Cutting and gouging torch

Claim 2

A cutting and gouging torch comprising: an elongated metal body having an internal passage extending longitudinally thereof; said body having a connection at one end for connecting said body to an electrical power source and the corresponding end of said passage to a source of high pressure air; a hollow handle of insulating material; means retaining at least a portion of said body within said handle; the upper, forward portion of said body opposite said one end containing a recess having a lower portion and an upper portion extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom in the form of a frustoconical surface with said body internal passage connecting to said lower recess portion; a nozzle head having a frustoconical lower portion complementary in shape to that of said upper body recess portion slidably supported therewithin for rotation about its central axis and having an upper portion with a peripheral sidewall extending vertically above said body; said head being adapted to support an electrode with its axis aligned in a predetermined direction transversely of said head; the upper sidewall of said head having at least one orifice from which a stream of air is emitted to pass substantially parallel to said predetermined direction of the axis of an electrode supported by said head; said head containing an internal passage conneCting said orifice to said lower recess portion and said body internal passage; clamping means affixed to said body for maintaining an electrode in gripping engagement with said nozzle head with the electrode in said predetermined direction and a portion of the electrode length exposed to extend away from said head substantially parallel to the air stream emitted from said orifice; and valve means for controlling air flowing through said body internal passage from the high pressure air source.

Claim 3

A cutting and gouging torch as described in claim 1 wherein the lower portion of said body recess is a circular bore extending downwardly into the body from the lower perimeter of said frustoconical shaped upper portion and containing an aperture defining the end of said internal passage; said head has a central stem protruding downwardly concentrically within said bore, thereby establishing an annular passage concentrically around said head central stem; said head contains a transversely extending groove in which an electrode is clampingly retained by said clamping means; said orifice being the outer extremity of a duct extending into the upper portion of said head parallel to said groove and then vertically into communication with said annular passage beneath the lower surface of said head; and fastening means connecting into said central head stem for rotatably connecting said head to said body for rotation about the axis of the stem.

Claim 4

A cutting and gouging torch as described in claim 2 wherein said groove extends transversely across the top surface of said nozzle head and said clamping means includes a clamping arm of electrically conducting material pivotally mounted on said body in an overlying relationship to said nozzle head with the arm pivoting toward and away from said head; a clamping lever of insulating material affixed to said arm and extending over said handle; and biasing means normally pivoting said clamping arm toward said nozzle head to clamp an electrode positioned in said groove between said head and said clamping arm.

Claim 5

A cutting and gouging torch as described in claim 3 wherein said handle is a hollow tube having a longitudinally tapered interior in which the internal diameter decreases in the direction of the tube length from one end; said body has a front tubular portion extending forwardly of a rear portion of the body at said one end in which said front portion has a substantially smaller cross section than said rear portion of the body; said recess being at the forward end of said front body portion; said rear body portion has a circumferential flange extending outwardly from adjacent the end of said body and of the same diameter as the interior of said tube intermediate its ends; the front tubular portion of said body has at least one projection extending radially outwardly of said body transversely thereof in which the outer periphery defines an arc having the same radius as the interior of the larger end of said tube; and wedging means extend between said tube and said body intermediate said flange and body projection for wedgingly retaining said body within said tube handle with said body projection at said one end of said handle of greater interior diameter and the remainder of the body within said handle with said flange engaging the tube interior.

Claim 6

A cutting and gouging torch as described in claim 4 wherein said body internal passage is a straight and continuous passage extending internally of said body, and said valve means is a sliding spool valve contained in a cavity extending transversely through said read body portion and adjacent handle in which the land and groove of the spool of said valve being alternately movable into alignment with said body internal passage.

Claim 7

In a cutting and gouging torch having an electrode supporting head mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the torch in which the head grippingly engages an elongated electrodE having a portion of its length exposed to project freely toward the work so an arc may be struck and maintained between the electrode tip and the work, and the head contains at least one air nozzle connected to a source of high pressure air which flows in a stream from the nozzle along the exposed length of the electrode toward its tip substantially parallel to the electrode axis and blows melted metal from beneath the arc; the improvement of said head being rotatably supported within an upwardly facing recess at one end of a metal body connected to a source of electrical power and affixed to a handle of said torch; the upper wall of said recess sloping upwardly and outwardly to define a frustoconical surface; the lower portion of said head having a frustoconically shaped surface complementary in shape to that of said recess and in which said head lower portion is slidably supported for rotation about its axis; securing means rotatably connecting said head to said body permitting the frustoconical surfaces of said head and recess to slide rotatably one against the other; the upper portion of said head projecting above said body being defined by a vertically extending sidewall containing at least one orifice; and said head having an internal nozzle channel extending between said orifice and the lower portion of said head within said recess for communication with an air passage extending through said body from said recess to a connection to an air supply.

Claim 8

In a cutting and gouging torch having an electrode supporting head mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the torch in which the head grippingly engages an elongated electrodE having a portion of its length exposed to project freely toward the work so an arc may be struck and maintained between the electrode tip and the work, and the head contains at least one air nozzle connected to a source of high pressure air which flows in a stream from the nozzle along the exposed length of the electrode toward its tip substantially parallel to the electrode axis and blows melted metal from beneath the arc; the improvement of said head being rotatably supported within an upwardly facing recess at one end of a metal body connected to a source of electrical power and affixed to a handle of said torch; the upper wall of said recess sloping upwardly and outwardly to define a frustoconical surface; the lower portion of said head having a frustoconically shaped surface complementary in shape to that of said recess and in which said head lower portion is slidably supported for rotation about its axis; securing means rotatably connecting said head to said body permitting the frustoconical surfaces of said head and recess to slide rotatably one against the other; the upper portion of said head projecting above said body being defined by a vertically extending sidewall containing at least one orifice; and said head having an internal nozzle channel extending between said orifice and the lower portion of said head within said recess for communication with an air passage extending through said body from said recess to a connection to an air supply.

Claim 9

The improved cutting and gouging torch described in claim 6 wherein said recess extends downwardly into said body from the lower edge of said upper wall as a circular recess of which the rear wall is pierced by said air passage; said head has a central stem protruding downwardly concentrically within said bore thereby establishing an annular passage concentrically around said head stem; said head contains a transversely extending groove in which the electrode is held by a clamping means; said orifice being the outer extremity of a duct extending into the upper portion of said head parallel to said groove and then vertically into communication with said annular passage beneath the lower surface of said head; and said securing means extends into said central head portion from the body portion below said bore securing said head to said body for rotation within said recess.

Claim 10

In a cutting and gouging torch having a handle supporting a clamping means for gripping an elongated electrode having a portion of its length exposed and projecting freely toward the work so an arc may be struck and maintained between the electrode tip and work, and at least one air nozzle means connected to a source of high pressure air which flows in a stream from said nozzle means along the exposed length of the electrode toward its tip substantially parallel to the electrode axis and blows melted metal from beneath the arc; the improvement of a swivel device connecting said clamping means and nozzle to an electrical power cable and a source of high pressure air in which said device comprises a length of torsionally resilient cable concentrically contained within a flexible conduit hose; an electrically conductive coupling permanently affixed to each of the two ends of said cable and having a longitudinally extending air passage with one end in communication with the space exteriorly of said cable; an elongated electrically conductive terminal having a fitting at one end disengagably connected to a first of said pairs of couplings and having an internal air passage extending longitudinally thereof communicating with said first coupling air passage; the other end of said terminal having means for being connected to said torch clamping means with the internal passage of said terminal communicating with said air nozzle; means rotatably connecting said terminal intermediate its ends to and within one end of said hose for forming an airtight seal therewith such that said terminal aNd cable attached thereto by said coupling can rotate relative to said hose about their respective longitudinal axes; an electrically conductive connector having a fitting at one end disengagably connected to the other of said pairs of couplings and having a longitudinally extending air passage communicating with the air passage of said other coupling; the other end of said connector having means for connecting to a power source and connecting its air passage to a source of high pressure air; and means for connecting said connector to and within the other end of said hose in an airtight relationship.

Claim 11

In a cutting and gouging torch having a handle supporting a clamping means for gripping an elongated electrode having a portion of its length exposed and projecting freely toward the work so an arc may be struck and maintained between the electrode tip and work, and at least one air nozzle means connected to a source of high pressure air which flows in a stream from said nozzle means along the exposed length of the electrode toward its tip substantially parallel to the electrode axis and blows melted metal from beneath the arc; the improvement of a swivel device connecting said clamping means and nozzle to an electrical power cable and a source of high pressure air in which said device comprises a length of torsionally resilient cable concentrically contained within a flexible conduit hose; an electrically conductive coupling permanently affixed to each of the two ends of said cable and having a longitudinally extending air passage with one end in communication with the space exteriorly of said cable; an elongated electrically conductive terminal having a fitting at one end disengagably connected to a first of said pairs of couplings and having an internal air passage extending longitudinally thereof communicating with said first coupling air passage; the other end of said terminal having means for being connected to said torch clamping means with the internal passage of said terminal communicating with said air nozzle; means rotatably connecting said terminal intermediate its ends to and within one end of said hose for forming an airtight seal therewith such that said terminal aNd cable attached thereto by said coupling can rotate relative to said hose about their respective longitudinal axes; an electrically conductive connector having a fitting at one end disengagably connected to the other of said pairs of couplings and having a longitudinally extending air passage communicating with the air passage of said other coupling; the other end of said connector having means for connecting to a power source and connecting its air passage to a source of high pressure air; and means for connecting said connector to and within the other end of said hose in an airtight relationship.

Claim 12

The improved cutting and gouging torch described in claim 8 wherein said means rotatably connecting said terminal within said hose comprises a cylindrical sleeve mounted concentrically around a cylindrical surface of said terminal intermediate its ends such that said sleeve and terminal are freely rotatable in an airtight relationship, and means for securing said sleeve within and to one end of said hose in an airtight relationship.

Claim 13

The improved cutting and gouging torch described in claim 9 wherein said couplings each have a hollow female threaded connection in one end and said terminal and said connector each have a threaded male connection at one end that thread into said female connections, said coupling air passage extending from the internal end of each of said female connections in communication with the internal air passage of the male connection of the respective terminal and connector to the exterior of each said coupling overlying the cable.

Claim 14

In a cutting and gouging torch having a handle supporting an elongated body with a clamping means for gripping an elongated electrode having a portion of its length exposed to project freely toward the work so an arc may be struck and maintained between the electrode tip and work, and at least one air nozzle means on said body connected through an internal passage extending longitudinally of said body to a source of high pressure air which flows in a free stream from said nozzle means along the exposed length of the electrode toward its tip substantially parallel to the electrode axis and blows metal from beneath the arc; the improvement wherein said handle is a hollow tube with a longitudinally tapered interior having an internal diameter which decreases in the direction of the tube length from one end; said body has rear collar means adjacent one end portion projecting transversely outwardly from said body circumferentially thereof with the diameter of said rear collar means being the same as the interior of said tube intermediate its ends; said body has front collar means spaced from said rear collar means projecting transversely outwardly from said body at least partially circumferentially thereof with the diameter of said front collar means being substantially the same as that of said tube one end of greater diameter; said body being positioned within said tube with said collar means in contact with the interior wall of said tube; and a wedging element connected to said body intermediate said collar means for controlled movement transversely of said body, whereby the outer end of said wedging element can be brought into wedging engagement with said tube interior to secure the body within the tube.

Claim 15

In a cutting and gouging torch having a handle supporting an elongated body with a clamping means for gripping an elongated electrode having a portion of its length exposed to project freely toward the work so an arc may be struck and maintained between the electrode tip and work, and at least one air nozzle means on said body connected through an internal passage extending longitudinally of said body to a source of high pressure air which flows in a free stream from said nozzle means along the exposed length of the electrode toward its tip substantially parallel to the electrode axis and blows metal from beneath the arc; the improvement wherein said handle is a hollow tube with a longitudinally tapered interior having an internal diameter which decreases in the direction of the tube length from one end; said body has rear collar means adjacent one end portion projecting transversely outwardly from said body circumferentially thereof with the diameter of said rear collar means being the same as the interior of said tube intermediate its ends; said body has front collar means spaced from said rear collar means projecting transversely outwardly from said body at least partially circumferentially thereof with the diameter of said front collar means being substantially the same as that of said tube one end of greater diameter; said body being positioned within said tube with said collar means in contact with the interior wall of said tube; and a wedging element connected to said body intermediate said collar means for controlled movement transversely of said body, whereby the outer end of said wedging element can be brought into wedging engagement with said tube interior to secure the body within the tube.

Claim 16

The improved cutting and gouging torch described in claim 11 wherein said clamping means includes a nozzle head mounted for rotation within a recess in the upper front portion of said body in that end portion opposite to said rear collar means; the upper wall of said recess sloping outwardly and upwardly to define a frustoconical surface; the lower portion of said head having a frustoconically shaped surface complementary in shape to that of said recess and in which said head lower portion is slidably supported for rotation about its axis; the upper portion of said head projecting above said body being defined by a vertically extending sidewall; aNd means for securing said head to said body for rotation of the lower portion of said head within said recess; and said air nozzle means includes an orifice in said head sidewall connecting to an internal nozzle channel within said head with said channel extending from said orifice to the lower portion of said head within the recess for communication with the longitudinally extending air passage within said body.

Claim 17

The improvement in the cutting and gouging torch described in claim 12 wherein said clamping means also includes a clamping arm of electrically conducting material pivotally mounted on said body in an overlying relationship to the front end portion to extend above said nozzle head with the arm being pivotally movable toward and away from said head; a clamping lever of insulating material affixed to said clamping arm and extending over said handle; the top surface of said nozzle head containing a groove substantially parallel to the direction of the airstream emitted from said orifice; and biasing means normally pivoting said clamping arm toward said nozzle head to grip the electrode in said groove between said head and said clamping arm.

Claim 18

A cutting and gouging torch head on which an electrode is clampingly held by clamping means in an electric arc-air cutting and gouging torch having an elongated metal body with connections to an electric power source and between an air source and internal passages within the body; said head comprising an upper portion defined by a peripheral sidewall that extends vertically above a recess in said body in which said head is rotatably seated; an integral lower portion underlying said upper portion having a frustoconically shaped lower face extending downwardly and inwardly from the sidewall of said upper portion and complementary in shape to that of a frustoconically shaped upper portion of a recess that extends downwardly into said body into communication with the internal air passages; and a centrally located stem smaller in diameter than said recess and extending downwardly concentrically within said recess below said head lower portion; said stem containing a central bore extending partially upwardly from its lower end and threaded to engage a screw fastener that rotatably holds said head onto the body; the upper portion of said head containing a plurality of spaced-apart, parallel nozzle passages extending into the upper portion of said body from said sidewall; and said head having a groove extending upwardly from its lower face between said frustoconically shaped face and said stem into communication with each of said nozzle passages.

Claim 19

A cutting and gouging torch head on which an electrode is clampingly held by clamping means in an electric arc-air cutting and gouging torch having an elongated metal body with connections to an electric power source and between an air source and internal passages within the body; said head comprising an upper portion defined by a peripheral sidewall that extends vertically above a recess in said body in which said head is rotatably seated; an integral lower portion underlying said upper portion having a frustoconically shaped lower face extending downwardly and inwardly from the sidewall of said upper portion and complementary in shape to that of a frustoconically shaped upper portion of a recess that extends downwardly into said body into communication with the internal air passages; and a centrally located stem smaller in diameter than said recess and extending downwardly concentrically within said recess below said head lower portion; said stem containing a central bore extending partially upwardly from its lower end and threaded to engage a screw fastener that rotatably holds said head onto the body; the upper portion of said head containing a plurality of spaced-apart, parallel nozzle passages extending into the upper portion of said body from said sidewall; and said head having a groove extending upwardly from its lower face between said frustoconically shaped face and said stem into communication with each of said nozzle passages.

Claim 20

The cutting and gouging torch head of claim 14 wherein said stem is sufficiently long to extend through a hole of substantially the same diameter in the bottom of said recess to protrude slightly below the lower surface of said body.

Claim 21

In a cutting and gouging torch head containing a plurality of nozzle passages extending transversely into the head from a forward sidewall area into communication with a vertically extending groove within the head that terminates in a lower face overlying a recess in the upper surface of a head supporting electric arc-air cutting and gouging torch body having connections to an electrical source and between an air source and internal air passages within the body, the improvement wherein the lower face of said head extends downwardly and inwardly from the annular, vertically extending sidewall area of the head that lies above said torch body, said lower face having a frustoconically shaped portion that is complementary in shape to that of the upper face of said recess that extends downwardly into said body into communication with said internal air passages, an integral central stem, smaller in diameter than the minimum diameter of said frustoconically shaped lower head face and minimum diameter of said recess, extending downwardly from the central, lower portion of said head below said frustocOnical face to lie concentrically within a lower portion of said recess, the lower portion of said stem containing a central bore extending partially upwardly from its lower end and threaded for engaging a screw fastener that rotatably holds said head onto said body, and said groove extends in an arc about the axis of said stem upwardly into communication with each of said nozzle passages from the lower face of said head in an area between said frustoconical portion and said stem.

Claim 22

In a cutting and gouging torch head containing a plurality of nozzle passages extending transversely into the head from a forward sidewall area into communication with a vertically extending groove within the head that terminates in a lower face overlying a recess in the upper surface of a head supporting electric arc-air cutting and gouging torch body having connections to an electrical source and between an air source and internal air passages within the body, the improvement wherein the lower face of said head extends downwardly and inwardly from the annular, vertically extending sidewall area of the head that lies above said torch body, said lower face having a frustoconically shaped portion that is complementary in shape to that of the upper face of said recess that extends downwardly into said body into communication with said internal air passages, an integral central stem, smaller in diameter than the minimum diameter of said frustoconically shaped lower head face and minimum diameter of said recess, extending downwardly from the central, lower portion of said head below said frustocOnical face to lie concentrically within a lower portion of said recess, the lower portion of said stem containing a central bore extending partially upwardly from its lower end and threaded for engaging a screw fastener that rotatably holds said head onto said body, and said groove extends in an arc about the axis of said stem upwardly into communication with each of said nozzle passages from the lower face of said head in an area between said frustoconical portion and said stem.