Torch for preheating a continuously fed welding wire

An improved gas metal arc welding (GMAW) torch comprising:

• a torch housing having a first and a second end;
• wire guide means centrally disposed within said housing, said wire guide means comprising a wire guide tube having a bore disposed therein, said bore dimension to convey a welding wire therethrough and including means in communication with said bore for conveying gas therethrough, an upper electrode contact tip, a lower electrode contact tip and a dielectric material disposed therebetween positioned at one end of said wire guide tube, said upper and lower electrode contact tips defining means whereby electrical contact with the welding wire is established within said torch housing;
• an inner power-cooling assembly comprising:
• a first generally cylindrical member concentrically disposed about said wire guide means and defining means through which electrical power to said upper electrode contact tip is provided, said first generally cylindrical member defining a first chamber having water dam means therewithin, dividing said first chamber into first and second sections in communication with each other whereby the circulation of water through said first chamber is controlled by said dam means;
• an outer power cooling assembly comprising:
• a second generally cylindrical member concentrically disposed about said first generally cylindrical member and having means associated therewith for electrically isolating said outer assembly from said inner assembly, said second cylindrical member being in electrical communication with said lower electrode contact tip and defining therewithin a second chamber having water dam means within said second chamber, dividing said second chamber into first and second sections in communication with each other whereby the circulation of water through said second chamber is controlled by said dam means;
• and
• a gas supply assembly comprising an outer gas tube circumferentially disposed about said second cylindrical member and defining together therewith a plurality of axial groove means through which gas can be conveyed from the first end to the second end of said housing proximate said lower electrode contact tip.

An improved hot wire gas-tungsten arc welding torch comprising:

• a torch housing having a first and a second end;
• wire guide means centrally disposed within said housing, said wire guide means comprising a wire guide tube having a bore disposed therethrough and including means in communication with said bore for conveying gas therethrough;
• said bore dimension to convey a welding wire therethrough, an upper electrode contact tip, a lower electrode contact tip and a dielectric material disposed therebetween positioned at one end of said wire guide tube, said upper and lower electrode contact tips defining means whereby electrical contact with the welding wire is established within said torch housing;
• an inner power-cooling assembly comprising:
• a first generally cylindrical member concentrically disposed about said wire guide means and defining means through which electrical power to said upper electrode contact tip is provided, said first generally cylindrical member including therein a first chamber having water dam means therewithin, dividing said first chamber into first and second sections in communication with each other whereby the circulation of water through said first chamber is controlled by said dam means;
• and
• an outer power cooling assembly comprising:
• a second generally cylindrical member concentrically disposed about said first generally cylindrical member and having means associated therewith for electrically isolating said outer assembly from said inner assembly, said second generally cylindrical member being in electrical communication with said lower electrode contact tip and defining therewithin a second chamber having water dam means within said second chamber, dividing said second chamber into first and second sections in communication with each other whereby the circulation of water through said second chamber is controlled by said dam means.

An improved gas metal arc welding (GMAW) torch comprising:

• a torch housing having a first and a second end;
• wire guide means centrally disposed within said housing, said wire guide means comprising a wire guide tube having a bore disposed therein, said bore dimension to convey a welding wire therethrough, an upper electrode contact tip, a lower electrode contact tip and a dielectric material disposed therebetween positioned at one end of said wire guide tube, said upper and lower electrode contact tips defining means whereby electrical contact with the welding wire is established within said torch housing;
• an inner power-cooling assembly comprising:
• a first generally cylindrical member concentrically disposed about said wire guide means and defining means through which electrical power to said upper electrode contact tip is provided and defining therein a first chamber within which cooling water is circulated;
• an outer power-cooling assembly comprising an outer power tube member concentrically disposed about said first cylindrical member and having means associated therewith for electrically isolating said outer power tube member from said inner power-cooling assembly, said outer power tube member being in electrical communication with said lower electrode contact tip and having at least one means therein defining a cooling water circulation path, the circulation path means comprising a first bore, a second bore and a third bore disposed therebetween and overlapping said first and second bores, said third bore adapted to receive a rod member therein which substantially isolates said first bore from said second bore whereby a cooling water circulation path is defined thereby;
• and
• a gas supply means comprising at least one bore in said outer power tube member through which gas can be conveyed from the first end to the second end of said housing proximate said lower electrode contact tip.

An improved hot wire gas-tungsten arc welding torch comprising:

• a torch housing having a first and a second end;
• wire guide means centrally disposed within said housing, said wire guide means comprising a wire guide tube having a bore disposed therein, said bore dimension to convey a welding wire therethrough, an upper electrode contact tip, a lower electrode contact tip and a dielectric material disposed therebetween positioned at one end of said wire guide tube, said upper and lower electrode contact tips defining means whereby electrical contact with the welding wire is established within said torch housing;
• an inner power-cooling assembly comprising:
• a first cylindrical member concentrically disposed about said wire guide means and defining means through which electrical power to said upper electrode contact tip is provided and defining therewithin a first chamber within which cooling water is circulated;
• and
• an outer power-cooling assembly comprising an outer power tube member concentrically disposed about said first cylindrical member and having means associated therewith for electrically isolating said outer power tube member from said inner power-cooling assembly, said outer power tube member being in electrical communication with said lower electrode contact tip and having at least one means therein defining a cooling water circulation path, the circulation path means comprising a first bore, a second bore and a third bore disposed therebetween and overlapping said first and second bores, said third bore adapted to receive a rod member therein which substantially isolates said first bore from said second bore whereby a cooling water circulation path is defined thereby.