Refractory materials reinforced composites for the GMAW contact tips
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorTiejun Ma
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A contact tip for a welding torch includes a refractory material reinforced copper composite including approximately 10 to 50% by volume of a refractory material and at least one of copper and a copper alloy. The refractory material is one of a metal and a ceramic material. The contact tip may include an elongated, generally cylindrical body having a front contact end, an opposite rear retaining end, and a passageway extending from the rear retaining end to the front contact end. A portion of the passageway may be defined by the refractory material reinforced copper composite. The portion may have a diameter that is approximately 3 to 8% larger than an outer diameter of a consumable electrode wire, and the portion may have a length of approximately 0.2 to 0.6 inches.
Claims16
A contact tip for a welding torch, the contact tip comprising:
- a refractory material reinforced copper composite including approximately 10 to 50% by volume of a refractory material and at least one of copper and a copper alloy;
- the refractory material being one of a metal and a ceramic material;
- the electrical conductivity of said refractory material reinforced copper composite being generally between 2.61×107 and 5.22×107 Siemens per meter at 20° C.
A contact tip for a welding torch, the contact tip comprising:
- a body having a front discharge end, an opposite rear feed end, and a passageway extending from said rear feed end to said front discharge end;
- a front portion of said passageway at said front discharge end having a diameter that is approximately 3 to 8% larger than an outer diameter of a consumable electrode wire, said front portion having a length of approximately 0.20 to 0.60 inches, and said front portion being defined by a refractory material reinforced copper composite;
- said refractory material reinforced copper composite including approximately 10 to 50% by volume of a refractory-material and at least one of copper and a copper alloy;
- the refractory material being one of a metal and a ceramic material;
- the electrical conductivity of said refractory material reinforced copper composite being generally between 2.61×107 and 5.22×107 Siemens per meter at 20° C.
A welding torch assembly comprising:
- a retaining head;
- and
- a contact tip mounted in said retaining head, said contact tip including a refractory material reinforced copper composite including approximately 10 to 50% by volume of a refractory material and at least one of copper and a copper alloy;
- the refractory material being one of a metal and a ceramic material;
- the electrical conductivity of said refractory material reinforced copper composite being generally between 2.61×107 and 5.22×107 Siemens per meter at 20° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.