Rotating power connector for welding torch cables
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsTiejun Ma, Romeo Cossette, Craig Matthew Bondy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotating power connection for connecting an electrical supply power cable to an electric welding torch body is provided. In the rotating power connection, the mechanical load is carried by steel bearings, and the electric load is carried by multi-contact, spring loaded fins made out of highly conductive materials or coatings. In some examples, a rotating power connector is affixed to a torch before the power connection to a wire feeder. The rotating power connector advantageously allows for rotation of the welding torch relative to the unicable while providing continual electrical connection at the high current levels employed in welding applications.
Claims20
A rotating power connector for an electric welding torch comprising:
- an outer housing having a longitudinal axis;
- a connector pin arranged within the outer housing and extending from a first end of the outer housing;
- a stud arranged within the outer housing and extending from a second end of the outer housing;
- and
- one or more electrical contact rings arranged within the outer housing and encircling the connector pin or the stud, the one or more electrical contact rings including one or more contact extensions biased toward an external surface of the connector pin or the stud to provide electrical contact between the one or more contact extensions and the external surface during rotation of the rotating power connector relative to a unicable.
An assembly for rotational movement of a welding torch unicable, the assembly comprising:
- a connector that rotatably connects a welding torch unicable to a welding torch body such that the unicable is rotatable relative to the torch body, the connector including:
- a cylindrical outer housing having a longitudinal axis;
- a connector pin fixedly, axially arranged within the outer housing and extending from a first end of the outer housing;
- a rotating stud arranged within the outer housing and extending from a second end of the outer housing opposite the first end;
- an inner housing within the outer housing, wherein the connector pin is in electrical contact with the inner housing;
- and
- one or more contact rings arranged within and in electrical contact with the inner housing, each of the one or more contact rings including at least one contact extension biased to contact the rotating stud during rotational movement thereof.
A rotating power connector for an electric welding torch comprising:
- an outer housing having a longitudinal axis;
- a connector pin arranged within the outer housing and extending from a first end of the outer housing;
- a stud arranged within the outer housing and extending from a second end of the outer housing;
- and
- one or more contact extensions arranged within the outer housing and encircling one or more of the connector pin or the stud, the one or more contact extensions biased toward an internal surface of an inner housing to provide electrical contact between the one or more contact extensions and the internal surface during rotation of the rotating power connector relative to a unicable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.