Granted Patent B2

US 7,238,911 · App. 10/997,456 · Granted Jul 3, 2007

Abstract

Claims (45)

1. An adjustable apparatus for increasing the temperature decay rate of a heated welding device having first and second removably interconnected portions presenting a fixed condition, said apparatus comprising:

a cooling system defining an outlet, having an adjustment element, and being thermally coupled to and configured to increase the temperature decay rate of the first portion of the device; and

a holding element configured to connect the cooling system to the second portion of the device, and hold the outlet in a first fixed position relative to the first portion of the device when the first and second portions of the device are connected, so as to define a first minimum distance between the outlet and first portion of the device,

said cooling system and holding element being cooperatively configured to allow access to the adjustment element, and enable the adjustment of the outlet to a second fixed position when the system is connected to the second portion of the device, and the first and second portions of the device are disconnected, such that the second fixed position defines a second minimum distance between the outlet and first portion of the device, upon reconnecting the first and second portions of the device to the fixed condition.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,

said cooling system including a quantity of coolant, a manifold fixed relative to the device, and a nozzle tube adjustably connected to the manifold,

said cooling system being configured to direct the coolant towards said first portion of the device.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 ,

said cooling system further including a bushing connected to the tube and threadably coupled to the manifold.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 ,

said bushing being threadably coupled to the tube, so as to present separate adjustment means.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 ,

said cooling system further including a plunger connected to the tube and telescopingly coupled to the manifold, and a fastener configured to hold the plunger in a fixed position relative to the manifold.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 ,

said holding and cooling systems being cooperatively configured to present a coolant pressure at the outlet approximately equal to 2000 mmHg, and space at least a portion of the outlet from said first portion of the device a distance within the range of 0.25 mm to 1.25 mm.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 ,

said holding and cooling systems being cooperatively configured to space said at least portion of the outlet approximately 0.5 mm from said first portion of the device.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 ,

said cooling system further including a spacer presenting a length, and longitudinally abutting the tube,

said tube being retractable, such that said spacer and tube are cooperatively configured to contact said first portion of the device, and space the outlet from said first portion of the device a distance equal to the length of the spacer.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 ,

said spacer being removably coupled to the tube,

said tube further defining an elastically compressible bellows section.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 ,

said tube presenting a distal portion having a hexagonal cross-sectional shape.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,

said cooling system and holding element being cooperatively configured to enable the adjustment of the outlet to one of a plurality of incrementally spaced second fixed positions without disconnecting the cooling system from the device.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 ,

said cooling system, holding element, and device being cooperatively configured to enable the manual adjustment of the outlet to the second fixed position without disconnecting the cooling system from the device.

13. An apparatus for increasing the temperature decay rate of a heated welding cap, wherein said cap presents an interior planar surface, and is removably interconnected to a tubular shank presenting a distal cap end, such that the interior surface is spaced from the shank near the end, said apparatus comprising:

a coolant source;

a quantity of coolant;

a manifold fixed relative to the shank and cap;

a nozzle tube defining an outlet located a first absolute position spaced from the interior planar surface; and

an adjustment element adjustably interconnecting the manifold and tube,

said element being housed within the interior radius of the shank and located near the end, so as to be manually accessible only when the cap and shank are disconnected, and configured to adjust the location of the outlet to another absolute position without disconnecting the manifold and tube,

said source, manifold, tube and element being cooperatively configured to direct the coolant towards the interior planar surface of the cap, when the cap and shank are connected.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 ,

said adjustment element including a bushing threadably interfitted with the manifold, so that rotational displacement of the bushing results in the linear displacement of the outlet relative to the manifold.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 ,

said adjustment element further including a sleeve fixedly attached to the tube and threadably interfitted with the bushing, so as to present separate adjustment means.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 ,

said bushing and tube being integrally formed.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the manifold presents a tubular member having an interior wall surface, and the adjustment element includes a threaded portion of the interior wall surface operable to receive a threaded bushing coaxially aligned therewith.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the adjustment element includes a tapped manifold hole operable to receive a plunger bolt.

Assignments (13)