Welding torch apparatus

A welding torch cleaning apparatus for use with conventional arc welding equipment having a gas nozzle with an interior and a longitudinal axis, a first passageway for supplying of both a welding wire to a tip and gas mixtures to a gas diffuser, the welding torch cleaning apparatus comprising:

• a) compressed gas sources containing gas mixtures;
• b) a gas injection means for selectively introducing into the interior of the gas nozzle gas mixtures which by-pass the first passageway, so that contact is avoided between gas mixtures passing through the gas injection means and gas mixtures and welding wire passing through the first passageway until the gas mixtures and welding wire enter the interior of the gas nozzle, wherein only gas mixtures passing through the gas injection means include oil additions for coating with oil an interior surface of said gas nozzle as well as said gas diffuser and tip thereby minimizing weld spatter buildup on said interior surface, gas diffuser, tip, and also minimizing oil contamination of said weld wire;
• and
• c) a gas distribution means for selectively communicating gas mixtures from gas sources to the gas injection means, and from gas sources to the first passageway, wherein torch cleaning is accomplished by supplying gas mixtures to the gas injection means and to the first passageway in a pre-selected cleaning cycle.

A method of operating an arc welder having a supply of gas mixtures including a supply of air with and without an entrained oil mist, a gas nozzle with an interior and a longitudinal axis, and a first passageway for supplying both a welding wire to a tip and supplying gas mixtures to a gas diffuser, the method of operating an arc welder comprising the steps of:

• a) Arc welding in a conventional manner with gas mixtures and welding wire supplied through the first passageway;
• b) terminating arc welding;
• c) supplying gas mixtures via a gas injection means, the gas injection means for selectively introducing into the interior of the gas nozzle gas mixtures which by-pass the first passageway, so that contact is avoided between gas mixtures passing through the gas injection means and gas mixtures and welding wire passing through the first passageway until the gas mixtures and welding wire enter the interior of the gas nozzle, and wherein only gas mixtures passing through the gas injection means include oil additions for coating with oil an interior surface of said gas nozzle as well as said gas diffuser and tip thereby minimizing weld spatter buildup on said interior surface, gas diffuser, tip, and also minimizing oil contamination of said weld wire;
• d) terminating supply of air with an entrained oil mist via the gas injection means;
• and
• e) repeating steps (a) to (e).

A welding torch apparatus for use with conventional arc welding torches having a gas nozzle with an interior and a longitudinal axis, a first passageway for supplying of both a welding wire to a tip, and gas mixtures to a gas diffuser, the welding torch apparatus comprising:

• a) a gas injection means for selectively introducing into the interior of the gas nozzle, gas mixtures which by-pass the first passageway, so that contact is avoided between gas mixtures passing through the gas injection means and gas mixtures and welding wire passing through the first passageway until the gas mixtures and welding wire enter the interior of the gas nozzle, wherein only gas mixtures passing through the gas injection means include oil additions for coating with oil an interior surface of said gas nozzle as well as said gas diffuser and tip thereby minimizing weld spatter buildup on said interior surface, gas diffuser, tip, and also minimizing oil contamination of said weld wire;
• b) wherein the gas injection means comprises a longitudinally extending mounting tube being securely attached to a gooseneck, the mounting tube having longitudinal channels defined in an outer diameter for receiving gas mixtures and communicating gas mixtures to the interior of the gas nozzle and communicating gas mixtures from an injector collar, and said injector collar securely mounted on the outer diameter of the mounting tube, the injector collar having a gas receiving means for receiving gas mixtures and communicating gas mixtures to the mounting tube channels;
• c) wherein the gas diffuser comprises gas discharge apertures disposed at an acute angle less than 90 degrees and preferably between 30 and 60 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis such that the flow of gas mixtures is directed toward the tip.