FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to welding, and particularly to a handle for a welding torch. The present disclosure further concerns a welding torch.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Typically, the handle of a TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding torch is made of heat resistant material, such as polyamide. Due to the lever arm of the stiff welding torch, this kind of handle causes strain to the wrist and arm of the welder, resulting in fatigue and pain in the wrist and arm or the welder. The problem occurs even if the cable cover protecting the cable was connected to the handle by a joint piece. Similar strain is also caused by welding in difficult locations where the welding position needs to be changed frequently, even if the cable was made of very flexible material.

Document US 4,145,595 A1 discloses a gas-shielded arc-welding torch constituted by a holder section having a barrel adapted to retain a tungsten electrode and a handle section which supplies electric current to the holder section as well as an inert gas thereto, the holder section being bendable relative to the handle to assume any desired angular working position.

This kind of arrangement, however, does not overcome the problem relating to the need for change the welding position. Additionally, the useful life of a torch having a bendable neck is relatively short because of great deformations caused to the structure allowing the bending of the neck, resulting in fractures in the structure.

Another problem relating to the current handles is that they are usually hard and slippery material. Sliding and movement of the welding torch in the hand of the welder, due to the weight and lever arm of the welding torch, can reduce welding quality and may require pausing of the welding sequence. The slippery surface of typical handle material used in torch construction requires more pressure from the hand grip, which increases the strain to the hand and wrist.

There have been attempts to solve the problem relating to the slippery surface for example by adding polyurethane or thermoplastic elastomer regions to hard plastic handles for increasing friction. A hard plastic body is still required in order to pass the standard hot wire test. A problem with these additional high friction regions is their weak durability against mechanical stress, heat, dirt and sparks. Thus, these regions usually get dirty, wear off or get torn in heavy use. These problems stand out especially when high welding temperatures are used. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a handle for a welding torch and a welding torch so as to overcome the above problems.

The object of the disclosure is achieved by a handle for a welding torch and a welding torch which are characterized by what is stated in the independent claims. The preferred embodiments of the disclosure are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The disclosure is based on the idea of providing handle for a welding torch for arc welding, wherein the handle is arranged to receive a cable inside the handle and the handle comprises a body made of flexible material, such as silicone rubber, for allowing movement of the distal end of the handle in relation to a proximal end of the handle.

The term welding torch relates to both a welding torch, for example used for tungsten inert gas welding, and a welding gun, for example used for metal inert gas welding.

An advantage of the handle and the welding torch of the disclosure is that the flexible handle of a welding torch allows the cable to bend already within the handle itself, which reduces strain to the arm and wrist, resulting in less fatigue, pain and potential injury in the wrist and the arm of the welder.

The flexible material also provides a better grip from the handle than typical hard polyamide, thus reducing the pressure needed for holding the welding torch.

A flexible handle allows efficient and fast working in situations where welding is performed at locations where the working angle of the handle and neck of the torch need to be changed constantly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the disclosure will be described in greater detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a welding torch according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

Figure 2a illustrates a body of a handle of a welding torch according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

Figure 2b illustrates a first insert of a welding torch according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

Figure 2c illustrates a second insert of a welding torch according to an embodiment of the disclosure; Figure 2d illustrates a holder and a neck of a welding torch according to an embodiment, wherein a cable has been attached to the neck;

Figure 3 illustrates attachment in detached state of a cable protector to a handle of a welding torch according to an embodiment; and

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a handle of a welding torch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Handle for welding torch

The disclosure relates to a handle 1 1 for a welding torch 1 for arc welding, for example tungsten inert gas welding or metal inert gas welding. The handle 1 1 is arranged to be held by the user of the welding torch 1 during welding.

The welding torch 1 comprises a holder 12 for retaining a welding electrode 2 and for transmitting electric current to the welding electrode 2. For example, in tungsten inert gas welding or metal inert gas welding, the holder 12 also transmits shielding gas to the welding area.

The welding torch 1 comprises a neck 13 attached to the holder 12 for supporting the holder 12 and for transmitting electric current to the holder 12. For example, in tungsten inert gas welding or metal inert gas welding, the neck 13 also transmits shielding gas to holder 12. The neck 13 is arranged to be connected to a cable 3 for transmitting electric current to the neck 13. In tungsten inert gas welding, the cable 3 also transmits shielding gas to the neck 13. The connection between the cable 3 and the neck 13 is illustrated in Figure 2d.

The handle 1 1 is arranged to be attached to the neck 13 at a distal end 1 13 of the handle 1 1 . The distal end 1 13 is an end of the handle 1 1 located towards the welding area when the welding torch 1 is used for welding. The handle 1 1 is arranged to receive the cable 3 inside the handle 1 1 . The handle 1 1 supports both the neck 13 and the cable 3, when the cable 3 is received inside the handle 1 1 and connected to the neck 13.

The handle 1 1 comprises a body 1 15 made of flexible material for allowing movement of the distal end 1 13 of the handle 1 1 in relation to a proximal end 1 14 of the handle 1 1 . In other words, the body 1 15 is flexible so that it can be bent for allowing the distal end 1 13 to be moved in relation to the proximal end 1 14, or vice versa. The proximal end 1 14 is an end of the handle 1 1 located opposite the distal end 1 13. For example, the Shore A hardness of the body is between 30 to 70. According to an embodiment, the handle 1 1 is made of silicone rubber. Alternatively the handle 1 1 is made of some other insulating rubber. For example, the body 1 15 is formed by moulding. The body 1 15 is illustrated in Figure 2a.

According to an embodiment, the handle 1 1 comprises a first insert 1 1 1 attached to the body 1 15 at the distal end 1 13 of the handle 1 1 , wherein the first insert 1 1 1 is arranged to be attached to the neck 13. The purpose of the first insert 1 1 1 is to facilitate the attachment of the handle 1 1 to the neck 13. The first insert 1 1 1 is made of essentially rigid material, such as plastic. For example, the first insert 1 1 1 is attached to the body 1 15 by positive connection created during moulding of the body 1 15 at least partially around the first insert 1 1 1 , or by gluing the first insert 1 1 1 and the body 1 15 together. The first insert 1 1 1 is illustrated in Figure 2b.

According to an embodiment, the first insert 1 1 1 comprises a trigger 1 1 1 a for controlling the flow of the electric current. The first insert 1 1 1 may also comprise controls (not shown in the figures) for controlling the welding process or a screen (not shown in the figures) for viewing data relating to the welding process.

According to an embodiment, the handle 1 1 is arranged to be attached to a cable protector 4, or cable cover, at the proximal end 1 14 of the handle 1 1 . The purpose of the cable protector 4 is to protect the cable 3 from mechanical stresses occurring during welding. Usually the cable protector 4 is made of leather.

According to an embodiment, the handle 1 1 comprises a second insert 1 12 attached to the body 1 15 at the proximal end 1 14 of the handle 1 1 , wherein the second insert 1 12 is arranged to be attached to the cable protector 4. The purpose of the second insert 1 12 is to facilitate the attachment of the handle 1 1 to the cable protector 4. The second insert 1 12 is made of essentially rigid material, such as plastic. For example, the second insert 1 12 is attached to the body 1 15 by positive connection during moulding of the body 1 15 at least partially around the second insert 1 12, or by gluing the second insert 1 12 and the body 1 15 together. For example, the second insert 1 12 is attached to the cable protector 4 by clamping the cable protector 4 between the second insert 1 12 and a clamp 5. The second insert 1 12 is illustrated in Figure 2c. The connection between the second insert 1 12 and the cable protector 4 is illustrated in fig 3.

According to an alternative embodiment, the handle 1 1 is arranged to receive a sleeve 14 inside the body 1 15 at the proximal end 1 14 of the handle 1 1 . The purpose of the sleeve 14 is to facilitate the attachment of the handle 1 1 to the cable protector 4. The sleeve 14 is made of essentially rigid material, such as polyamide. The body 1 15 and the cable protector 4 are arranged to be clamped between the sleeve 14 and a clamp 5, when the handle 1 1 is attached to the cable protector 4.

According to an embodiment, the handle 1 1 comprises a pattern 1 16 on at least part of the external surface of the handle 1 1 for improving grip on the handle 1 1 . Preferably the pattern 1 16 is arranged on the surface of the body 1 15.

According to an embodiment, the handle 1 1 comprises two lateral protrusions 1 17 arranged at sides of the handle 1 1 extending away from each other for improving grip on the handle 1 1 . Preferably the protrusions are arranged to the body 1 15. The protrusions are illustrated in Figure 4.

Welding torch

The disclosure relates also to a welding torch 1 for arc welding, for example tungsten inert gas welding.

The welding torch 1 comprises a holder 12 for retaining welding electrode 2 and for transmitting electric current to the welding electrode 2.

The welding torch 1 comprises a neck 13 attached to the holder 12 for supporting the holder 12 and for transmitting electric current to the holder 12. For example, in tungsten inert gas welding or metal inert gas welding, the neck 13 also transmits shielding gas to holder 12. The neck 13 is arranged to be connected to a cable 3 for transmitting electric current to the neck 13. The connection between the cable 3 and the neck 13 is illustrated in Figure 2d. According to an embodiment, the neck 13 comprises a valve (not shown in the figures) for controlling the flow of the shielding gas.

The welding torch 1 comprises a handle 1 1 attached to the neck 13 at a distal end 1 13 of the handle 1 1 . The distal end 1 13 is an end of the handle 1 1 located towards the welding area when the welding torch 1 is used for welding. The handle 1 1 is arranged to receive the cable 3 inside the handle 1 1 . The handle 1 1 supports both the neck 13 and the cable 3, when the cable 3 is received inside the handle 1 1 and connected to the neck 13.

The handle 1 1 comprises a body 1 15 made of flexible material for allowing movement of the distal end 1 13 of the handle 1 1 in relation to a proximal end 1 14 of the handle 1 1 . In other words, the body 1 15 is flexible so that the distal end 1 13 can be moved in relation to the proximal end 1 14, or vice versa. The proximal end 1 14 is an end of the handle 1 1 located opposite the distal end 1 13. According to an embodiment, the handle is made of silicone rubber. For example, the body 1 15 is formed by moulding. The body 1 15 is illustrated in Figure 2a. According to an embodiment, the cable 3 is arranged to transmit shielding gas to the neck 13, the neck 13 is arranged to transmit the shielding gas to the holder 12, and the holder 12 is arranged to transmit the shielding gas to the welding area. The shielding gas is used for example in tungsten inert gas welding.

According to an embodiment, the cable 3 is arranged to transmit cooling fluid, such as cooling liquid or cooling gas, to the neck 13, and the neck 13 is arranged to transmit the cooling fluid to the holder 12.

According to an embodiment, the handle 1 1 comprises a first insert 1 1 1 attached to the body 1 15 at the distal end 1 13 of the handle 1 1 , wherein the first insert 1 1 1 is arranged to be attached to the neck 13. The purpose of the first insert 1 1 1 is to facilitate the attachment of the handle 1 1 to the neck 13. The first insert 1 1 1 is made of essentially rigid material, such as plastic. For example, the first insert 1 1 1 is attached to the body 1 15 by positive connection created during moulding of the body 1 15 at least partially around the first insert 1 1 1 , or by gluing the first insert 1 1 1 and the body 1 15 together. The first insert 1 1 1 is illustrated in Figure 2b.

According to an embodiment, the first insert 1 1 1 comprises a trigger 1 1 1 a for controlling the flow of the electric current. The first insert 1 1 1 may also comprise controls (not shown in the figures) for controlling the welding process or a screen (not shown in the figures) for viewing data relating to the welding process.

According to an embodiment, the handle 1 1 is arranged to be attached to a cable protector 4, or cable cover, at the proximal end 1 14 of the handle 1 1 . The purpose of the cable protector 4 is to protect the cable 3 from mechanical stresses occurring during welding. Usually the cable protector 4 is made of leather.

According to an embodiment, the handle 1 1 comprises a second insert 1 12 attached to the body 1 15 at the proximal end 1 14 of the handle 1 1 , wherein the second insert 1 12 is arranged to be attached to the cable protector 4. The purpose of the second insert 1 12 is to facilitate the attachment of the handle 1 1 to the cable protector 4. The second insert 1 12 is made of essentially rigid material, such as plastic. For example, the second insert 1 12 is attached to the body 1 15 by positive connection during moulding of the body 1 15 at least partially around the second insert 1 12, or by gluing the second insert 1 12 and the body 1 15 together. For example, the second insert 1 12 is attached to the cable protector 4 by clamping the cable protector 4 between the second insert 1 12 and a clamp 5. The second insert 1 12 is illustrated in Figure 2c. The connection between the second insert 1 12 and the cable protector 4 is illustrated in fig 3. According to another embodiment, the welding torch 1 comprises a sleeve 14 arranged inside the body 1 15 of the handle 1 1 at the proximal end 1 14 of the handle 1 1 , wherein the sleeve 14 is made of rigid material, such as polyamide, and the body 1 15 and the cable protector 4 are arranged to be clamped between the second insert 1 12 and a clamp 5, when the handle 1 1 is attached to the cable protector 4.

According to an embodiment, the handle 1 1 comprises a pattern 1 16 on at least part of the external surface of the handle 1 1 for improving grip on the handle 1 1. Preferably the pattern 1 16 is arranged on the surface of the body 1 15.

According to an embodiment, the handle 1 1 comprises two lateral protrusions 1 17 arranged at the sides of the handle 1 1 extending away from each other for improving grip on the handle 1 1 . Preferably the protrusions are arranged to the body 1 15. The protrusions are illustrated in Figure 4.