Conforming welding torch shroud
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsRobert Anthony Fusaro, Jr., Harvey Donald Solomon, Karen Kettler Denike
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shroud for a welding torch includes a hydrophilic skirt supported by a frame. The skirt is soft and pliable when wet and is self protected from the heat of welding by the water absorbed therein. The frame supports the skirt around the weld site and permits a good seal with the workpiece for excluding water during the welding process.
Claims29
A welding torch shroud comprising a hydrophilic skirt formed of a water permeable sponge material and further comprising a frame configured to support said skirt when wet to maintain said annular form, the frame comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart rods extending axially inside said skirt and between inner and outer surfaces of said skirt, from said socket toward said cuff;
- wherein said skirt is annular, with a socket at one end for receiving said torch, and a flexible cuff at an opposite end for conforming to a workpiece being welded, and including an inwardly facing inner surface and an opposite outwardly facing outer surface exposed to a surrounding environment for absorbing water during use.
A welding torch comprising a nozzle having a shroud mounted thereto, with said shroud including a hydrophilic sponge skirt supported by a frame;
- wherein said skirt is annular, with a socket at one end receiving said torch, and a flexible cuff at an opposite end for conforming to a workpiece being welded, and said frame further comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart silicone rods extending axially through said sponge skirt from said socket toward said cuff and terminating short thereof.
A welding torch shroud comprising a hydrophilic skirt formed of a water permeable material further comprising a frame configured to support said skirt when wet to maintain said annular form;
- wherein said skirt comprises a fiber bundle and is annular, with a socket at one end for receiving said torch, and a flexible cuff at an opposite end for conforming to a workpiece being welded and includes an inwardly facing inner surface, and an opposite outwardly facing outer surface exposed to a surrounding environment for absorbing water during use and
- wherein said frame comprises concentric screens containing said fiber bundle therebetween to define said socket and cuff at opposite axial ends thereof.
A welding torch shroud comprising a hydrophilic chamois sheet skirt formed of a water permeable material and further comprising a frame configured to support said skirt when wet to maintain said annular form;
- wherein said skirt is annular, with a socket at one end for receiving said torch, and a flexible cuff at an opposite end for conforming to a workpiece being welded and said skirt includes an inwardly facing inner surface, and an opposite outwardly facing outer surface exposed to a surrounding environment for absorbing water during use;
- and
- wherein said frame comprises a tubular screen internally lined with said skirt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.