Contact tip assembly for a welding torch
A securement member for securing a contact tip to a welding torch assembly is provided. A channel extends axially therethrough and has an internal shoulder that extends into this channel. This internal shoulder abuts against a shoulder on the contact tip, capturing the contact tip between the shoulder and a seating surface on the diffuser and securing the contact tip in the torch assembly. The contact tip is securely seated without threading engagement, facilitating quick release and installation. The exemplary securement member couples to the diffuser such that the egress of fluid from the diffuser is blocked when used for gasless welding. This blocking allows a user to leave the diffuser secured to the welding torch when a gasless electrode is in use.
1. A securement mechanism for a contact tip of a welding torch assembly, comprising:
a body comprising a channel extending axially therethrough, wherein the body is securable to the welding torch assembly; and
an internal shoulder of the body extending into the channel, and configured to engage a contact tip to seat the contact tip with respect to a contact tip seating surface of the welding torch assembly;
wherein the channel is configured to receive a diffuser of the welding torch assembly and to block egress of fluid from the diffuser.
2. The securement mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the internal shoulder comprises a metallic member.
3. The securement mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the channel is defined by a first opening having a first width and a second opening having a second width less than the first width.
4. The securement mechanism of in claim 1 , wherein the body is generally cylindrical.
5. The securement mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a threaded portion for threaded engagement on the welding torch assembly.
6. The securement mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the metallic member comprises a plurality of ribs extending axially along an external surface of the metallic member.
7. The securement mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the threaded portion is configured for threaded engagement with a diffuser of the welding torch assembly.
8. A securement assembly for a contact tip of a welding torch assembly, comprising:
a family of securement members interchangeable with respect to the welding torch assembly, the family comprising:
a first securement member configured to be coupled to the welding torch assembly with respect to a diffuser to direct fluid egressing from the diffuser toward a weld location, and including a first internal channel receiving the diffuser and an internal shoulder extending into the first internal channel configured to engage with a contact tip to capture the contact tip between the shoulder and the diffuser when assembled; and
a second securement member configured to be coupled to the welding torch assembly in place of the first securement member with respect to the diffuser to block the egress of fluid from the diffuser, and including a second internal channel receiving the diffuser and a second internal shoulder extending into the channel configured to engage with the contact tip to capture the contact tip between the second shoulder and the diffuser when assembled.
9. The securement assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first and second internal shoulders comprise metallic members.
10. The securement of claim 8 , wherein the first and second securement members are threadably securable to the diffuser.
11. The securement assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first securement member comprises an electrically insulative layer disposed between electrically conductive layers.
12. The securement assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first and second securement members are generally cylindrical.
13. The securement assembly of claim 8 , wherein the second internal shoulder comprises a insert member having a plurality of ribs extending axially thereon.
14. The securement assembly of claim 8 , wherein the second securement member comprises a channel extending axially therethrough, and has a varied cross-sectional diameter.
15. The securement assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first securement member has a larger cross-sectional diameter than the second securement member.
16. A securement assembly for a contact tip of a welding torch assembly, comprising:
a family of interchangeable securement members securable to a diffuser of a welding torch assembly, the family comprising:
a first securement member having a first internal channel receiving the diffuser extending axially therethrough, including an internal shoulder extending into the channel and configured to engage with the contact tip to seat the contact tip with respect to the diffuser, and being operable to direct fluid egres sing from the diffuser toward a weld location when coupled to the welding torch assembly; and
a second securement member having a second internal channel receiving the diffuser extending therethrough, including a second internal shoulder extending into the second channel and configured to engage with the contact tip to seat that contact tip with respect to the seating surface, and being operable to block the egress of fluid from the diffuser when coupled to the welding torch.
17. The securement assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first and second securement members each include threaded portions engageble with a corresponding threaded portion on the diffuser.
18. The securement assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first and second securement members are generally cylindrical.
19. The securement assembly of claim 16 , comprising the diffuser.
20. The securement assembly of claim 16 , wherein the second securement member comprises a body consisting essentially of an electrically insulative material and an insert member consisting essentially of an electrically conductive material.
21. The securement assembly of claim 19 , wherein the diffuser comprise a conical seating surface.
22. The securement assembly of claim 20 , wherein the insert member includes a plurality of ribs extending axially thereon.