Abstract: A welding torch for gas tungsten arc welding apparatus has a hollow tungsten electrode including a ceramic liner and forms the filler metal wire guide. The wire is fed through the tungsten electrode thereby reducing the size of the torch to eliminate clearance problems which exist with external wire guides. Since the wire is pre-heated from the tungsten more wire may be fed into the weld puddle, and the wire will not oxidize because it is always within the shielding gas.

Abstract: A welding torch for gas tungsten arc welding apparatus has a filler metal wire guide positioned within the torch, and within the shielding gas nozzle. The wire guide is adjacent the tungsten electrode and has a ceramic liner through which the wire is fed. This reduces the size of the torch and eliminates the outside clearance problems that exist with external wire guides. Additionally, since the wire is always within the shielding gas, oxidizing of the wire is eliminated.

Abstract: A trailer shield assembly (10) having a housing (24) with an open lower side and a welding torch (12) mounted so that a welding tip portion (48) of the torch (12) extends through the lower side of the housing (24). A flexible gas guide (76) is affixed to a rear wall (74) of the housing (24) and has an interior (116) in communicating relation with a welding region (34) of the housing (24). A flexible shield gas manifold (90) having a plurality of spaced openings (92) therein is disposed in an upper region (110) of the gas guide (76) and is connectible to a source (11) of shield gas. A diffuser (112) surrounds the flexible manifold and serves to distribute shield gas in an even layer downwardly to cover a hot weld. A pair of openings (96) in the flexible manifold (90) communicates with a second gas manifold (32) disposed in an upper region of the housing (24), with this second gas manifold (32) being provided with an aluminum gas diffuser (30).

Abstract: An improved hollow electrode 10 and hollow electrode working tip 14 for a gas tunsten arc welding apparatus is disclosed. The hollow electrode face is formed as a lune-shaped radial surface 16 having two tapered intersecting cone-shaped angled surfaces 18. The improved electrode working tip provides a controllable stable arc resulting in an improved weld.

Abstract: A welding monitoring system is constructed having an arc welder (16) mounted in an enclosure (12) containing a pair of periscopically positioned mirrors (56, 60). A welding electrode (64) extends from the welder (16) through an opening (58) in the mirror (56) and through an opening (62) in the enclosure (12). The mirror (56) is inclined to reflect an image of a welding operation to the mirror (60), which in turn is inclined to reflect the image through an opening (72) in the enclosure (12) to a third mirror (98). This mirror (98) is mounted in an adjoining region (100) between support members (84, 86) which are coupled perpendicularly to each other, with one member (86) coupled to the enclosure (12) by a rotatable coupling (92). The coupling (92) allows the enclosure (12) and the welder (16) to be rotated about an axis (71) and locked in a selected position by set screws (88).