# US 9,006,610 B2 · Tungsten inert gas welding torch with improved liquid cooling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,006,610 B2 - Document ID: US9006610B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/323,009 - Filed: 2011-12-12 - Published: 2012-06-21 - Granted: 2015-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-16 - Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Applicants: Derek Yu-Fung Hung - Inventors: Derek Yu-Fung Hung - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9006610B2 ## CPC - B23K 9/167: and of a non-consumable electrode - B23K 9/285: {Cooled electrode holders} - B23K 9/291: {the shielding means being a gas} - B23K 9/296: {using non-consumable electrodes} - Y10T 29/49002: Electrical device making - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Systems and methods for improved liquid cooling of a tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding torch are provided. The improved welding torch may feature conduits for conveying coolant from a cooling system to a collar, which holds a tungsten electrode of the welding torch, and back. A coolant return conduit may be disposed in a coolant supply conduit to improve thermal insulation of an outer surface of the welding torch. Some embodiments may feature a helical channel formed in the collar for conveying coolant around the electrode multiple times before returning the coolant through the return conduit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A welding system comprising: a welding torch body; a collar coupled to the torch body and configured to hold an electrode; a channel formed in the collar and configured to circulate coolant around the electrode; a supply conduit disposed in the torch body and configured to convey coolant to the collar; a gas conduit disposed in the supply conduit and configured to deliver shielding gas to the collar; a return conduit disposed in the supply conduit and configured to convey heated coolant away from the collar, the coolant flowing through the supply conduit insulating the torch body from the heated coolant flowing through the return conduit; and a structure disposed in the supply conduit, the structure having first and second channels formed therethrough, wherein the first channel comprises the return conduit and the second channel comprises the gas conduit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, comprising a manifold disposed at an end of the torch body distal the collar and configured to allow the coolant to flow from a supply hose extending from a coolant pump system to the supply conduit and from the return conduit to a retrieval hose leading to the coolant pump system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, comprising apertures formed through the structure and configured to permit movement of coolant throughout the supply conduit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The welding system of claim 3, wherein the apertures are arranged in a row along a length of the structure and aligned perpendicular to the first and second channels through the structure in order to permit movement of the coolant between the first and second channels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, wherein the channel formed in the collar comprises a helical channel configured to circulate the coolant around the electrode multiple times. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, wherein the channel formed in the collar comprises two ends, the first end coupled with an end of the supply conduit and the second end coupled with an end of the return conduit, allowing coolant to flow from the supply conduit to the channel and from the channel to the return conduit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, wherein the torch body comprises overmolding disposed around an outer surface of the torch body. ### Claim 8 A welding system, comprising: a welding torch body; a collar coupled to the torch body and configured to hold an electrode; a supply conduit disposed in the torch body and configured to convey coolant to the collar; a gas conduit disposed in the supply conduit and configured to deliver shielding gas to the collar; a return conduit disposed in the supply conduit and configured to convey coolant away from the collar; a channel disposed in the collar having an opening at one end to the supply conduit and an opening at another end to the return conduit, the channel being configured to circulate coolant one or more times around the electrode; and a structure disposed in the supply conduit, the structure having first and second channels formed therethrough, wherein the first channel comprises the return conduit and the second channel comprises the gas conduit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The welding system of claim 8, comprising a manifold disposed at an end of the torch body distal the collar and configured to allow the coolant to flow from a supply hose extending from a coolant pump system to the supply conduit and from the return conduit to a retrieval hose leading to the coolant pump system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The welding system of claim 8, comprising a power cable disposed in the return conduit and configured to deliver electric charge to the electrode. ### Claim 11 A method of manufacturing a welding system, comprising: disposing a supply conduit in a welding torch body, the supply conduit being configured to convey coolant toward an electrode; disposing a gas conduit in the supply conduit, the gas conduit being configured to supply shielding gas to a collar configured to hold the electrode; disposing a return conduit in the supply conduit, the return conduit being configured to convey coolant away from the electrode; forming a channel in the collar, the channel being configured to circulate coolant around the electrode; and coupling the collar to a distal end of the torch body, the supply conduit aligning with an entrance end of the channel and the return conduit aligning with an exit end of the channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, comprising overmolding the torch body with a material configured to thermally insulate the torch body. ### Claim 13 A welding system comprising: a welding torch body; a collar coupled to the torch body and configured to hold an electrode; a channel formed in the collar and configured to circulate coolant around the electrode; a supply conduit disposed in the torch body and configured to convey coolant to the collar; a gas conduit disposed in the supply conduit and configured to deliver shielding gas to the collar, wherein the gas conduit comprises a first pipe running through the supply conduit; and a return conduit disposed in the supply conduit and configured to convey heated coolant away from the collar, the coolant flowing through the supply conduit insulating the torch body from the heated coolant flowing through the return conduit, wherein the return conduit comprises a second pipe running through the supply conduit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The welding system of claim 13, comprising a manifold disposed at an end of the torch body distal the collar and configured to allow the coolant to flow from a supply hose extending from a coolant pump system to the supply conduit and from the return conduit to a retrieval hose leading to the coolant pump system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The welding system of claim 13, wherein the channel comprises a helical channel configured to circulate the coolant around the electrode multiple times. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The welding system of claim 13, wherein the channel comprises two ends, the first end coupled with an end of the supply conduit and the second end coupled with an end of the return conduit, allowing coolant to flow from the supply conduit to the channel and from the channel to the return conduit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The welding system of claim 13, wherein the torch body comprises overmolding disposed around an outer surface of the torch body. ### Claim 18 A welding system, comprising: a welding torch body; a collar coupled to the torch body and configured to hold an electrode; a supply conduit disposed in the torch body and configured to convey coolant to the collar; a gas conduit disposed in the supply conduit and configured to deliver shielding gas to the collar, wherein the gas conduit comprises a first pipe running through the supply conduit; a return conduit disposed in the supply conduit and configured to convey coolant away from the collar, wherein the return conduit comprises a second pipe running through the supply conduit; and a channel disposed in the collar having an opening at one end to the supply conduit and an opening at another end to the return conduit, the channel being configured to circulate coolant one or more times around the electrode. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The welding system of claim 18, comprising a manifold disposed at an end of the torch body distal the collar and configured to allow the coolant to flow from a supply hose extending from a coolant pump system to the supply conduit and from the return conduit to a retrieval hose leading to the coolant pump system. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The welding system of claim 18, comprising a power cable disposed in the return conduit and configured to deliver electric charge to the electrode.