Electrode holder

A handheld tool for use in working metal by means of an electric arc;

• said tool including barrel means adapted to contain an elongated electrode;
• pistol grip means depending from said barrel;
• means actuated by a trigger carried by said pistol grip for releasably clamping said electrode in said barrel means with an exposed length of the electrode extending axially forward beyond the front end of said barrel means;
• radiation shield means depending from said barrel means in front of said pistol grip to cause a substantial portion of the pistol grip to be shadowed from radiation generated by the electrode;
• means in said pistol grip for supplying electrical energy to said electrode in said barrel means;
• rotary nozzle means located at the front of said barrel means for flowing a gaseous medium along the exposed length of the electrode, said nozzle means including a head having a tubular wall and a front wall with an electrode-receiving aperture aligned with said barrel, said front wall also having orifice means for ejecting said gaseous medium therefrom;
• a journal member having one end engaged in said barrel means and having a flange on its other end for mounting said head to the front of said barrel means for rotation coaxial therewith;
• means in said barrel means affording axial adjustment of said journal member;
• means for supplying said gaseous medium under pressure to said head;
• a manifold ring located intermediate said supply means and said orifice means to provide gas communication between said supply means and said orifice means;
• said manifold ring engaging the front of said barrel means and having a rearwardly-facing groove in registry with said supply means;
• means connecting said manifold ring and head for rotation in unison;
• means providing an outer seal compressed radially between said tubular wall and said barrel means to prevent escape of said gaseous medium rearwardly from said manifold means;
• and means providing an inner seal compressed axially between the front wall of said head and the journal member flange to prevent escape of gaseous medium inwardly from said manifold means.

In a hand-held tool for use in working metal by means of an electric arc;

• said tool including barrel means adapted to contain an elongated electrode;
• pistol grip means depending from said barrel;
• means actuated by a trigger carried by said pistol grip for releasably clamping said electrode in said barrel means with an exposed length of the electrode extending axially forward beyond the front end of said barrel means;
• means in said pistol grip for supplying electrical energy to said electrode in said barrel means;
• and rotary nozzle means located at the front of said barrel means for flowing a gaseous medium along the exposed length of the electrode;
• said nozzle means including a head having orifice means for ejecting said gaseous medium therefrom, means mounting said head to the front of said barrel means for rotaton coaxial therewith, means for supplying said gaseous medium under pressure to said head, and annular manifold means located intermediate said supply means and said orifice means to provide gas communication between said supply means and said orifices;
• the improvement wherein said manifold means includes a manifold ring engaging the front of said barrel means and having a rearwardly-facing annular groove in registry with said gaseous medium supply means, said means rotatably mounting said head including a journal member having one end threadedly received in said barrel means and having an outwardly extending annular flange at its other end engaging said manifold ring to maintain the same engaged with the front of said barrel means, securing means carried by said barrel means releasably engaging said threaded end of said journal member, and means connecting said manifold ring to said head for rotation in unison therewith.

A handheld tool for use in working metal by means of an electric arc;

• said tool including barrel means adapted to contain an elongated electrode;
• pistol grip means depending from said barrel;
• means actuated by a trigger carried by said pistol grip for releasably clamping said electrode in said barrel means with an exposed length of the electrode extending axially forward beyond the front end of said barrel means;
• means in said pistol grip for supplying electrical energy to said electrode in said barrel means;
• rotary nozzle means located at the front of said barrel means for flowing a gaseous medium along the exposed length of the electrode, said nozzle means including a head having a tubular wall and a front wall with an electrode-receiving aperture aligned with said barrel, said front wall also having orifice means for ejecting said gaseous medium therefrom;
• a journal member having one end threadedly engaged in said barrel and having a flange on its other end for mounting said head to the front of said barrel means for rotation coaxial therewith;
• means in said barrel means for releasably engaging said threaded end of said journal member;
• means for supplying said gaseous medium under pressure to said head;
• a manifold ring located intermediate said gaseous medium supply means and said orifice means to provide gas communication between said supply means and said orifice means;
• said manifold ring engaging the front of said barrel means and having a rearwardly-facing groove in registry with said gaseous medium supply means;
• means connecting said manifold ring and said head for rotation in unison;
• means providing an outer seal compressed radially between said tubular wall and said barrel means to prevent escape of said gaseous medium rearwardly from said manifold means;
• and means providing an inner seal compressed axially between the front wall of said head and the journal member flange to prevent escape of gaseous medium inwardly from said manifold means.