US 12,350,769 B2
Contact tip, gas diffuser, and nozzle for welding torch
Robert Joseph Centner, Frankfort, IL (US)
Assigned to Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed by ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed on Jun. 14, 2017, as Appl. No. 15/622,912.
Application 15/622,912 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/370,884, filed on Dec. 6, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/368,478, filed on Jul. 29, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/266,389, filed on Dec. 11, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2017/0282278 A1, Oct. 5, 2017
Int. Cl. B23K 9/26 (2006.01); B23K 9/173 (2006.01); B23K 9/29 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 9/26 (2013.01) [B23K 9/173 (2013.01); B23K 9/295 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
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, and a second axial end portion adjacent the threaded middle portion, wherein the threaded middle portion comprises external threads and the second axial end portion extends the remaining length of the welding contact tip adjacent the threaded middle portion to an axial end face of the welding contact tip;
a welding wire liner comprising a liner stop, wherein the liner stop comprises a flange portion configured to abut a neck of a welding torch; and
a gas diffuser comprising internal threads configured to mate with the external threads of the threaded middle portion of the welding contact tip, the gas diffuser configured to be directly attached to the neck of the welding torch and further configured to limit movement of the welding wire liner and the liner stop toward the welding contact tip by securing the flange portion between the neck of the welding torch and the gas diffuser such that the flange portion abuts the neck and the gas diffuser, wherein the gas diffuser does not contact the second axial end portion and the gas diffuser and the liner stop do not contact the axial end face of the welding contact tip when the welding contact tip is fully threaded into the gas diffuser, such that an exterior of the second axial end portion and the axial end face are exposed to and cooled by shielding gas within the gas diffuser, and wherein the gas diffuser comprises a plurality of gas ports and, with respect to the position of the first axial end portion when the welding contact tip is fully threaded into the gas diffuser, the positions of the entireties of the gas ports are closer than the position of the axial end face of the second axial end portion in the axial direction.