Torch for arc welding gun

A torch for directing a welding wire with a given diameter toward a workpiece, said torch comprising:

• a main cylindrical conductive assembly having a diffuser for directing shielding gas outwardly from said assembly;
• a contact tip having a central wire guide bore;
• and, a cylindrical metal nozzle with a rear end held on said main assembly, wherein said rear end of said cylindrical metal nozzle includes a gripping mechanism, said gripping mechanism including a first cylindrical surface fixed with respect to said cylindrical assembly, said first surface having a groove with a snap ring protruding from said first surface and said rear end of said nozzle including an inner surface generally matching said first surface with a plurality of annular grooves, each of the plurality of grooves being arranged to selectively receive and hold said snap ring when said inner surface is slipped axially over said first surface, and thereby position nozzle in one of a plurality of axial positions relative to said cylindrical assembly.

A torch for directing a welding wire with a given diameter toward a workpiece, said torch comprising:

• a main cylindrical conductive assembly having a diffuser for directing shielding gas outwardly from said assembly;
• a contact tip having a central wire guide bore;
• and, a cylindrical metal nozzle with a rear end held on said main assembly, wherein said rear end of said cylindrical metal nozzle includes a gripping mechanism, said gripping mechanism including a first cylindrical friction surface fixed with respect to a cylindrical surface of the main assembly, and an inner cylindrical friction surface of said rear end of said nozzle, the inner friction surface generally matching said first friction surface to hold said nozzle onto said first friction surface by frictional force.

A cylindrical metal nozzle for use on a torch for directing welding wire toward a workpiece, said nozzle including a rear mounting end and a front end for directing shielding gas around a wire issuing from said front end, said rear end including a gripping mechanism for attaching said nozzle to said main assembly, said gripping mechanism including a generally cylindrical collet as the rear end of said nozzle and having at least one axially extending collapsible slot extending through a thickness of said rear end;

• and an outwardly facing surface and a generally cylindrical actuator ring with an inner generally cylindrical surface where at least one of said surfaces is slightly non-circular whereby rotation of said actuator ring on said collet at least partially closes said at least one collapsible slot by a camming action to clamp said rear end of said nozzle onto said torch.

A cylindrical metal nozzle for use on a torch for directing welding wire toward a workpiece, said nozzle including a rear mounting end and a front end for directing a shielding gas around a wire issuing from said front end, said rear end including an inner cylindrical surface with a plurality of snap ring receiving grooves, each of said grooves adapted to selectively receive a snap ring carried on the outer cylindrical surface of said torch to provide a plurality of axial mounting positions for said nozzle upon said torch.