IP Library Granted Patent US 12,636,725
Granted Patent B2
US 12,636,725 · App. 15/370,884 · Granted May 26, 2026

Contact tip and liner assembly for welding torch

Inventor: Robert Joseph Centner (Frankfort, IL)
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
B23K9/16B23K9/173B23K9/26B23K9/295
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,636,725
App. No.
15/370,884
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In certain embodiments, a welding contact tip includes a first axial end portion having a welding wire outlet of an internal bore of the welding contact tip. The welding contact tip also includes a threaded middle portion adjacent the first axial end portion. The threaded middle portion includes external threads configured to mate with internal threads of a gas diffuser of a welding torch. The first axial end portion includes a tapered outer surface adjacent the threaded middle portion. The welding contact tip further includes a second axial end portion adjacent the threaded middle portion. In other embodiments, a welding torch liner assembly includes a liner stop configured to be attached to a first axial end of a welding torch liner. The welding torch liner assembly also includes a liner receiver configured to secure a second axial end of the welding torch liner. The second axial end of the welding torch liner is opposite the first axial end of the welding torch liner.

Claims (23)

1 . A welding contact tip comprising:

a first axial end portion having a welding wire outlet of an internal bore of the welding contact tip;

a threaded middle portion adjacent the first axial end portion, wherein the threaded middle portion comprises external threads configured to mate with internal threads of a gas diffuser of a welding torch;

a second axial end portion adjacent the threaded middle portion and configured to extend an exterior of the second axial end portion into a shielding gas flow path within the gas diffuser;

wherein the first axial end portion comprises a tapered outer surface adjacent the threaded middle portion and configured to abut a mating tapered inner surface of the gas diffuser of the welding torch;

wherein the welding contact tip comprises a shoulder between the tapered outer surface of the first axial portion and the threaded middle portion, and an axial gap between the shoulder and the threaded middle portion, the axial gap having a constant outer diameter;

wherein the second axial end portion has a uniform outer diameter along at least a portion of the length of the second axial end portion, wherein the uniform outer diameter is less than an outer diameter of the first axial end portion; and

wherein the tapered outer surface increases in diameter from the shoulder to match the outer diameter of the first axial end portion.

2 . The welding contact tip of claim 1 , wherein an axial length of the tapered outer surface is between 5% and 25% of a total axial length of the welding contact tip.

3 . The welding contact tip of claim 2 , wherein the axial length of the tapered outer surface is between 10% and 20% of the total axial length of the welding contact tip.

4 . The welding contact tip of claim 3 , wherein the axial length of the tapered outer surface is 15% of the total axial length of the welding contact tip.

5 . The welding contact tip of claim 1 , wherein an axial length of the tapered outer surface is between 30% and 50% of an axial length of the first axial end portion.

6 . The welding contact tip of claim 5 , wherein the axial length of the tapered outer surface is between 35% and 45% of the axial length of the first axial end portion.

7 . The welding contact tip of claim 6 , wherein the axial length of the tapered outer surface is 40% of the axial length of the first axial end portion.

8 . The welding contact tip of claim 1 , wherein an angle of the tapered outer surface relative to a longitudinal axis of the welding contact tip is between 5 degrees and 15 degrees.

9 . The welding contact tip of claim 8 , wherein the angle of the tapered outer surface relative to the longitudinal axis of the welding contact tip is between 8 degrees and 12 degrees.

10 . The welding contact tip of claim 9 , wherein the angle of the tapered outer surface relative to the longitudinal axis of the welding contact tip is 10 degrees.

11 . The welding contact tip of claim 1 , wherein the tapered outer surface is substantially linear.

12 . The welding contact tip of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the second axial end portion does not abut against a mating surface.

13 . The welding contact tip of claim 1 , wherein an axial length of the second axial end portion is between 25% and 45% of a total axial length of the welding contact tip.

14 . The welding contact tip of claim 13 , wherein an axial length of the second axial end portion is between 30% and 40% of a total axial length of the welding contact tip.

15 . The welding contact tip of claim 1 , wherein the second axial end portion is configured to be exposed to shielding gas within the gas diffuser.

16 . The welding contact tip of claim 1 , wherein the tapered outer surface comprises a consistent outer diameter around a circumference of the welding contact tip.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2016
From: CENTNER, ROBERT JOSEPH
To: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
Reel/Frame 040539/0852 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62368478 · Jul 29, 2016
Provisional Application 62266389 · Dec 11, 2015
Related Publication 20170165780A1 · Jun 15, 2017
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