Flame cutting tip and torch holder

Claim 2

A holder comprising: a body (10) with a linearly extending bore (12) therethrough, said bore being adapted for receiving a first member (14) from a first end (16) of said body (10) and a second member (18) from a second end (20) of said body (10); an actuating member (22) rotatably mounted to the body (10); means (26) for biasing the actuating member (22) into a first rotational position relative said body (10), said actuating member (22) being rotatable into a second rotational position by exerting a force thereto to overcome said biasing means (26); clamping means (55) normally engaging said first member (14) for holding said first member (14) in a fixed position relative to said second member (18) when said actuating member (22) is maintained in its first rotational position; and cam means (48) responsive to rotation of said actuating member (22) to its second rotational position for releasing said clamping means (55) from said first member (14) for permitting removal of said first member (14) from said holder.

Claim 3

A holder as in claim 1, wherein the biasing means (26) comprises a torsion spring (26) interconnected between said body (12) and said actuating member (22).

Claim 4

A holder as in claim 2, wherein said clamping means (55) includes a plurality of cam follower means (56) which reciprocate radially in response to movement of the cam means (48) for clamping the first member (14) in abutting relation against the second member (18) when said actuating member (22) is rotated into said first rotational position and for releasing the first member (14) when said actuating member (22) is rotated into said second rotational position.

Claim 5

A holder as in claim 3, wherein the cam means (48) defines slots (60) extending radially outwardly with respect to the bore (12) axis, said cam follower means (56) ride in said slots (60), at said second position the cam follower means (56) are forced radially outwardly in the slots (60), and at the first position the cam follower means (56) are forced radially inwardly in the slots (60).

Claim 6

A holder as in claim 4, wherein the bore (12) includes a plurality of screw threads (38) to firmly engage the second member (18), said screw threads (38) running in a direction counter to the rotational direction for moving said actuating member (22) from the first to the second rotational position thereof.

Claim 7

A holder as in claim 3, wherein said cam follower means (56) each project into said bore (12) and into wedging contact with said first member (14) when said actuating member (22) is in said first position and are withdrawn from said wedging contact when said actuating member (22) is in said second position to allow substantially unrestricted removal of said first member (14) from said bore (12).

Claim 8

A holder as in claim 6, wherein said cam follower means (56) include a plurality of clamping elements (58) which comprise a first member (14) contacting chamfer surface (66) extending toward the bore (12) axis.

Claim 9

A holder as in claim 7, wherein the first member (14) comprises a tubular barrel (69) with a shoulder (68) about one end; and said clamping elements (58) wedge against said first member (14) shoulder (68) at a bearing position upon the chamfered surface (66) of said clamping elements (58) and a radially inward edge (70) of each of said clamping elements (58) is spaced radially outwardly from said barrel (69) when said actuating member (22) is in the first position to form a continuous fluid sealing flow passage (28) through said first member (14) and said second member (18).

Claim 10

A holder as in claim 8, further comprising means (50) for restricting the clamping elements (58) to travel only in a radial direction.

Claim 11

A holder as in claim 9, wherein said restricting means (50) comprises a plurality of radially extending slots (50) in said body (10).

Claim 12

A holder as in claim 1, wherein the body (10) includes means (42-44) for flowing an annular curtain of water around the first member (14).

Claim 13

A holder as in claim 1, wherein the actuating member (22) comprises a ring (22).

Claim 14

A flame cutting (14) tip and torch (18) means holder, comprising: a body (10) with a linearly extending bore (12) therethrough, said bore (12) receiving a flame cutting tip (14) from a first end (16) of said body (10) and flame cutting torch means (18) from a second end (20) of said body (10); an actuating member (22) rotatably mounted to the body (10) adjacent the first end (16) thereof; means (26) for biasing the actuating member (22) into a first rotational position relative to said body (10), said actuating member (22) being rotatable into a second rotational position by exerting a force to overcome said biasing means (26); clamping means normally engaging said tip (14) for holding said tip (14) in a fixed position relative to said torch means (18) to form a continuous fluid sealing flow passage (28) through said tip (14) and said torch means (18) when said actuating member (22) is maintained in its first rotational position; and cam means (48) responsive to rotation of said actuating member (22) to its second rotational position for releasing said clamping means (55) from said tip (14) for permitting removal of said tip (14) from said holder.

Claim 15

A flame cutting (14) tip and torch (18) means holder, comprising: a body (10) with a linearly extending bore (12) therethrough, said bore (12) receiving a flame cutting tip (14) from a first end (16) of said body (10) and flame cutting torch means (18) from a second end (20) of said body (10); an actuating member (22) rotatably mounted to the body (10) adjacent the first end (16) thereof; means (26) for biasing the actuating member (22) into a first rotational position relative to said body (10), said actuating member (22) being rotatable into a second rotational position by exerting a force to overcome said biasing means (26); clamping means normally engaging said tip (14) for holding said tip (14) in a fixed position relative to said torch means (18) to form a continuous fluid sealing flow passage (28) through said tip (14) and said torch means (18) when said actuating member (22) is maintained in its first rotational position; and cam means (48) responsive to rotation of said actuating member (22) to its second rotational position for releasing said clamping means (55) from said tip (14) for permitting removal of said tip (14) from said holder.

Claim 16

A holder as in claim 13, wherein the biasing means (26) comprises a torsion spring (26) interconnected between said body (10) and said actuating member (22).

Claim 17

A holder as in claim 14, wherein said clamping means (55) include a plurality of cam follower means (56) which reciprocate radially in response to movement of the cam means (48) for clamping the tip (14) in fluid sealing abutting relation against the torch means (18) when said actuating member (22) is rotated into said first rotational position and for releasing the tip (14) when said actuating member (22) is rotated into said second rotational position.

Claim 18

A holder as in claim 15, wherein the cam means (48) define slots (50) extending radially outwardly with respect to the bore (12) axis, said cam follower means (56) ride in said slots (50), at said second position the cam follower means (56) are forced radially outwardly in the slots (50), and at the first position are forced radially inwardly in the slots (50).

Claim 19

A holder as in claim 16, wherein the bore (12) includes a plurality of screw threads (38) to firmly engage the cutting torch means (18), said screw threads (38) running in a direction counter to the rotational direction for moving said actuating member (22) from the first to the second position thereof.

Claim 20

A holder as in claim 15, wherein said cam follower means (56) each project into said bore (12) and into wedging contact with said tip (14) when said actuating member (22) is in said first position and are withdrawn from said wedging contact when said actuating member (22) is in said second position to allow substantially unrestricted removal of said cutting tip (14) from said bore (12).

Claim 21

A holder as in claim 18, wherein said cam follower means (56) include clamping elements (58) which comprise a cutting tip (14) contacting surface (64) extending toward the bore (12) axis.

Claim 22

A holder as in claim 19, wherein the cutting tip (14) comprises a tubular body (69) with a shoulder (68) about one end; and said clamping elements (58) wedge against said cutting tip (14) shoulder (68) at a bearing position upon a chamfer surface (66) of said clamping elements (58) when said actuating member (22) is in the first position.

Claim 23

A holder as in claim 20, further comprising: means (50) for restricting the clamping elements (58) to travel only in a radial direction.

Claim 24

A holder as in claim 21, wherein said restricting means (50) comprises a plurality of radially extending slots (50) in said body.

Claim 25

A holder as in claim 13, wherein the body (10)includes means (42-44) for flowing an annular curtain of water around the cutting tip (14).

Claim 26

A holder as in claim 13, wherein the actuating member (22) comprises a ring (22).