TOOL AND METHOD FOR REPAIRING AN ARC WELDING TORCH
A tool for repairing an interior surface of a conductor tube comprises an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end. The tool includes a profiled end surface that mates into the interior surface of the conductor tube. The tool includes a central protrusion that extends from the profiled end surface for aligning the tool within the internal passageway of the conductor tube. An imparted force is exerted on the proximal end and the force reshapes the interior surface of the conductor tube around the profiled end surface.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. Nos. 61/903,950 filed on Nov. 13, 2013 and 62/053,784 filed on Sep. 22, 2014. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELDThe present disclosure relates generally to welding apparatuses, and more particularly to arc welding apparatuses such as Metal Inert Gas (MIG) or Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) welding guns, including consumables for generating a welding arc and diffusing a shield gas.
BACKGROUNDThe statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
In an arc welding apparatus, such as Metal Inert Gas (MIG) or Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) welding gun, a welding wire is fed through the welding gun to provide a molten metal pool to join metal workpieces together. An inert gas is directed through the front (distal) end of the welding gun to provide a surrounding layer or blanket of shield gas to protect the molten metal pool from atmospheric contamination. The inert gas is typically a combination of various gases such as argon or helium, among others.
A prior art MIG or GMAW welding gun typically includes a contact tip and a gas diffuser connected to the contact tip. The contact tip has a central bore to guide the welding wire to the workpieces. The contact tip transfers electrical current to the welding wire. The gas diffuser is typically threaded to the contact tip and defines gas passageways that direct the shield gas into a blanket of shield gas around the molten metal pool. The contact tip and gas diffuser are constantly subjected to high heat and are susceptible to wear due to high temperature operation.
SUMMARYThe present disclosure generally provides a contact tip/diffuser configuration for an arc welding apparatus, such as an MIG or GMAW welding gun with an increased consumable life. The various forms of the present disclosure provide a simplified structure, more uniform heat distribution and improved cooling to increase consumable life, among other benefits.
In one form, a tool repairs an interior surface of a conductor tube for an arc welding apparatus. The tool comprises an elongated body. The elongated body has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. A profiled end surface extends around the distal end portion of the elongated body. A central protrusion extends distally from the profiled end surface. The profiled end surface of the tool mates within the interior surface of the conductor tube.
In another form, a tool for repairing an interior surface of a conductor tube of an arc welding apparatus. The tool comprises a body with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. A threaded collar is secured around the proximal end portion of the body. The threaded collar is adapted to engage external threads of the conductor tube. A profiled surface extends around the distal end portion of the body. A central protrusion extends distally from the profiled end surface. The profiled end surface of the tool mates into an interior surface of a distal end portion of the conductor tube.
In yet another form, a method comprises the step for repairing an interior surface of a conductor tube. The conductor tube defines a tapered spherical seat and an internal passageway. The method provides a tool having an elongate body with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The distal end defines a profiled end surface around the distal end portion for mating into the tapered spherical seat. A central protrusion extends distally from the profiled surface. The method includes aligning the central protrusion to extend into the internal passageway. The tool is positioned with the profiled end surface mating within the tapered spherical seat of the conductor tube and the central protrusion aligns in the internal passageway. A force is imparted on the proximal end portion of the tool. The force reshapes the tapered spherical seat of the conductor tube to conform around the profiled end surface to repair the tapered spherical seat.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present disclosure or its application or uses. It should be understood that throughout the description and drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. And although the term “MIG” or “GMAW” is used throughout the specification, it should be understood that the teachings of the present disclosure apply to any type of welding or cutting apparatus.
Referring to
The consumable assembly 16 includes a plurality of consumable components including a nozzle assembly 22 and a contact tip 24 that fits inside the nozzle assembly 22. The structure and operation of an exemplary arc welding apparatus has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,491,321 and 5,338,917, which are commonly owned by the assignee of the present application, and the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In addition, the structure and operation of the arc welding apparatus 10 incorporating a contact tip that provides for the function as a contact tip and a diffuser has been disclosed in related U.S. Published Application No. 2013/0126506, titled “Gas Diffuser for GMAW Manual/Robotic Arc Welding MIG Guns,” which is commonly owned by the assignee of the present application, and the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Referring to
In one form the nozzle assembly 22 is secured onto the distal end 26 of the conductor tube assembly 40, and the contact tip 24 engages and presses against the seating surface 28 of a nozzle insert 44. As the nozzle assembly 22 is tightened onto the conductor tube assembly 40, the seating surface 28 engages against the shoulder 46 of the contact tip 24, thereby urging the spherical tapered end 48 of the contact tip 24 into the spherical tapered seat 50 of the conductor tube 14. The nozzle insert 44 tightens onto the conductor tube assembly 40 and the spherical tapered end 48 of the contact tip 24 is secured into engagement with the tapered seat 50.
Also seen in
Additional aspects of the location and features of the conduit liner 54 within the internal cavity 58 of the contact tip 24 has been disclosed in U.S. Published Application No. 2013/0126504 A1, which is commonly owned by the assignee of the present application, and the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Referring to
The distal end 41 of the conductor tube 14 provides unique features to allow for an efficient and robust connection with the consumable assembly 16, the nozzle assembly 22, and the contact tip 24. For example, and is best seen in
As shown in
As shown in
Referring to
In addition, the distal end portion 76 may further define additional features that may allow for aligning and controlling the depth of the tool into the spherical tapered seat. For example, the indent tool can further include a shoulder 84 that defines a flange 86. The flange may provide a stop surface against a distal end face 88 of the conductor tube 14. As best seen in
Referring to
Referring to
The present disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the spirit of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the scope contemplated in the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A tool for repairing an interior surface of a conductor tube for an arc welding apparatus comprising:
- an elongated body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;
- a profiled end surface extending defined by the distal end portion of the elongated body;
- a central protrusion extending distally from the profiled end surface; and
- wherein the profiled end surface is structured to mate within the interior surface of the conductor tube to reshape the interior surface when a force is applied to the body.
2. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the proximal end portion defines a larger diameter.
3. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the distal end portion further defines a shoulder and a flange, and wherein the profiled end surface extends distally from the flange.
4. The tool according to claim 3, wherein the shoulder and flange are located proximally to the profiled end surface.
5. The tool according to claim 3, wherein the flange abuts the distal end face after the imparted force and further defines a maximum strike distance the tool can be driven into the interior surface of the conductor tube.
6. The tool according to claim 3, wherein the distal end portion further defines a spaced distance between the profiled end surface and the flange.
7. The tool according to claim 6, wherein an unrepaired configuration further defines when the profiled end surface is in contact with the interior surface and the flange is the spaced distance from the distal end face of the conductor tube.
8. The tool according to claim 6, wherein a repaired configuration further defines when the profiled end surface is in contact with the interior surface and the flange is less than the spaced distance from the distal end face of the conductor tube.
9. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the interior surface includes a tapered spherical seat.
10. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the tool is made from one selected from a metal or a metal alloy that has a hardness greater than a copper alloy.
11. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the central protrusion has a smaller diameter than the profiled end surface.
12. The tool according to claim 1, wherein the distal end portion has an exterior surface defining a profiled end surface.
13. A tool for repairing an interior surface of a conductor tube of an arc welding apparatus comprising:
- a body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;
- a threaded collar secured around the proximal end portion of the body, the threaded collar adapted to engage external threads of the conductor tube;
- a profiled end surface extending around the distal end portion of the body;
- a central protrusion extending distally from the profiled end surface; and
- wherein the profiled end surface mates into an interior surface of a distal end portion of the conductor tube.
14. The tool according to claim 13, wherein the interior surface includes a tapered spherical seat.
15. The tool according to claim 13, wherein the threaded collar is hexagonal.
16. The tool according to claim 13, wherein the tool is made from one selected from a metal or a metal alloy that has a hardness greater than a copper alloy.
17. A method for repairing an interior surface of a conductor tube, the conductor tube includes a tapered spherical seat and an internal passageway, the steps of the method comprising:
- providing a tool having an elongate body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion defining a profiled end surface around the distal end portion for mating into the tapered spherical seat and a central protrusion extending distally from the profiled surface;
- aligning the central protrusion to extend into the internal passageway;
- mating the profiled end surface with the tapered spherical seat of the conductor tube and the central protrusion in the internal passageway;
- imparting an force on the proximal end portion of the tool; and
- reshaping the tapered spherical seat of the conductor tube to conform around the profiled end surface from the force causing the interior surface of the conductor tube to repair the tapered spherical seat.
18. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of imparting a force is further defined as tightening a threaded collar over a threaded portion of the conductor tube.
19. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of imparting a force is further defined as striking the proximal end portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 13, 2014
Publication Date: May 21, 2015
Inventor: Khalid Hassan (Denton, TX)
Application Number: 14/540,846
International Classification: B23K 9/32 (20060101); B21D 19/00 (20060101);