Automatic stud welding gun with perforated stud collet

Claim 1

In combination with an automatic welding gun for end welding studs to a panel, having wall structure defining a conduit into which said studs are fed by gaseous pressure and means connecting said conduit with a source of studs and a source of gaseous pressure, a stud retaining collet comprising wall structure defining a tubular member having a large diameter portion of substantially constant cross section interconnecting with said conduit at one end thereof and into which said stud is fed by the gaseous pressure, said large diameter portion extending to a smaller diameter portion at the opposite end thereof for gripping a stud fed to the collet, and a plurality of circular openings formed in the large diameter portion of said collet wall structure and equally spaced about the circumference thereof for allowing gas flowing into said collet from said conduit to vent through said wall structure during the feed of a stud to said collet.