Welding gun having non-threading contact tip

Abstract

A nozzle assembly for a wire-feed welding implement is disclosed, comprising a threadless contact tip and a movable member. The movable member includes an opening extending longitudinally through the movable member. The threadless contact tip is positionable within the opening, and an end portion is configured to direct gas towards a workpiece. The assembly further includes a flange portion extending transversely to the opening. The movable member is configured to be secured to the wire-feed welding implement in a position in which the flange portion urges the threadless contact tip towards the wire-feed welding implement. A movable member is also disclosed having an opening, end portion and flange portion. A method of securing a threadless contact tip to a wire-feed welding implement with a movable member is also disclosed, comprising positioning the threadless contact tip and securing the movable member to the wire-feed welding implement with a flange portion.

1 . A nozzle assembly for a wire-feed welding implement, comprising:
 a threadless contact tip including a channel through the threadless contact tip configured to route welding electrode therethrough; and   a movable member including (i) an opening extending longitudinally through the movable member, the threadless contact tip positionable within the opening, (ii) an end portion configured to direct gas towards a workpiece, and (iii) a flange portion extending transversely to the opening,   wherein the movable member is configured to be secured to the wire-feed welding implement in a position in which the flange portion urges the threadless contact tip towards the wire-feed welding implement.   
     
     
         2 . A nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the threadless contact tip includes an outer portion extending at least partially around the threadless contact tip; and   the flange portion is configured to abut the outer portion to urge the threadless contact tip towards the wire-feed welding implement to secure the threadless contact tip to the wire-feed welding implement.   
     
     
         3 . A nozzle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the flange portion is configured to abut the outer portion in a position in which the threadless contact tip is secured between the flange portion and the wire-feed welding implement.   
     
     
         4 . A nozzle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the threadless contact tip includes a shoulder extending transversely to the channel, the outer portion defined on the shoulder.   
     
     
         5 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the movable member comprises a nozzle component that includes the flange portion.   
     
     
         6 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the movable member includes a connecting portion configured to secure the movable member to the wire-feed welding implement in a position in which the outer portion abuts the flange portion to, at least in part, secure the threadless contact tip to the wire-feed welding implement.   
     
     
         7 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the connecting portion includes threads configured to mate with corresponding threads of the wire-feed welding implement.   
     
     
         8 . A movable member for securing a threadless contact tip to a wire-feed welding implement, comprising:
 an opening extending longitudinally through the movable member, the threadless contact tip positionable within the opening;   an end portion configured to direct gas towards a workpiece; and   a flange portion extending transversely to the opening, the flange portion configured to abut the threadless contact tip to urge the threadless contact tip towards the wire-feed welding implement to secure the threadless contact tip to the wire-feed welding implement.   
     
     
         9 . The movable member of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the flange portion is configured to abut with an outer portion of the threadless contact tip, the movable member configured to secure the threadless contact tip to the wire-feed welding implement at least in part by abutment between the flange portion and the outer portion.   
     
     
         10 . The movable member of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the threadless contact tip includes a shoulder; and   the flange portion is configured to abut the shoulder.   
     
     
         11 . The movable member of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the end portion has a conical shape configured to direct gas towards the workpiece.   
     
     
         12 . The movable member of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the flange portion includes an annular portion extending at least partially around an inner surface of the movable member within the opening.   
     
     
         13 . The movable member of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a connecting portion configured to secure the movable member to the wire-feed welding implement in a position in which the flange portion abuts the threadless contact tip.   
     
     
         14 . The movable member of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the connecting portion includes threads configured to mate with corresponding threads of the wire-feed welding implement.   
     
     
         15 . The movable member of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the movable member comprises a nozzle component configured to direct gas towards the workpiece.   
     
     
         16 . A method of securing a threadless contact tip to a wire-feed welding implement with a movable member, comprising:
 positioning the threadless contact tip within an opening of the movable member to enable an end portion of the movable member to direct gas towards the workpiece; and   securing the movable member to the wire-feed welding implement with a flange portion of the movable member in abutment with the threadless contact tip to urge the threadless contact tip towards the wire-feed welding implement.   
     
     
         17 . The method of securing a threadless contact tip to a wire-feed welding implement with a movable member of  claim 16 , the securing the movable member comprising:
 threadingly securing the movable member to the wire-feed welding implement.   
     
     
         18 . The method of securing a threadless contact tip to a wire-feed welding implement with a movable member of  claim 16 , the threadless contact tip further including a shoulder, the method further comprising:
 securing the movable member to the wire-feed welding implement with the flange portion of the movable member in abutment with the shoulder to urge the threadless contact tip towards the wire-feed welding implement.   
     
     
         19 . The method of securing a threadless contact tip to a wire-feed welding implement with a movable member of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the movable member comprises a nozzle component that includes the flange portion.   
     
     
         20 . The method of securing a threadless contact tip to a wire-feed welding implement with a movable member of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the flange portion includes an annular portion extending at least partially around an inner surface of the movable member within the opening.