Abstract: An engine driven welder has a fuel tank with a filler tube that extends upwardly from a reservoir in the machine base. The filler tube upper end and a cap thereon are below the machine top cover. The machine top cover has a cutout into which is installed a grommet that closes the cutout and that fully protects the filler tube upper end and the cap. The grommet has a hole that seals over a top portion of the filler tube such that any spilled fuel does not leak inside the machine. The filler tube has an expansion space that prevents splashback and spillover during fueling. An angled tail pipe directs engine exhaust away from the welding machine in any desired direction.

Abstract: A side panel is easily installable onto and removed from a welding machine using a minimum of fasteners and requiring only a small space on the side of the machine. The side panel includes clips joined to one edge of the panel. The clips have respective first legs secured to the panel, second legs that register with slots in the machine base, and third legs that elastically bend against a lip on the base. The restoring force of the bent third legs of the clips holds the clips second legs firmly against the base slot and thereby prevents vibration. Conventional fasteners are used to attach at least one other edge of the panel to the welding machine.

Abstract: A gas cylinder lifting system is useful for loading and unloading heavy tanks of gases onto and off of a welding power supply running gear. The gas cylinder lifting system comprises one or more sliders that are constrained for vertical reciprocation on a frame mounted to the running gear. The slider includes a pan for supporting a gas cylinder. A crank lever is pivotally mounted to the frame by a pivot pin, and a linkage is pivotally connected between the crank lever and the slider. The linkage has a crook in it. Pivoting the crank lever to a first angular position lowers a slider and places the linkage crook remote from the pivot pin. Rotating the crank lever to a second angular position raises the slider and places the linkage crook adjacent the pivot pin. The crank lever and linkage cooperate to place the gas cylinder lifting system in an over-center self-locked condition when the crank lever is in its second angular position.

Abstract: An adjustable slip-fit welding nozzle enables very fine adjustments to be made to the dimensional relationship between a nozzle orifice and a welding contact tip of a wire welding gun. The welding contact tip is screwed into a tubular adapter that is stationarily joined to the welding gun. The adapter has a stop that extends radially therefrom. The nozzle is part of an extension assembly that is rotatable on the adapter. The extension assembly includes an insert with an end that is at an oblique angle to the adapter longitudinal axis. By rotating the extension assembly on the adapter while holding the insert angled end against the stop, the extension assembly and thus the nozzle orifice reciprocate relative to the welding contact tip. The extension assembly is rotated on the adapter until the nozzle orifice is at a desired dimensional relationship with the welding contact tip. The extension assembly is comprised of a tubular sleeve, insulator, and insert.