
transversely to the opening, the flange portion configured to abut
the threadless contact tip to urge the threadless contact tip
towards the wire-feed welding implement to secure the threadless
contact tip to the wire-feed welding implement.
9. The movable member of claim 8, wherein: the flange portion is
configured to abut with an outer portion of the threadless contact
tip, the movable member configured to secure the threadless contact
tip to the wire-feed welding implement at least in part by abutment
between the flange portion and the outer portion.
10. The movable member of claim 8, wherein: the threadless contact
tip includes a shoulder; and the flange portion is configured to
abut the shoulder.
11. The movable member of claim 8, wherein: the end portion has a
conical shape configured to direct gas towards the workpiece.
12. The movable member of claim 8, wherein: the flange portion
includes an annular portion extending at least partially around an
inner surface of the movable member within the opening.
13. The movable member of claim 8, further comprising: a connecting
portion configured to secure the movable member to the wire-feed
welding implement in a position in which the flange portion abuts
the threadless contact tip.
14. The movable member of claim 13, wherein: the connecting portion
includes threads configured to mate with corresponding threads of
the wire-feed welding implement.
15. The movable member of claim 8, wherein: the movable member
comprises a nozzle component configured to direct gas towards the
workpiece.
16. A method of securing a threadless contact tip to a wire-feed
welding implement with a movable member, comprising: positioning
the threadless contact tip within an opening of the movable member
to enable an end portion of the movable member to direct gas
towards the workpiece; and securing the movable member to the
wire-feed welding implement with a flange portion of the movable
member in abutment with the threadless contact tip to urge the
threadless contact tip towards the wire-feed welding implement.
17. The method of securing a threadless contact tip to a wire-feed
welding implement with a movable member of claim 16, the securing
the movable member comprising: threadingly securing the movable
member to the wire-feed welding implement.
18. The method of securing a threadless contact tip to a wire-feed
welding implement with a movable member of claim 16, the threadless
contact tip further including a shoulder, the method further
comprising: securing the movable member to the wire-feed welding
implement with the flange portion of the movable member in abutment
with the shoulder to urge the threadless contact tip towards the
wire-feed welding implement.
19. The method of securing a threadless contact tip to a wire-feed
welding implement with a movable member of claim 16, wherein: the
movable member comprises a nozzle component that includes the
flange portion.
20. The method of securing a threadless contact tip to a wire-feed
welding implement with a movable member of claim 16, wherein: the
flange portion includes an annular portion extending at least
partially around an inner surface of the movable member within the
opening.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/860,305, filed on Sep. 21, 2015, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/159,154, filed
on Jan. 20, 2014, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,138,824 on Sep. 22,
2015, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/971,743, filed on Jan. 9, 2008, and issued as U.S. Pat. No.
8,633,422 on Jan. 21, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/514,416, filed on Sep. 1, 2006, and issued
as U.S. Pat. No. 7,576,300 on Aug. 18, 2009, which is a divisional
of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/215,811, filed on Aug. 9,
2002, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,105,775 on Sep. 12, 2006, each
of which is herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to welding systems,
and particularly to a wire-feed welding gun having a tip to guide
wire through a nozzle of a welding gun.
[0003] Welding is a method of joining, or separating, metal
objects. Arc welding is a common type of welding. An arc welding
system typically is comprised of a power supply coupled by an
electrical cable to a welding gun housing an electrode. A ground
cable is used to connect the metal object to the power supply. When
the electrode is placed against the metal object, the electrode in
the welding handle completes an electrical circuit between the
power supply and the metal object, allowing electrical current to
flow through the electrode and metal object. The electrical current
produces an arc between the electrode and the metal object. The
heat of the electric arc melts the metal object in the region
surrounding the electric arc. A filler material may be added to the
molten metal. For example, a wire may be placed against the molten
portion of the object, melting the wire and allowing the molten
wire to merge with the molten object. Once the electrode is drawn
away from the metal object, the circuit is broken and the molten
mass begins to cool and solidify, forming a weld.
[0004] MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding is one type of arc welding.
MIG welding is also referred to as "wire-feed" or GMAW (Gas Metal
Arc Welding). In MIG welding, a metal wire is used as the
electrode. The wire is shielded by an inert gas and the metal wire
acts as the filler for the weld. The inert gas is used to shield
the molten metal from outside contaminants and gases that may react
with the molten metal. Non-inert gases, such as CO2, may also be
used in MIG welding.
[0005] The wire and gas are coupled through a cable to a welding
gun. A typical welding gun used in MIG welding and similar welding
systems has a handle and a neck that extends from the handle. The
wire and gas are directed through the neck towards a workpiece. The
neck typically has a nozzle assembly that is secured to the neck to
direct the flow of wire and gas towards the workpiece. The wire is
directed through a contact tip housed within the nozzle assembly.
The electrical current is coupled from the cable to the wire
through the contact tip. In addition, the end of the nozzle
assembly typically has a cone-shape to taper the flow of gas from
the welding gun. A typical welding gun has a switch, or trigger,
that is coupled to the wire feeder. When the trigger is operated,
wire is fed through the tip and gas is directed through the nozzle
towards a workpiece.
[0006] Contact tips require frequent replacement during operation
of the welding gun. Many contact tips are threaded into the welding
gun. However, threadless contact tip designs also have been used.
For example, threadless contact tip designs having a cam surface
have been used. The cam surface is adapted to bind the contact tip
against a stationary protrusion when the contact tip is
rotated.
[0007] Unfortunately, there are a number of problems associated
with existing threadless contact tip designs. For example, the
process of binding the contact tip against the protrusion produces
a bending stress in the contact tip. In addition, variations in the
distance between the contact tip and the exterior portion of the
nozzle, known as the tip-nozzle recess, occur with existing
threadless contact tip designs. A consistent tip-recess distance is
critical in certain welding applications, especially robotic
welding systems. In addition, molten spatter from the weld may
deposit on the end of the nozzle, eventually requiring replacement
of the nozzle. Consequently, nozzles having a nozzle body and a
removable threaded end section have been developed. However, weld
spatter may contaminate the threads or the threads may experience
galling, requiring a tool, such as a wrench, to remove the threaded
end section from the nozzle body.
[0008] There exists then a need for a welding gun that utilizes a
threadless contact tip design. Additionally, there is a need for a
welding gun that enables a contact tip to be installed and removed
without the use of tools. Furthermore, there exists then a need for
a welding gun that utilizes a removable nozzle end section that may
be secured and removed without threads or the use of tools.
Finally, there exists a need for a nozzle assembly having a
threadless contact tip design that produces a consistent tip-recess
distance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0009] The present disclosure provides a nozzle assembly for a
wire-feed welding implement including a movable member, and a
method of securing a threadless contact tip to a wire-feed welding
implement with a movable member.
[0010] In some embodiments, a nozzle assembly for a wire-feed
welding implement comprises a threadless contact tip including a
channel through the threadless contact tip configured to route
welding electrode therethrough, and a movable member including (i)
an opening extending longitudinally through the movable member, the
threadless contact tip positionable within the opening, (ii) an end
portion configured to direct gas towards a workpiece, and (iii) a
flange portion extending transversely to the opening, wherein the
movable member is configured to be secured to the wire-feed welding
implement in a position in which the flange portion urges the
threadless contact tip towards the wire-feed welding implement.
[0011] In embodiments, the movable member comprises an opening
extending longitudinally through the movable member, the threadless
contact tip positionable within the opening, an end portion
configured to direct gas towards a workpiece, and a flange portion
extending transversely to the opening, the flange portion
configured to abut the threadless contact tip to urge the
threadless contact tip towards the wire-feed welding implement to
secure the threadless contact tip to the wire-feed welding
implement.
[0012] In certain embodiments, a method of securing a threadless
contact tip to a wire-feed welding implement with a movable member
comprises positioning the threadless contact tip within an opening
of the movable member to enable an end portion of the movable
member to direct gas towards the workpiece, and securing the
movable member to the wire-feed welding implement with a flange
portion of the movable member in abutment with the threadless
contact tip to urge the threadless contact tip towards the
wire-feed welding implement.
DRAWINGS
[0013] The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will
become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and
upon reference to the drawings in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a MIG welding system, according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present technique;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a MIG welding gun,
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present technique;
[0016] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the nozzle assembly of the MIG
welding gun of FIG. 2;
[0017] FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of the nozzle
assembly, illustrating the assembly of the nozzle assembly,
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present technique;
[0018] FIG. 6 is an end view of the nozzle assembly of FIG. 4;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment
of a nozzle assembly, according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present technique;
[0020] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the alternate embodiment of a
nozzle assembly; and
[0021] FIG. 9 is an embodiment of a retaining ring for securing the
detachable cone to the nozzle, according to an exemplary embodiment
of the present technique.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Referring generally to FIG. 1, an exemplary metal inert gas
("MIG") welding system 20 is illustrated. However, the present
technique may be used in other wire feed welding systems, such as
submerged arc welding. The illustrated MIG welding system 20
comprises a power source/wire feeder 22, a gas cylinder 24
containing a gas 25, a spool 26 of electrode wire 27, a welding gun
28, a welding cable 30, a work clamp 34, and a ground cable 32. In
the illustrated embodiment, the gas 25 and wire 27 are routed from
the power source/wire feeder 22 to the welding cable 30. The
welding cable 30, in turn, routes the gas 25 and the wire 27 to the
welding gun 28. The power source/wire feeder 22 also may be
comprised of a separate power source and a separate wire
feeder.
[0023] The welding cable 30 also has conductors (not shown) for
conveying large amounts of electric current from the power
source/wire feeder 22 to the welding gun 28. The power source/wire
feeder 22 is operable to control the feeding of wire 27 to the
welding gun 28. In addition, the power source/wire feeder 22 also
may be used to control the flow of gas 25 to the welding gun 28. To
assemble the system, a ground cable 32 having a clamp 34 is
connected to the power source/wire feeder 22. The clamp 34 is
clamped onto a workpiece 36 to electrically couple the workpiece 36
to the power source/wire feeder 22. The work clamp 34 and ground
cable 32 electrically couple the power source/feeder 22 to the
workpiece 36. Additionally, the wire 27 within the MIG welding
cable 30 may be electrically coupled to the power source/wire
feeder 22.
[0024] The welding gun 28 is used to direct the wire 27 towards the
workpiece 36. When the wire is touched to the workpiece 36, an
electrical circuit between the workpiece 36 and power source/wire
feeder 22 is completed. Electric current flows from the power
source 22 through the welding cable 30, the electrode wire 27, the
workpiece 36, the work clamp 34, and the ground cable 32 back to
the power source 22. An arc is produced between the electrode wire
27 and the workpiece 36. The electric arc melts the workpiece 36 in
a region surrounding the arc, forming a weld puddle. The heat of
the arc melts the wire 27 along with the workpiece 36, enabling the
electrode wire 27 to act as a filler material for the weld puddle.
The inert gas 25 forms a shield that prevents harmful chemical
reactions from occurring at the weld puddle. When the arc is
removed, the weld puddle solidifies, forming the weld.
[0025] Referring generally to FIGS. 1 and 2, the welding gun 28
comprises a handle 38, a trigger 40, a neck 42, and a nozzle
assembly 44. The neck 42 is secured to the handle 38 by a locking
nut 46. The MIG welding cable 30 also has an electrical cable (not
shown) that is electrically coupleable to the trigger 40. The
trigger 40 enables a user to control the supply of electrode wire
27 and power from the power source/feeder 22. A number of events
occur when the trigger 40 is operated. One event is that the power
source/wire feeder 22 draws in wire 27 from the wire spool 26 and
feeds it though the MIG welding cable 30 to the welding gun 28.
Also, electric power from the power source/feeder 22 is supplied to
the wire 27. The welding gun may be adapted to enable the flow of
gas 25 from the gas cylinder 24 to be controlled by the trigger 40.
The wire 27 and gas 25 are then fed through the neck assembly 42
towards the workpiece 36. The nozzle assembly 44 directs the wire
27 and gas 25 towards the target 36. When the trigger 40 is
released, the wire 27 and electric current are no longer fed to the
welding gun 28.
[0026] Referring generally to FIG. 3, the nozzle assembly 44
comprises a gas diffuser 48, a tip 50, and a nozzle 52. Gas 25
flows from the welding cable 30 and the welding gun 28 to the gas
diffuser 48. The gas diffuser 48 is used to establish desired flow
characteristics of the gas 25. The nozzle 52 is used to direct the
gas 25 from the gas diffuser 48 towards the workpiece 36. The tip
50 is used to direct the wire 27 from the welding gun 28 and to
conduct electric current from the welding cable 30 to the electrode
wire 27. The large amounts of electric current drawn from a typical
power source/wire feeder 22 during welding could damage the
electrode wire 27 if the electric current was conducted through the
entire length of the electrode wire. Therefore, the welding cable
30, rather than the electrode wire, is used to conduct most, if not
all, of the electric current from the power source/wire feeder 22
to the welding gun 28. The contact tip 50 is used to transfer the
electric current flowing through the welding cable 30 to the
electrode wire 27. The contact tip 50 is electrically coupled to
the welding cable 30 by the neck 42 and the gas diffuser 48.
[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the contact tip 50 is secured
within the welding gun 28 by abutment with the gas diffuser 48 and
nozzle 52, rather than by threading the tip 50 into the gas
diffuser 48. The contact tip 50 has a channel 54 that extends
through the length of the contact tip 50 that is used to direct the
electrode wire 27 through the contact tip 50. In addition, the
channel 54 is used to bring the electrode wire 27 into contact with
the contact tip 50 so that electric current may be conducted from
the contact tip 50 to the electrode wire 27. In the illustrated
embodiment, the channel 54 defines an axis extending linearly
through the contact tip 50, the gas diffuser, and the nozzle 52. In
addition, in this embodiment, the contact tip 50 is symmetrical
about the axis.
[0028] As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the contact tip 50 has an end
surface 56 that is adapted to abut a seating surface 58 of the gas
diffuser 48 and a shoulder 60 that extends around the contact tip
50 for engagement by the nozzle 52. In the illustrated embodiment,
the end surface 56 is uniform around the contact tip 50.
Preferably, the end surface 56 of the contact tip 50 and the
seating surface 58 of the gas diffuser 48 are adapted for sealing
engagement to prevent gas from escaping between the gas diffuser 48
and the contact tip 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the end
surface 56 and the seating surface 58 are tapered to have a
generally conical shape. However, the end surface 56 and the
seating surface 58 may be curved or otherwise configured for mutual
abutment and/or for sealing engagement. In the illustrated
embodiment, the shoulder 60 protrudes from the contact tip 50 and
is adapted to be abutted. In this embodiment, the shoulder 60 is
uniform around the contact tip 50.
[0029] In the illustrated embodiment, the nozzle 52 and the contact
tip 50 are secured to the welding gun when the nozzle 52 is secured
to the gas diffuser 48. The nozzle 52 has a nozzle body 62, a
nozzle insert 64, and a layer of insulation material 66 disposed
between the nozzle insert 64 and the nozzle body 62. In the
illustrated embodiment, the nozzle body 62 has a conical portion 68
for directing the flow of gas 25 towards the workpiece 36. The
nozzle insert 64 has a threaded portion 70 that is adapted for
threaded engagement with a threaded portion 72 of the gas diffuser
48. In the illustrated embodiment, the nozzle insert 64 has an
annular portion 74 that is adapted for engagement with the shoulder
60 of the contact tip 50. The annular portion 74 has an opening 75
therethrough for enabling the contact tip 50 to extend through the
nozzle insert 64. The annular portion 74 may be a separate
removable securing member, such as a retaining ring or snap
ring.
[0030] Preferably, the shoulder 60 extends around the entire
circumference of the contact tip 50 and is transverse to the axis
of the contact tip 50 so as to be in facing relationship with the
annular portion of the nozzle insert 64. The contact tip may be
adapted with other types of protrusion, other than the shoulder 60
illustrated in the figures. For example, the contact tip may be
adapted with a plurality of separate protrusions spaced at various
locations around the circumference of the contact tip. In addition,
a securing member, such as a retaining ring or snap ring, may be
secured to the tip to act as a protrusion.
[0031] The contact tip 50 is disposed between the gas diffuser 48
and the nozzle 52 prior to securing the nozzle 52 to the gas
diffuser 48. Because the illustrated embodiment is uniform about
the axis of the contact tip 50, the contact tip 50 may be disposed
between the gas diffuser 48 and nozzle 52 in any rotational
orientation. As illustrated, there is a gap 76 between the annular
portion 74 and the shoulder 60 of the contact tip 50. However, the
contact tip 50 may be disposed through the nozzle insert 64 prior
to disposing the contact tip 50 against the gas diffuser 48.
Consequently, the gap 76 may be between the gas diffuser 48 and the
contact tip 50, rather than between the contact tip 50 and the
nozzle insert 64.
[0032] As best illustrated in FIG. 5, the nozzle 52 is drawn
towards the gas diffuser 48 as the nozzle 52 is threaded onto the
gas diffuser 48, as represented by the arrow 77. The annular
portion 74 of the nozzle insert 64 abuts the shoulder 60 of the
contact tip 50 and urges, or holds, the contact tip 50 axially
against the gas diffuser 48, bringing the end surface 56 of the
contact tip 50 into abutment with the seating surface 58 of the gas
diffuser 48 and thereby capturing the contact tip 50 between the
gas diffuser 48 and the nozzle 52. Preferably the annular portion
74 of the nozzle insert 64 extends around the inner portion of the
nozzle 52.
[0033] Referring generally to FIGS. 4-6, gas 25 enters the gas
diffuser 48 from the neck 42 via an entrance chamber 78. In the
illustrated embodiment, the gas diffuser has a plurality of exit
holes 79 for the gas 25 to exit the gas diffuser 48. In addition,
the annular portion 74 of the nozzle 52 has a plurality of gas
delivery holes 80. The gas delivery holes may be round, or slots.
The gas delivery holes 80 enable gas 25 to pass through the annular
portion 74 and enter the conical portion 68 of the nozzle 52.
Contrary to previous nozzle embodiments, the gas delivery holes 80
of the illustrated embodiment extend in parallel to the contact tip
50, thus improving the flow characteristics of the gas 25 flowing
from the nozzle 52.
[0034] Referring generally to FIGS. 7-9, an alternative embodiment
of a nozzle 82 is illustrated. In this embodiment, a detachable
cone 84 is used. The detachable cone 84 is adapted to be secured to
and removed from a nozzle body 86 without the use of a tool. In the
illustrated embodiment, the detachable cone 84 comprises a conical
portion 88, a cylindrical portion 90, and an annular ring portion
92. The cylindrical portion 90 of the detachable cone 84 is
disposed within the interior of the nozzle body 86. The annular
ring 92 limits the travel of the detachable cone 84 into the nozzle
body 86. In the illustrated embodiment, the cylindrical portion 90
has an external groove 94 and the nozzle body 86 has a
corresponding internal groove 96. However, the cylindrical portion
90 and the nozzle body 86 may be adapted conversely, i.e., the
cylindrical portion 90 may have an internal groove 96 and the
nozzle body 86 may have the external groove 94. In addition, in
this embodiment, a spring retaining ring 98 is disposed within the
external groove 94 of the detachable cone 84 to secure the cone 84
to the nozzle body 86. However, other devices, such as a snap ring,
may be used to secure the detachable cone 84 to the nozzle body
86.
[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, the cylindrical portion 90 of
the detachable cone 84 is pushed into the nozzle body 86 to secure
the cone 84 to the nozzle body 86. During installation of the cone
84, the ring 98 is compressed as the cylindrical portion 90 of the
cone 84 is inserted into the nozzle body 86. A user may compress
the retaining ring 98 or the ring 98 may be compressed by the
nozzle body 86. When the retaining ring 98 reaches the internal
groove 96 in the nozzle body 86, the retaining ring 98 expands
outward into the internal groove 96. In the illustrated embodiment,
retaining ring 98 occupies a portion of the internal groove 94 of
the cone 84 and the internal groove 96 of the nozzle body 86,
thereby obstructing displacement of the cone 84 and nozzle body 86
and securing the cone 84 to the nozzle body 86.
[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining ring 98 is
strong enough to secure the cone 84 to the nozzle body 86, but may
be overcome by a user. To remove the detachable cone 84 from the
nozzle body 86, a user grabs the cone 84 and pulls the cone 84 away
from the nozzle body 88. The annular ring portion 92 assists a user
in gripping the detachable cone 84. A new detachable cone 84 and/or
retaining ring 98 may then be secured to the nozzle body 86. Thus,
the detachable cone 84 may be secured to the nozzle 52 and removed
without the use of tools.
[0037] The above embodiments provide a contact tip and a detachable
cone that are threadless. In addition, because the contact tip is
secured by threading the relatively large diameter nozzle to the
gas diffuser, rather than the contact tip, no tools are needed to
secure the contact tip to or remove the contact tip from the nozzle
assembly. In addition, the cone may be secured to and removed from
the nozzle without the use of tools. Furthermore, as best
illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7, the embodiments provided above enable
the tip-nozzle recess 100 between the end 102 of the tip 50 and the
exit opening 104 of the conical portion 88 of the nozzle 52 to be
consistent as contact tips and conical portions of the nozzle are
replaced.
[0038] While the invention may be susceptible to various
modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been
shown in the drawings and have been described in detail herein by
way of example only. However, it should be understood that the
invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms
disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications,
equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope
of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.
* * * * *