Welding gun having non-threading contact tip

Abstract

A threadless contact tip for a wire-feed welding implement is disclosed, comprising a channel extending through the threadless contact tip, the channel configured to route welding electrode therethrough, a tip end portion having a single outlet, wherein welding electrode routed through the channel exits the threadless contact tip through the outlet, and an outer portion extending at least partially around the threadless contact tip to enable a movable member to urge the threadless contact tip towards the welding implement. The threadless contact tip may also have an elongated body, a tip end portion, and a shoulder. A method of securing a threadless contact tip to a wire-feed welding implement is also disclosed, comprising the steps of positioning the threadless contact tip with respect to the wire-feed welding implement, and urging the threadless contact tip towards the wire-feed welding implement with the outer portion in abutment with a movable member.

1 . A threadless contact tip for a wire-feed welding implement, comprising:
 a channel extending through the threadless contact tip, the channel configured to route welding electrode therethrough;   a tip end portion having a single outlet, wherein welding electrode routed through the channel exits the threadless contact tip through the outlet; and   an outer portion extending at least partially around the threadless contact tip to enable a movable member to urge the threadless contact tip towards the welding implement.   
     
     
         2 . The threadless contact tip of  claim 1 , wherein the outer portion is configured to abut the movable member to urge the threadless contact tip towards the welding implement to secure the threadless contact tip to the welding implement. 
     
     
         3 . The threadless contact tip of  claim 1 , wherein the outer portion is configured to abut the movable member in a position in which the threadless contact tip is secured to the welding implement at least in part by abutment between the outer portion of the threadless contact tip and the movable member. 
     
     
         4 . The threadless contact tip of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a shoulder, the outer portion defined on the shoulder.   
     
     
         5 . The threadless contact tip of  claim 4 , wherein the shoulder extends transversely to the channel. 
     
     
         6 . The threadless contact tip of  claim 5 , wherein the shoulder extends substantially around the threadless contact tip. 
     
     
         7 . The threadless contact tip of  claim 5 , wherein the movable member includes a nozzle component. 
     
     
         8 . The threadless contact tip of  claim 4 , wherein the movable member includes an annular portion, the shoulder configured to abut the annular portion such that the movable member urges the threadless contact tip towards the welding implement to secure the threadless contact tip to the welding implement. 
     
     
         9 . The threadless contact tip of  claim 4 , wherein the movable member includes an annular portion, the shoulder configured to abut the annular portion such that the threadless contact tip is secured to the welding implement at least in part by abutment between the shoulder and the annular portion. 
     
     
         10 . The threadless contact tip of  claim 4 , wherein movable member includes a flange portion, the shoulder configured to abut the flange portion such that the movable member urges the threadless contact tip towards the welding implement to secure the threadless contact tip to the welding implement. 
     
     
         11 . The threadless contact tip of  claim 4 , wherein the movable member includes a flange portion, the shoulder configured to abut the flange portion such that the threadless contact tip is secured to the welding implement at least in part by abutment between the shoulder and the annular portion. 
     
     
         12 . The threadless contact tip of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a protrusion, the outer portion of the threadless contact tip defined by the protrusion.   
     
     
         13 . The threadless contact tip of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a securing member, the outer portion of the threadless contact tip defined by the securing member.   
     
     
         14 . The threadless contact tip of  claim 13 , the securing member comprising:
 a ring configured to be secured to the threadless contact tip, the outer portion of the threadless contact tip defined by the ring.   
     
     
         15 . A method of securing a threadless contact tip to a wire-feed welding implement, the threadless contact tip including (i) a channel through the threadless contact tip configured to route welding electrode therethrough, (ii) a tip end portion having a single outlet, wherein welding electrode routed through the channel exits the threadless contact tip through the outlet, and (iii) an outer portion extending at least partially around the threadless contact tip, the method comprising:
 positioning the threadless contact tip with respect to the wire-feed welding implement; and   urging the threadless contact tip towards the wire-feed welding implement with the outer portion in abutment with a movable member to maintain a relative position of the threadless contact tip with respect to the wire-feed welding implement.   
     
     
         16 . The method of securing a threadless contact tip to a wire-feed welding implement of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 securing the movable member to the wire-feed welding implement with the outer portion in abutment with a movable member.   
     
     
         17 . The method of securing a threadless contact tip to a wire-feed welding implement of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the threadless contact tip further includes a shoulder, the outer portion defined by the shoulder.   
     
     
         18 . The method of securing the threadless contact tip to a wire-feed welding implement of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the movable member includes a nozzle component including a flange portion configured to abut the shoulder.   
     
     
         19 . A threadless contact tip for a wire-feed welding implement, comprising:
 an elongated body having an interior channel and an exterior surface, the interior channel extending longitudinally through the elongated body of the threadless contact tip and configured to route welding electrode therethrough;   a tip end portion having a single outlet, wherein welding electrode routed through the channel exits the threadless contact tip through the outlet; and   a shoulder on the exterior surface of the elongated body and longitudinally spaced from the tip end portion and extending around at least a portion of the exterior surface, the shoulder configured to abut a movable member to enable the movable member to secure the threadless contact tip to the wire-feed welding implement.   
     
     
         20 . The threadless contact tip of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the shoulder is configured to face and abut with a flange portion of the movable member.   
     
     
         21 . The threadless contact tip of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the shoulder includes a first transverse portion extending transversely to the channel, the first transverse portion configured to face and abut with a corresponding second transverse portion of the movable member.   
     
     
         22 . The threadless contact tip of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the shoulder extends substantially around the contact tip.   
     
     
         23 . The threadless contact tip of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the shoulder of the threadless contact tip is configured to be urged by the movable member towards the wire-feed welding implement such that the threadless contact tip is secured to the wire-feed welding implement.   
     
     
         24 . The threadless contact tip of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the movable member includes a nozzle component.