Welding gun inlets

• US 20050224489A1
• Filed: 03/01/2005
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Matiash, Nicholas A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,285,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/137.630
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/211 with interposition of special material to facilitate connection of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/122 Devices for guiding electrodes, e.g. guide tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/124 Circuits or methods for feeding welding wire
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1336 Driving means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/32 Accessories earthing connections H01R

Abstract

A welding gun inlet for use with a welding gun power pin of a welding gun. The welding gun inlet includes an inlet body which has a first end and a second end and a tapered outer wall which generally tapers downwardly from a relatively larger diameter portion adjacent the first end to a relatively lesser diameter portion adjacent the second end. The welding gun inlet further includes an insertable member which extends outwardly from the inlet body. The insertable member has a length and defines a relatively constant cross-sectional diameter along at least a major portion of the length of the insertable member.

Claims

1. A welding gun inlet for use with a welding gun having a welding gun power pin and to allow a welding wire to pass therethrough, said welding gun inlet comprising:

(a) an inlet body which has a first end and a second end and a tapered outer wall which generally tapers downwardly from a relatively larger diameter portion adjacent said first end to a relatively lesser diameter portion adjacent said second end, and

(b) a pin engagement structure communicating with said first end of said inlet body and adapted and configured for receipt into a such welding gun power pin,

said inlet body comprising an insertable member having a length and defining a relatively constant cross-sectional diameter along at least a major portion of the length of said insertable member.

2. A welding gun inlet as in claim 1 wherein said insertable member is generally cylindrical.

3. A welding gun inlet as in claim 1 wherein the length of said insertable member has a magnitude of at least about 0.1 inch.

4. A welding gun inlet as in claim 1 wherein said insertable member defines an outer surface thereof and comprises at least one projecting member which extends outwardly from said insertable member outer surface.

5. A welding gun inlet as in claim 4 wherein said insertable member is generally cylindrical and defines an outer circumferential surface, said at least one projecting member extends circumferentially along at least a portion of the circumference of the outer circumferential surface of said insertable member.

6. A welding gun inlet as in claim 4 wherein said at least one projecting member is a generally annular projection extending along generally the entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface of said insertable member.

7. A welding gun inlet as in claim in claim 2 wherein said insertable member comprises a threaded outer circumferential surface.

8. A welding gun inlet for use with a welding gun having a welding gun power pin and to allow a welding wire to pass therethrough, said welding gun inlet comprising:

(a) an inlet body which has a first end and a second end, an inlet bore which extends axially and generally medially between said first and second ends, and an outer wall extending between said first and second ends, and

(b) a pin engagement structure communicating with said first end of said inlet body and adapted and configured for receipt into a such welding gun power pin,

said outer wall of said inlet body having a first wall segment and a second wall segment, said first wall segment extending along a generally straight line path and said second wall segment extending along a generally arcuate path, whereby the profile of said inlet body defines a relatively straight portion and a relatively arcuate portion corresponding to said first and second wall segments, respectively.

9. A welding gun inlet as in claim 8 wherein said outer wall of said inlet body generally tapers downwardly from a relatively larger diameter portion adjacent said first end to a relatively lesser diameter portion adjacent said second end.

10. A welding gun inlet as in claim 9 wherein said first wall segment defines generally defines a projected angle of at least about 35 degrees with respect to said inlet bore.

11. A welding gun inlet as in claim 9 wherein said first wall segment defines generally defines a projected angle of at least about 38 degrees with respect to said inlet bore.

12. A welding gun inlet as in claim 9, said second wall segment defining an arcuate depression extending circumferentially around said inlet body, said arcuate depression having a depression radius of less than about 0.3 inch.

13. A welding gun inlet as in claim 9, said second wall segment defining an arcuate depression extending circumferentially around said inlet body, said arcuate depression having a depression radius of less than about 0.4 inch.

14. A welding gun inlet as in claim 9, said second wall segment defining an arcuate depression extending circumferentially around said inlet body, said arcuate depression having a depression radius of less than about 0.5 inch.

15. A welding gun inlet as in claim 8, further comprising an insertable member extending from said second end of said inlet body, said insertable member having a length and defining a relatively constant cross-sectional diameter along at least a major portion of the length of said insertable member.

16. A welding gun inlet as in claim 15 wherein said insertable member is generally cylindrical.

17. A welding gun inlet as in claim 15 wherein the length of said insertable member has a magnitude of at least about 0.1 inch.

18. A welding gun inlet subassembly for use with a welding gun having a welding gun power pin and to allow a welding wire to pass therethrough, said welding gun inlet comprising:

(a) an inlet body which has a first end and a second end, a length between said first and second ends, and an outer wall extending between said first and second ends;

(b) a pin engagement structure communicating with said first end of said inlet body and adapted and configured for receipt into a such welding gun power pin, and

(c) a wire guide having first and second ends and adapted and configured to allow a welding wire to pass therethrough,

respective portions of ones of said welding gun inlet and ones of said wire guide in generally overlapping communication with respect to each other.

19. A welding gun inlet as in claim 18 wherein one of said first and second ends of said wire guide generally overlaps at least a portion of said welding gun inlet.

20. A welding gun inlet as in claim 18 wherein a portion of one of said first and second ends of said wire guide generally is generally concentrically housed in said second end of said inlet body, whereby the respective one of said first and second ends of said wire guide extends into said inlet body along at least a portion of the length thereof.

21. A welding gun inlet as in claim 18, further comprising an insertable member extending from said second end of said inlet body, said insertable member having a length and defining a relatively constant cross-sectional diameter along at least a major portion of the length of said insertable member, wherein one of said insertable member and a respective one of said first and second ends of said wire guide generally overlies the other one of said insertable member and such respective one of said first and second ends of said wire guide.

22. A welding gun inlet as in claim 21 wherein said insertable member is generally cylindrical.

23. A welding gun inlet as in claim 22 wherein the length of said insertable member has a magnitude of at least about 0.1 inch.

24. A welding gun inlet as in claim 18 wherein said second end of said inlet body and the respective one of said first and second ends of said wire guide slidingly communicate with each other, whereby said inlet body and said wire guide are generally free to axially advance and/or axially regress with respect to each other.

25. A welding gun inlet as in claim 21 wherein said insertable member and the respective one of said first and second ends of said wire guide slidingly communicate with each other, whereby said inlet body and said wire guide are generally free to axially advance and/or axially regress with respect to each other.