阅读说明：本技术 耐用性得到增强的焊炬组件和部件 (Enhanced durability torch assembly and components ) 是由 J·L·卡彻林 于 2015-01-07 设计创作，主要内容包括：本申请涉及耐用性得到增强的焊炬组件和部件。本发明提供了一种在扩散管(120)与内部焊枪管(101)之间具有连接的焊枪组件(100),该连接在扩散管(120)与焊枪管(101)之间提供增强的强度以防止对焊炬和上游部件无意中造成损坏。扩散管(120)包括与内部焊枪管(101)的坚实部分的至少一部分接合并与其重叠的接合部分。这种接合在焊枪管(101)与扩散管(120)之间提供更强且更稳定的连接。(The present application relates to torch assemblies and components with enhanced durability. The present invention provides a welding gun assembly (100) having a connection between a diffuser (120) and an inner gun tube (101) that provides increased strength between the diffuser (120) and the gun tube (101) to prevent inadvertent damage to the torch and upstream components. The diffuser (120) includes a joint portion that engages and overlaps at least a portion of the solid portion of the inner gun tube (101). This engagement provides a stronger and more stable connection between the gun tube (101) and the diffuser (120).)

1. A diffuser for a welding gun, the diffuser comprising:

a body portion having a downstream end and an upstream end;

a diffuser cavity located in the upstream end and having a first inner diameter;

a tip cavity upstream of the diffuser cavity, the tip cavity being separated from the diffuser cavity by a shoulder such that the tip cavity has a second inner diameter that is greater than the first inner diameter; and

a locking tip portion upstream of the tip cavity, the locking tip portion being separated from the tip cavity by a shoulder engaging portion such that the locking tip portion has a third inner diameter that is greater than the second inner diameter,

wherein the locking tip portion has an inner contact portion defining the third inner diameter such that each of the inner contact portion and the shoulder engaging portion are for contacting a gun tube when the diffuser is installed in the welding gun,

wherein the inner contact portion has a length along a longitudinal axis of the diffuser pipe in a range of 0% to 45% greater than a radial height of the shoulder engaging portion.

2. The diffuser tube of claim 1, wherein the tip cavity has an engaging thread.

3. The diffuser tube of claim 1, wherein the length is 20% to 45% greater than the radial height.

4. The diffuser tube of claim 1, wherein a transition between the shoulder engaging portion and the inner contact portion is chamfered or rounded.

5. The diffuser pipe of claim 1, wherein the body portion is threaded on an outer surface thereof for engagement with a tip of the welding gun.

6. The diffuser tube of claim 1, further comprising a discrete depression on an outer surface thereof.

7. The diffuser tube of claim 6, wherein the breakaway recess is disposed on the outer surface downstream of the tip cavity.

8. The diffuser tube of claim 6, wherein the discrete depressions have a depth at the locations of the discrete depressions in the range of 35% to 65% of the thickness of the diffuser tube.

9. The diffuser tube of claim 6, wherein the discrete depressions are v-grooves.

10. A diffuser for a welding gun, the diffuser comprising:

a body portion having a downstream end and an upstream end;

a diffuser cavity located in the upstream end and having a first inner diameter;

a tip cavity upstream of the diffuser cavity, the tip cavity threaded to engage a gun tube and separated from the diffuser cavity by a shoulder such that the tip cavity has a second inner diameter that is greater than the first inner diameter; and

a locking tip portion upstream of the tip cavity, the locking tip portion being separated from the tip cavity by a shoulder engaging portion such that the locking tip portion has a third inner diameter that is greater than the second inner diameter,

wherein the locking tip portion has an inner contact portion defining the third inner diameter such that each of the inner contact portion and the shoulder engaging portion are for contacting a surface of the gun tube when the diffuser is installed in the welding gun; and is

Wherein the inner contact portion has a length along a longitudinal axis of the diffuser pipe in a range of 0% to 45% greater than a radial height of the shoulder engaging portion.

11. The diffuser tube of claim 10, wherein the length is 20% to 45% greater than the radial height.

12. The diffuser tube of claim 10, wherein a transition between the shoulder engaging portion and the inner contact portion is chamfered or rounded.

13. The diffuser tube of claim 10, wherein the body portion is threaded on an outer surface thereof for engagement with a welding tip.

14. The diffuser tube of claim 10, further comprising a discrete depression on an outer surface thereof.

15. The diffuser tube of claim 14, wherein the breakaway recess is disposed on the outer surface downstream of the tip cavity.

16. The diffuser tube of claim 14, wherein the discrete depressions have a depth at the locations of the discrete depressions in the range of 35% to 65% of the thickness of the diffuser tube.

17. The diffuser tube of claim 14, wherein the discrete depressions are v-grooves.

18. A diffuser for a welding gun, the diffuser comprising:

a body portion having a downstream end and an upstream end;

a diffuser cavity located in the upstream end and having a first inner diameter;

a tip cavity upstream of the diffuser cavity, the tip cavity threaded to engage a gun tube and separated from the diffuser cavity by a shoulder such that the tip cavity has a second inner diameter that is greater than the first inner diameter; and

a locking tip portion upstream of the tip cavity, the locking tip portion being separated from the tip cavity by a shoulder engaging portion such that the locking tip portion has a third inner diameter that is greater than the second inner diameter,

wherein the locking tip portion has an inner contact portion defining the third inner diameter such that each of the inner contact portion and the shoulder engaging portion are for contacting the gun tube when the diffuser is installed in the welding gun; and is

Wherein the inner contact portion has a length along a longitudinal axis of the diffuser pipe in a range of 20% to 45% greater than a radial height of the shoulder engaging portion.

19. The diffuser tube of claim 18, wherein a transition between the shoulder engaging portion and the inner contact portion is chamfered or rounded.

20. The diffuser tube of claim 18, wherein the body portion is threaded on an outer surface thereof for engagement with a welding tip.

21. The diffuser tube of claim 18, further comprising a discrete depression on an outer surface thereof.

22. The diffuser tube of claim 21, wherein the breakaway recess is disposed on the outer surface downstream of the tip cavity.

23. The diffuser tube of claim 21, wherein the discrete depressions have a depth at the locations of the discrete depressions in the range of 35% to 65% of the thickness of the diffuser tube.

24. The diffuser tube of claim 21, wherein the breakaway recess is a v-groove.

Technical Field

Apparatuses, systems, and methods consistent with the present invention relate to welding, and more particularly, to apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing welding torches and welding torch components with enhanced durability. More particularly, the present invention relates to a welding torch assembly.

Background

In typical GMAW and GTAW type welding operations, a welding torch/welding gun is used to deliver an arc to a weld in automatic, semi-automatic, and manual welding operations. The torch/gun is often handled roughly or brought into close contact with the workpiece, which can seriously damage the torch/gun, rendering it ineffectively usable. For example, in manual and semi-automatic operations, users often use a welding torch like a hammer to remove slag from a weld bead, while in automatic/robotic welding operations, there may be instances where the welding torch impacts a workpiece, tool, etc. These events can cause damage to the torch and torch components, and can be particularly damaging when the impact load on the torch is lateral. These loads can often cause the torch to bend, particularly in the gooseneck portion of the torch, which can adversely affect the wire feed, and other operations of the torch.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional, traditional, and proposed approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such approaches with embodiments of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

Disclosure of Invention

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a welding gun assembly having a connection between a diffuser and an inner gun tube that provides increased strength between the diffuser and the gun tube to prevent inadvertent damage to the torch and upstream components. The diffuser includes an engagement portion that engages and overlaps at least a portion of the solid portion of the inner gun tube. This engagement provides a stronger and more stable connection between the gun tube and the diffuser.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a welding torch assembly including an inner gun tube and a diffuser disposed downstream of the inner gun tube. The inner gun tube has a main body portion and a distal end portion disposed downstream of the main body portion. The distal portion has a wall thickness that is less than a wall thickness of the body portion. The inner gun tube further includes a stepped portion extending radially from an outer surface of the distal end portion to an outer surface of the main body portion. The diffuser tube includes a cavity disposed on an upstream side thereof. A distal end portion of the inner gun tube is disposed in the cavity, the distal end portion being coupled to the diffuser. The diffuser further includes a locking portion disposed at an upstream side thereof. The stepped portion of the inner gun tube contacts the locking portion of the diffuser when the inner gun tube fully engages the diffuser. Further embodiments are given in the following description, drawings and claims.

The present application provides the following:

1) a welding torch assembly characterized by:

an inner gun tube comprising

A body portion having a first wall thickness,

a distal portion disposed downstream of the main body portion and having a second wall thickness less than the first wall thickness, an

A first stepped portion extending radially from an outer surface of the distal portion to an outer surface of the body portion; and

a diffuser disposed downstream of the inner gun tube, the diffuser including

A cavity disposed on the upstream side of the diffuser tube, the cavity having

Receiving therein a first portion of the distal end portion of the inner gun tube, an

A second portion of the body portion in which the inner gun tube is received, an

A second stepped portion disposed on the upstream end of the diffuser tube extending radially outward from the first portion to the second portion,

wherein the second stepped portion contacts the first stepped portion when the inner gun tube fully engages the diffuser.

2) The assembly of claim 1), wherein the diffuser tube includes an axially extending portion that extends in an axial direction to define the second portion of the cavity.

3) The assembly of claim 2), wherein the inner surface of the axially extending portion engages the outer surface of the body portion, preferably by a friction fit.

4) The assembly of claim 2) or 3), wherein an axial length of the inner surface of the axially extending portion is equal to or longer than a radial thickness of the first stepped portion.

5) The assembly of claim 2), 3), or 4), wherein a ratio of an axial length of the inner surface of the axially extending portion to a radial thickness of the first stepped portion is 1 to 1.45.

6) The assembly of any of claims 1) to 5), wherein the radial thickness of the first stepped portion is in the range of 10% to 20% of the outer diameter of the body portion.

7) The assembly as claimed in one of 1) to 6), wherein the inner corner portion of the second stepped portion is chamfered or rounded.

8) A welding torch assembly, in particular according to one of claims 1) to 7), characterized in that:

an inner gun tube comprising

A body portion having a first wall thickness,

a distal portion disposed downstream of the main body portion and having a second wall thickness less than the first wall thickness, an

A stepped portion extending radially from an outer surface of the distal portion to an outer surface of the main body portion; and

a diffuser disposed downstream of the inner gun tube, the diffuser including

A cavity disposed on an upstream side of the diffuser in which the distal end portion of the inner gun tube is disposed and connected to the diffuser, an

A locking portion disposed on an upstream end of the diffuser pipe,

wherein the stepped portion contacts the locking portion when the inner gun tube fully engages the diffuser.

9) The assembly of claim 8), wherein an inner surface of the locking portion engages an outer surface of the body portion.

10) The assembly of claim 9), wherein an axial length of the inner surface of the locking portion engaging the outer surface of the body portion is equal to or longer than a radial thickness of the stepped portion.

11) The assembly as claimed in 9) or 10), wherein a ratio of an axial length of the inner surface of the locking portion engaging with the outer surface of the main body portion to a radial thickness of the stepped portion is 1 to 1.45.

12) The assembly as in one of claims 1) through 11), wherein the cavity receives the distal end portion of the inner gun tube by way of a threaded connection to couple the diffuser to the inner gun tube.

13) The assembly of one of claims 1) to 12), wherein the diffuser includes a shoulder extending radially at a downstream end of the cavity, and a gap exists between the distal end portion of the inner gun tube and the shoulder when the inner gun tube fully engages the diffuser.

14) The assembly of one of claims 1) to 13), wherein the diffuser tube further comprises a breakaway recess on an outer surface of the diffuser tube and the breakaway recess is disposed downstream of the cavity of the diffuser tube.

15) The assembly of claim 14), wherein the breakaway recess is a v-groove.