Contact tip welding electrode

• US 4,733,052 A
• Filed: 02/14/1986
• Issued: 03/22/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Esab AB (Enovis Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Esab AB (Enovis Corp.)
• Inventors: Nilsson, Anders, Nordqvist, Rolf
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/829,828
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 219/74, 219/137.42, 219/137.43, 219/137.44, 219/137.52, 219/137.61, 219/136, 219/137.51
• US Class Current: 219/137.61
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/123 Serving also as contacting devices supplying welding current to an electrode
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/28 Supporting devices for electrodes not restricted to arc welding or cutting B23K37/02

Abstract

A contact tip for supporting a consumable welding electrode and for supplying welding current thereto. The contact tip is generally rod-shaped and has a passage with a helical contact surface. The welding electrode is fed through the passage and makes electrical contact with the contact tip. Because of the helical contact surface, the passage never becomes constricted by cumulative deposits of dirt and extraneous matter from the welding electrode surface. Also, the helical contact surface, which axially extends at least one complete turn, has an unbending effect on the welding electrode, thus straightening the electrode. A distance "A" of the electrode axis from the contact tip axis may be chosen, as desired, considering the diameter of the welding electrode. Optionally, the contact tip may include a sleeve-like nozzle, to shield the contact tip from deposits of welding splatter.

Claims

1. A contact tip for use in welding devices, said contact tip comprising a rod-shaped structure having at least one opening on a side thereof, said structure being for passing therealong and making contact with a wire electrode and for supplying welding current to said wire electrode,

said structure having a passage with a helical contact surface which has a longitudinal axis,

said helical contact surface making contact with said wire electrode in use for supplying welding current, and

said passage having a substantially straight component along said longitudinal axis.

2. A contact tip according to claim 1, where the structure has an axis coincident with said longitudinal axis.

3. A contact tip according to claim 1, wherein said helical contact surface includes a coating of a layer of wear resistant, conductive material.

4. A contact tip according to claim 3, wherein said layer is nickel based.

5. A contact tip according to claim 1, wherein said helical contact surface has a pitch dimension which is at least 10D.

6. A contact tip according to claim 1, wherein said helical contact surface has an axial length corresponding to at least one complete helical turn of said helical contact surface about said longitudinal axis.

16. A contact tip according to claim 1, wherein a distance A from said helical contact surface to said longitudinal axis is defined by

17. A contact tip according to claim 16, wherein said distance A is defined by

7. A contact tip for use in welding operation which uses a consumable welding wire of a known diameter, said tip for guiding said welding wire, making contact with and simultaneously supplying welding current to said welding wire in use, said contact tip comprising:

a substantially rod-shaped electrically conductive body having at least one passage on a side thereof, said body having a substantially helical structure formed out of a section which is substantially in the shape of a sector of a circle, said helical structure having a longitudinal axis and a passage along which said welding wire in use passes, making electrical contact with said passage;

said passage having a helical contact surface at a radial distance from said longitudinal axis of said helical structure;

said radial distance being designated as A which has a predetermined relationship with said diameter being designated as D of said welding wire defined by

space="preserve" listing-type="equation"><

A≦

0.6D.

8. A contact tip according to claim 7, where said distance A is defined by

9. A contact tip according to claim 7, where the structure has an axis coincident with said longitudinal axis.

10. A contact tip according to claim 7, wherein said helical contact surface includes a coating of a layer of wear resistant, conductive material.

11. A contact tip according to claim 10, wherein said layer is nickel based.

12. A contact tip according to claim 7, wherein said helical contact surface has a pitch dimension which is at least 10D.

13. A contact tip according to claim 7, wherein said helical contact surface has an axial length corresponding to at least one complete helical turn of said helical contact surface about said longitudinal axis.

18. A contact tip according to claim 7, wherein said contact tip exhibits a cylindrical passage having a diameter 2A.

14. A welding torch for gas shielded arc welding with a consumable wire electrode having a gas nozzle comprising:

a holder;

a contact tip secured in said holder;

said contact tip having a rod-shaped structure having at least one opening on a side thereof for passing therealong and making contact with said wire electrode and for supplying welding current to said wire electrode;

said structure having a passage with a helical contact surface which has a longitudinal axis;

said helical contact surface making contact with said wire electrode in use for supplying welding current, wherein a distance A from said helical contact surface to said longitudinal axis is defined by

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">0.2<

A≦

0.6D,

wherein D is the diameter of said wire electrode; and

said contact tip exhibiting a cylindrical passage having a diameter 2A.

15. A welding torch according to claim 14, including a bushing surrounding at least a portion of the length of said contact tip.