| CPC B23K 9/296 (2013.01) [B23K 9/167 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

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1. A removable electric arc welding torch head having an adjustable electrode receiver, comprising:
a hollow plunger, having a first end for threadable connection to a welding torch;
a nozzle seat, surrounding and operatively connected about the first end of the plunger;
a torch head body including
a tapered interior region, a plurality of apertures to permit gas flow therethrough, and a threaded inside diameter to permit the operative engagement of a chuck back plate thereon,
the chuck back plate having an outer diameter for engaging the inner diameter of the torch body,
a plurality of radially positioned electrode securing wedges forming an electrode aperture therebetween within the tapered interior region of the torch body such that each securing wedge can traverse, in unison, a conical interior surface of the tapered region in a longitudinal direction to form a variable aperture therebetween, said securing wedges being further contacted on an end thereof by a plunger thrust cup, the thrust cup in further combination with the plunger and back plate, translating rotation of the plunger relative to the back plate into linear motion of the thrust cup in contact with the electrode securing wedges, and further providing a clamping motion of the electrode securing wedges as a result of their contact with the tapered surface,
each of said electrode securing wedges biased away from one another, by at least one biasing member therebetween, and
an internal conical surface in contact with each securing wedge, said securing wedges further providing electrical contact between an electrode and the conical surface of the torch body; and
a nozzle, encircling the torch body and operatively attached at one end thereof to the nozzle seat.
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