Welding system having welding gun with self-contained locking trigger
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorGregory W. Bauer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A welding system having a welding gun with a self-contained trigger and trigger locking assembly. The self-contained trigger and trigger locking assembly has a trigger that is pivoted to operate the power source. The self-contained trigger and trigger locking assembly has a movable stem that pivots with the trigger and a stem receiving portion that is operable to receive the stem. The stem receiving portion acts to restrict pivotal movement of the stem so to maintain the trigger pivoted in position to continue operation of the power source.
Claims33
An arc welding system, comprising:
- an electric power source;
- and
- a welding gun electrically coupleable to the power source, comprising:
- handle;
- and
- self-contained trigger and trigger lock defining a substantially enclosed volume and secured to the handle, comprising:
- a trigger operable to control operation of the electric power source;
- a fixed portion that is secured to the handle;
- and
- a trigger lock operable to engage the fixed portion to maintain the trigger in a desired position.
A welding system, comprising:
- an integral trigger and trigger-locking assembly defining a substantially enclosed volume, comprising:
- first portion securable to a welding handle;
- and
- trigger lock that engages the first portion to maintain the trigger in a desired position.
A welding gun, comprising:
- a self-contained trigger and trigger-locking assembly including a housing having top, bottom, front, back, left and right surfaces that cooperate to define a volume, and operable to be electrically coupled to a power source, comprising:
- pivotable trigger that is operable to control the power source;
- and
- trigger-locking assembly that is operable to engage a portion of the self-contained trigger and trigger-locking assembly to secure the trigger in a desired pivoted position to maintain the power source in a desired state of operation.
A welding gun electrically coupleable to a power source and a wire feeder, comprising:
- a welding handle;
- and
- an integral trigger and trigger-locking assembly defining a substantially enclosed volume secured to the welding handle, comprising:
- first portion that is secured to the welding handle;
- trigger that is pivotably secured to the first portion, wherein electrical power from a power source and wire from a wire feeder are controlled by trigger position relative to the first portion;
- and
- trigger lock that is operable to engage the first portion to maintain the trigger in a desired position.
A welding gun, comprising:
- a self-contained trigger and trigger-locking assembly, comprising:
- a trigger that is operated to direct a power source to supply power to the welding gun;
- a movable stem that moves with the trigger;
- and
- a stem receiving portion that is operable to restrict pivotal movement of the stem to lock the trigger in position to direct the power source to supply power to the welding gun.
A welding gun kit, comprising:
- a self-contained trigger and trigger-locking assembly, comprising:
- a trigger;
- an interior surface;
- and
- a trigger lock operable to engage the interior surface to lock the trigger in a desired position;
- and
- a plurality of handle pieces that are assembled together to form a handle, wherein the plurality of handle pieces are adapted to capture the self-contained trigger and trigger-locking assembly when the handle pieces are secured together.
A method of operating a welding system, comprising the acts of:
- operating a spring-biased trigger of a self-contained trigger and trigger-locking assembly to initiate operation of the welding system and to align a stem of the self-contained trigger and trigger-locking assembly with a stem receiving portion of the self-contained trigger and trigger-locking assembly;
- driving the stem into the stem receiving portion;
- and
- releasing the spring-biased trigger, wherein the stem is driven against the stem receiving portion to lock the spring-biased trigger in position to maintain operation of the welding system.
A method of assembling a welding gun, comprising the acts of:
- disposing a self-contained trigger and trigger-locking assembly within a first handle piece adapted to receive the self-contained trigger and trigger-locking assembly;
- and
- securing a second handle piece adapted to receive the self-contained trigger and trigger-locking assembly to the first handle piece to secure the self-contained trigger and trigger-locking assembly to the welding gun.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.