Abstract: Provided in this disclosure is a detachable power connection, particularly for use with a welding system. A male conductor, retained within a first connector, is matingly received within a female conductor, retained within a second connector. An aligning insulator of the second connector encloses and internally retains the female conductor. The aligning insulator includes alignment features formed along an exterior surface of the aligning insulator. A locking body of the first connector retains the male conductor and includes an interior surface for defining an internal void for matingly receiving the exterior surface of the aligning insulator therein. The locking body includes second alignment features formed along the interior surface for matingly engaging the respective first alignment features. A locking nut is formed onto one of the first connector or second connector, for releasably securing the first and second connectors together to form the detachable power connection.

Abstract: A rotatable and removable connection for use in a welding torch assembly that allows for the gooseneck to be removeable and rotatable by the use of an interference member that allows the welding torch assembly to enter a locked, unlocked and partially lock state by moving the interface member about the central axis of the welding torch assembly, the partially lock state allows for rotation of the gooseneck without allowing for removal of the gooseneck, and the electrical connection provides electrical conduction via a conduction member that is independent form the locking features of the welding torch assembly.

Abstract: A wide area shield for use in a plasma cutting torch. The wide area shield has a projected surface that covers at least 75% of the distal end of the plasma cutting torch when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the torch. The wide area shield is actively cooled by at least two separate cooling flows. One possible cooling flow is liquid and contacts at least 25% of the total surface area of the wide area shield. A second possible cooling flow is gaseous and contacts at least 6% of the total surface area of the wide area shield. The increased projected area is achieved by increasing the axial length of the shield and increasing the shielding surface of the wide area shield which also allows for a thicker cross-sectional area of the wide area shield as measured perpendicularly from the shielding surfaces.