JP2016068119A - Welding torch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a welding torch which prevents concentration of flexural stress on a cable and improves the flexibility of posture selection by a worker.SOLUTION: The welding torch includes: a handle 100; a torch body 200 extending from the tip side of the handle 100; a cable 400 extending from the base end side of the handle 100; and an adapter 300 which is connected with the base end side of the handle 100 and holds the cable 400 in an enclosing manner. The adapter 300 includes: a first member 310; and a second member 350. The handle 100 and the first member 310 are rotatably connected with each other by a first joint part 500. The first member 310 and the second member 350 are rotatably connected with each other by a second joint part 600.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a welding torch, and more particularly, to a welding torch in a semi-automatic arc welding machine that performs welding while an operator holds it by hand.

  This type of welding torch has, for example, a torch body and a handle that holds the base end side of the torch body and can be gripped by an operator, as shown in Patent Document 1. A cable is extended from the proximal end side of the handle. The cable includes, for example, a welding wire feed pipe, a power feeding lead, a shield gas supply path, and the like coaxially, and has flexibility as a whole. The handle is also provided with an operation switch, and the operator can turn on / off the welding wire feeding by the operation switch. When the operation switch is turned on, the welding wire fed through the feeding pipe in the cable is sent out from the tip of the torch body, and heat generated by arc discharge generated between the welding wire sent in this way and the object. Thus, the welding wire is melted and desired welding can be performed. The welding site is protected from the outside air by a shielding gas blown from the nozzle at the tip of the torch body.

  Such a welding torch is taken in various postures by an operator's hand in order to cope with various welding locations. On the other hand, the cable is extended from a predetermined control device and has a constant weight. At this time, a large bending stress may concentrate on the cable at the proximal end of the handle. When the cable is bent to a predetermined value or more due to such bending stress, the welding wire feeding resistance increases, the welding wire feeding speed fluctuates, and the like, which adversely affects the welding quality.

  In the welding torch disclosed in Patent Document 1, a protective member having a certain length is provided at a connecting portion between the handle and the cable, extending from the handle and wrapping the cable in a cylindrical shape.

  However, such a protective member is usually formed of rubber or the like, and when the bending stress acting on the cable is increased in the vicinity of the proximal end portion of the handle, the degree of bending of the cable is less than a predetermined level. It cannot be regulated.

  Moreover, in the welding torch shown in Patent Document 2, a cylindrical adapter is connected to the base end of the handle via a ball joint, and a cable passing through the cylindrical adapter is introduced into the handle. .

  In the case of the configuration of Patent Document 2, it is possible to prevent the cable from being bent at an angle more than necessary by regulating the pivotable angle of the cylindrical adapter with respect to the handle. However, since the bending angle is restricted, the degree of freedom in selecting the attitude of the welding torch by the operator is limited.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-155959 US Pat. No. 5,965,045

  The present invention has been conceived under the circumstances described above, and provides a welding torch that avoids concentration of bending stress on a cable and can increase the degree of freedom of posture selection by an operator. Is the subject.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following technical means.

  A welding torch provided by the present invention includes a handle, a torch body extending from a front end side of the handle, a cable extending from a rear end side of the handle, and a rear end side of the handle and holding the cable. The adapter includes a first member and a second member, and the handle and the one member are connected to each other by a first joint portion so as to be rotatable. The first member and the second member are connected to each other by a second joint portion so as to be rotatable.

  In a preferred embodiment, the first joint portion rotates the first member in all directions with respect to the handle.

  In a preferred embodiment, the first joint portion includes first rotation angle restricting means for restricting a rotation angle of the first member with respect to the handle within a predetermined range.

  In a preferred embodiment, the first joint portion includes a rotation range restricting means for restricting a rotation range of the first member relative to the handle around the axis of the handle within a predetermined range.

  In a preferred embodiment, the first joint portion includes a ball outer surface portion provided on the first member and a ball receiving portion provided on the handle and slidably receiving the ball outer surface portion. .

  In a preferred embodiment, the rotatable range of the first member by the first rotation angle restricting means is 20 to 50 degrees.

  In a preferred embodiment, the first rotation angle restricting means has a contact portion where the end portion of the handle partially contacts when the first member rotates a predetermined angle with respect to the handle. It is formed by providing on the outer peripheral surface of one member.

  In a preferred embodiment, the axis rotation range of the first member by the axis rotation range restricting means is 20 to 50 degrees.

  In a preferred embodiment, the rotation range restricting means is constituted by a protrusion provided on the outer surface portion of the ball and a recess provided on the ball receiving portion, which engages with the protrusion and is wider than the protrusion. ing.

  In a preferred embodiment, the second joint portion rotates the second member with respect to the first member about a predetermined lateral axis.

  In a preferred embodiment, the second joint portion includes second rotation angle restricting means for restricting a rotation angle of the second member with respect to the first member within a predetermined range.

  In a preferred embodiment, the torch body is curved in a predetermined direction, and the lateral axis extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the bending direction of the torch body.

  In a preferred embodiment, the handle is bent in the same direction as the bending direction of the torch body.

  In a preferred embodiment, the rotatable range of the second member by the second rotation angle restricting means is 20 to 45 degrees.

  In a preferred embodiment, the rotatable range of the second member by the second turning angle restricting means is in a direction opposite to the bending direction of the torch body rather than the turning angle of the torch body in the bending direction. The pivotable angle is larger.

  According to the welding torch of the present invention having the above configuration, the first member connected to the handle by the first joint portion and the second member connected to the first member by the second joint portion. The bending of the cable that is carried by the included adapter and extends from the handle is limited. Since the adapter includes a two-stage joint, the rotation angle range at each stage of the joint can be limited to a predetermined value or less. Therefore, it is avoided that the cable is greatly bent at one place, and thereby, it is avoided that the feeding resistance of the cable is increased more than necessary. Moreover, since the adapter includes two-stage joint portions, the cable can be largely bent as a whole even if the rotation angle range at each joint portion is small. Therefore, a high degree of freedom in selecting the attitude of the welding torch by the operator is ensured.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the drawings.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a welding torch according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a principal part enlarged view of FIG. It is AA expanded sectional drawing of FIG. 1, and abbreviate | omits and shows a cable. It is BB expanded sectional drawing of FIG. 1, and abbreviate | omits and shows a cable. It is action | operation explanatory drawing of the welding torch shown in FIG. 1, and shows the state which the 1st member of the adapter rotated upwards in the 1st joint part. It is action | operation explanatory drawing of the welding torch shown in FIG. 1, and shows the state which the 1st member of the adapter rotated below in the 1st joint part. It is action | operation explanatory drawing of the welding torch shown in FIG. 1, and shows the state which the 1st member of the adapter rotated upwards in the 1st joint part, and the 2nd member rotated upwards in the 2nd joint part. FIG. 2 is a front view of the welding torch shown in FIG. 1, with the torch body omitted. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the welding torch shown in FIG. 1, with the torch body omitted. It is a top view of the welding torch shown in Drawing 1, and omits a torch body. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the welding torch shown in FIG. 1, with the torch body omitted. It is a right view of the welding torch shown in FIG. 1, and a torch body is abbreviate | omitted and shown. FIG. 2 is a left side view of the welding torch shown in FIG. 1, with the torch body omitted.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the welding torch 10 includes a handle 100, a torch body 200, an adapter 300, and a cable 400.

  The torch body 200 extends from the distal end side of the handle 100, and extends toward the distal end while curving downward.

  The handle 100 is a part for an operator to hold, and in this embodiment, the handle 100 is bent in the same direction as the bending direction of the torch body 200. The handle 100 holds the torch body 200 so as to hold the base end portion thereof, and the base end portion of the torch body 200 enters the internal space of the handle 100. The handle 100 also has an operation switch 150 at a position where it can be easily pushed with the index finger of the operator holding the handle 100.

  The cable 400 is inserted into the internal space of the handle 100 from the rear end portion of the handle 100 and connected to the base end portion of the torch body 200. Further, when viewed from the handle 100, the cable 400 extends from the rear end of the handle 100 and is connected to a control device (not shown). The cable 400 is a known cable in which a feeding wire (not shown) of a welding wire (not shown), a power supply lead (not shown), a shield gas supply path (not shown), and the like are included coaxially, for example. Yes, and flexible as a whole.

  A welding wire (not shown) fed through the cable 400 is guided to the tip of the torch body 200 and sent from the tip of the torch body 200 while receiving the welding current supplied through the above-described feeding conductor. Is done. The welding wire (not shown) is turned on / off by operating an operation switch 150 provided on the handle 100.

  The shield gas sent through the shield gas supply path in the cable 400 is sent to the tip of the torch body 200 and blown out from the nozzle 210.

  The adapter 300 is connected to the rear end portion 101 of the handle 100 while holding the cable 400 extending from the rear end portion 101 side of the handle 100 for a predetermined length. The adapter 300 includes a first member 310 connected to the handle 100 and a second member 350 connected to the first member 310. The present invention has a main feature in the configuration of the adapter 300. This will be described below.

  As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the front part 311 of the first member 310 enters the rear end part 101 of the handle 100, and the front part 351 of the second member 350 covers the rear part of the first member 310. It is like that. The first member 310 and the second member 350 basically have a cylindrical shape through which the cable 400 is inserted.

The first member 310 is connected to the handle 100 via the first joint portion 500 so as to be rotatable in all directions with respect to the axis L1 of the rear end portion 101 of the handle 100. In the present embodiment, the first joint portion 500 includes a ball outer surface portion 320 formed on the first member 310 and a ball receiving portion 110 provided on the inner surface of the rear end portion 101 of the handle 100. The ball receiving portion 110 slidably receives the ball outer surface portion 320 described above. Thus, the first member 310 can rotate in any direction with respect to the axis L1 of the rear end portion 101 of the handle 100, with the center O ₁ of the sphere forming the ball outer surface portion 320 as a fulcrum.

  As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the first joint unit 500 includes first rotation angle regulating means 510 that regulates the pivotable angle of the first member 310 with respect to the handle 100 within a predetermined range. In the present embodiment, the first rotation angle restricting means 510 has a contact portion 312 with which the rear end edge 101a of the handle 100 partially contacts when the first member 310 rotates a predetermined angle with respect to the handle 100. It is configured by being provided on the outer surface of the first member 310. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, an annular step 312 a is provided between the constricted portion 313 that follows the ball outer surface portion 320 of the first member 310 and the enlarged diameter portion 314 that follows the constricted portion 313. The annular step portion 312a is provided with a function as the contact portion 312. Thus, no matter which direction the first member 310 rotates relative to the handle 100, the rear end edge 101a of the handle 100 abuts against the stepped portion 312a when the first member 310 rotates a predetermined angle, and the first member 310 Further rotation is prevented. The rotatable range of the first member 310 with respect to the handle 100 is set to a range of 10 to 25 degrees on one side and 20 to 50 degrees on both sides with respect to the axis L1 of the rear end portion 101 of the handle 100, for example. This rotatable range can be selected as appropriate by changing the formation position of the stepped portion 312a.

  The first joint portion 500 also includes an axis rotation range restricting unit 520 that restricts the axis rotation of the first member 310 around the axis L1 of the rear end portion 101 of the handle 100 within a predetermined range. In this embodiment, as shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotation range regulating means 520 is provided with a protrusion 321 on the ball outer surface portion 320 of the first member 310, while the inner surface of the ball receiving portion 110 of the handle 100. Further, it is configured by providing a recess 111 with which the projection 321 is engaged. The projections 321 are provided at two positions in the diameter direction of the ball outer surface portion 320, and the recesses 111 are also provided at two positions at positions corresponding to the diameter direction of the ball receiving portion 110. Yes. The concave portion 111 is constituted by a concave groove 111 a wider than the protrusion 321 and extends in the longitudinal direction of the handle 100. As a result, the handle can be moved within the range in which the protrusion 321 can move in the concave groove 111a regardless of whether the first member 310 is rotated relative to the handle 100 in the first joint portion 500 or not. The axial rotation of the first member 310 relative to 100 can be restricted within a predetermined range. The pivotable range of the first member 310 relative to the handle 100 can be set to a range of 20 to 50 degrees, for example. The pivotable range can be selected as appropriate by changing the width of the concave groove 111a with respect to the protrusion 321.

  The second member 350 is connected to the first member 310 via the second joint portion 600 so as to be rotatable about the lateral axis LL. As shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 4, in the present embodiment, the second joint portion 600 includes a support pin 315 provided in a laterally protruding manner on both side surfaces of the rear portion of the first member 310, and the second member 350. A support hole 352 is provided in the front side wall so as to rotatably receive the support pins 315. The protruding direction of the support pin 315 (the direction of the lateral axis LL) is a direction (a direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 1) substantially orthogonal to the bending direction of the torch body 200 (downward direction in FIG. 1). As a result, the second member 350 can rotate with respect to the first member 310 about the lateral axis LL formed by the support pin 315.

  The second joint portion 600 also includes second rotation angle restriction means 610 that restricts the rotation angle range of the second member 350 relative to the first member 310. In the present embodiment, the second rotation angle restricting means 610 is configured such that the front edge 351a of the second member 350 is obtained when the second member 350 rotates a predetermined angle with respect to the first member 310 about the lateral axis LL. , 351b is provided on the outer surface of the first member 310. More specifically, as shown in detail in FIG. 2, a step portion 316a is provided between a portion of the first member 310 covered by the second member 350 and the enlarged diameter portion 314 adjacent to the front thereof, and this step portion 316a. A function as the contact portion 316 is provided.

  In the present embodiment, in the second joint portion 600, the rotation angle range of the second member 350 relative to the first member 310 is set in the bending direction of the torch body 200 (downward in FIGS. 1 and 2; the direction of the arrow p). The range in which the torch body 200 can be rotated in the direction opposite to the bending direction of the torch body 200 (upward in FIGS. 1 and 2; the direction of the arrow q) is larger than the range in which the torch body 200 can be rotated. More specifically, in this embodiment, with respect to the axis L2 of the first member 310, the rotatable angle in the arrow p direction is 0 degree, and the rotatable range in the arrow q direction is, for example, 20 to 45 degrees. To be in the range. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, when the second member 350 is not rotated with respect to the first member 310, the front end edge lower side 351 b of the second member 350 is already at the step of the first member 310. While contacting the part 316a, a predetermined gap s is formed between the front end edge upper side 351a of the second member 350 and the step part 316a of the first member 310. In the present embodiment, the position of the support pin 315 (lateral axis LL) is set higher than the axis L2 of the first member 310, and the second member 350 does not have to be unduly enlarged. It can be rotated in the direction of arrow q in a relatively large angle range. As a result, the second member 350 is prevented from further rotating by the front end edge upper side 351a coming into contact with the step 316a of the first member 310. The range in which the second member 350 can rotate in the direction of the arrow q with respect to the axis L2 of the first member 310 can be selected as appropriate by changing the formation position of the stepped portion 316a.

  The handle 100 and the first member 310 and the second member 350 of the adapter 300 are obtained, for example, by resin molding, and each has a tubular shape as a whole, but the torch body 200 that extends and curves as a whole or the torch body 200. As for the handle 100 and the first member 310, the two members in the half state are in the middle so that the cable 400 connected to the cable 100 can be assembled in the handle 100 or the first member 310. By joining, a cylindrical form is realized. For example, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 112 in the longitudinal section of the handle 100 indicates a joint portion between two halved members, and a protrusion 112 a provided on one member is inserted into a hole 112 b provided on the other member. Then, the two are bonded or fused together. 2, 3, and 4, in the longitudinal section of the first member 310, reference numeral 322 indicates a joint portion between two members, and a protrusion 322 a provided on one member is inserted into a hole 322 b provided on the other member. The two are bonded or fused together. In the present embodiment, the second member 350 of the adapter 300 is a form that can be molded by resin alone, and the support pin 315 of the first member 310 is also supported by the second member 350 for assembly to the first member 310. Since it can be assembled by forcibly fitting into the hole 352, it is formed as a single cylindrical member, and a rubber extension 360, for example, is attached to the rear end. The second member 350 is inserted into the cable 400 in advance when the welding torch 10 is assembled.

  Next, the operation of the welding torch 10 having the above configuration will be described.

  The operator holds the handle 100 with, for example, the right hand, and turns on the operation switch 150 with the tip of the torch body 200 directed toward the welding target location. Then, the welding wire fed through the feeding pipe in the cable 400 is sent from the tip of the torch body 200, and the welding is performed by the heat generated by the arc discharge generated between the welding wire sent in this way and the object. The wire melts and the desired welding can be performed. The welded part is protected from the outside air by a shield gas blown from the nozzle 210 at the tip of the torch body 200. By moving the tip of the torch body 200 in a predetermined direction while maintaining this state, it is possible to form a continuous weld bead at a place to be welded.

  In the welding torch 10 of the present embodiment, the handle 100 is bent in the same direction as the bending direction of the torch body 200. As a result, the operator can more easily grip the handle 100 and perform the above-described welding operation. That is, in the case where the welding torch 10 is most frequently used to perform the welding operation with the tip of the torch body 200 facing downward or obliquely downward, the operator can easily handle without taking the downward posture unnecessarily. 100 can be gripped.

  Such a welding torch 10 takes various postures by an operator's hand in order to cope with various welding locations. On the other hand, since the cable 400 is extended from a predetermined control device and has a constant weight, the cable 400 tends to hang down due to this weight, or the cable 400 hits a welding object depending on the posture to be taken by the welding torch 10. For example, a force that greatly bends the cable 400 with respect to the handle 100 may act. In the welding torch 10 of the present embodiment, the cable 400 extending from the rear end portion 101 of the handle 100 includes a first member 310 connected to the handle 100 by the first joint portion 500 and a first member by the second joint portion 600. The first member 310 is inserted into and held by the adapter 300 including the second member 350 coupled to the 310, and the pivotable angle of the first member 310 relative to the handle 100 by the first joint portion 500 and the first member 310 by the second joint portion 600. Since the pivotable angle of the second member 350 with respect to is restricted, it is avoided that the cable 400 is greatly bent at one place. Therefore, it is possible to effectively avoid the problem that the cable 400 is greatly bent at one place, thereby increasing the feeding resistance of the welding wire.

  Moreover, since the cable 400 can be largely curved as a whole by the first joint part 500 and the second joint part 600, the degree of freedom in selecting the posture of the welding torch 10 by the operator is still ensured.

  Furthermore, in the welding torch 10 of the present embodiment, the rotation range of the second member 350 relative to the first member 310 by the second joint portion 600 is rotated in the opposite direction with respect to the bending direction of the torch body 200. Since the possible range is large, as can be understood from FIGS. 5 and 7, even if the handle 100 is curved in the same direction as the bending direction of the torch body 200, the cable 400 escapes and rotates in an appropriate direction. It is reduced that the cable 400 interferes with the welding work object and obstructs the posture holding and moving operation of the welding torch 10 by the operator.

  Further, in the welding torch 10 of the present embodiment, the first joint unit 500 enables the first member 310 to rotate in all directions within a predetermined angle range with respect to the handle 100, but the first member 310 with respect to the handle 100. As described above, the rotation of the second member 350 with respect to the first member 310 in the second joint portion 600 is related to the bending direction of the torch body 200. It is possible to always maintain a state in which the rotatable range in the opposite direction becomes large.

  Of course, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and all modifications within the scope of the matters described in the claims are included in the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, a so-called ball joint structure including a ball outer surface portion 320 and a bow receiving portion that receives the ball outer surface portion 320 is employed as the first joint portion 500. The general configuration is not limited to this, and a so-called universal joint structure may be adopted.

  In the above embodiment, the adapter 300 includes the first member 310 and the second member 350, but is connected to the second member 350 so as to be rotatable within a predetermined angle range about the lateral axis LL. It is of course within the scope of the present invention to provide the third member, or to further provide the fourth and fifth members.

  In the above-described embodiment, the rotation range restricting means 520 is provided in the first joint portion 500, but in addition to or separately from this, the second joint portion 600 has the second member 350 with respect to the first member 310. A rotation range restricting means can also be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Welding torch 100 Handle 110 Ball receiving part 150 Operation switch 200 Torch body 300 Adapter 310 1st member 312 Contact part 316 Contact part 320 Ball | bowl outer surface part 321 Protrusion (Axial rotation range control means)
350 Second member 352 Support hole 400 Cable 500 First joint portion 510 First rotation angle restriction means 520 Axis rotation range restriction means 600 Second joint portion 610 Second rotation angle restriction means L1 Axis (handle rear end)
LL Horizontal axis L2 Axis (first member)

Claims (15)

A handle,
A torch body extending from the tip side of the handle;
A cable extending from the rear end side of the handle;
An adapter connected to the rear end side of the handle and holding the cable;
Contains
The adapter includes a first member and a second member,
The handle and the one member are connected to each other by a first joint portion so as to be rotatable.
The welding torch characterized in that the first member and the second member are pivotally connected to each other by a second joint.   The welding torch according to claim 1, wherein the first joint portion rotates the first member in all directions with respect to the handle.   The welding torch according to claim 2, wherein the first joint portion includes first rotation angle restricting means for restricting a rotation angle of the first member with respect to the handle within a predetermined range.   4. The welding torch according to claim 3, wherein the first joint portion includes a rotation range restricting unit that restricts a rotation range of the first member relative to the handle around the axis of the handle within a predetermined range.   5. The first joint portion includes a ball outer surface portion provided on the first member and a ball receiving portion provided on the handle and slidably receiving the ball outer surface portion. Welding torch.   The welding torch according to claim 5, wherein a rotatable range of the first member by the first rotation angle restricting means is 20 to 50 degrees.   The first rotation angle restricting means has an abutting portion on the outer peripheral surface of the first member, where the end of the handle partially abuts when the first member rotates a predetermined angle with respect to the handle. The welding torch according to claim 6, wherein the welding torch is formed by providing.   The welding torch according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein an axis rotation range of the first member by the axis rotation range restricting means is 20 to 50 degrees.   The axial rotation range restricting means is constituted by a protrusion provided on the outer surface portion of the ball and a recess provided on the ball receiving portion, the protrusion engaging with and wider than the protrusion. The welding torch described in 1.   The welding torch according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the second joint portion rotates the second member with respect to the first member about a predetermined lateral axis.   11. The welding torch according to claim 10, wherein the second joint portion includes a second rotation angle regulating means for regulating a rotation angle of the second member with respect to the first member within a predetermined range.   The welding torch according to claim 11, wherein the torch body is curved in a predetermined direction, and the lateral axis extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to a bending direction of the torch body.   The welding torch according to claim 12, wherein the handle is bent in the same direction as a bending direction of the torch body.   The welding torch according to claim 13, wherein a rotatable range of the second member by the second rotation angle restricting means is 20 to 45 degrees.   The pivotable range of the second member by the second pivot angle restricting means is a pivotable angle in the direction opposite to the curve direction of the torch body than the pivotable angle in the curve direction of the torch body. The welding torch according to claim 14, wherein the length is larger.