Gas torch

Claim 1

A gas torch for using a gaseous fuel, said torch including elongated wand defining pipe means including inlet and outlet ends, said inlet end being adapted for connection with a source of flammable gas under pressure, said outlet end including discharge means for discharging a jet of said gas, a generally cylindrical shroud loosely telescoped over said outlet end and discharge means, a shroud support structure carried by said pipe means intermediate said inlet and outlet ends, said support structure defining a generally cylindrical recess opening outwardly at one end thereof along said pipe means toward said discharge means, one end of said shroud being removably and supportively telescoped in said recess, the other end of said shroud projecting endwise outwardly beyond said discharge means, said support structure including a generally circular base plate portion provided with a radial slot opening radially outwardly of one peripheral portion of said base plate portion, a partial cylindrical peripheral wall extending about and supported from said base plate portion and including spaced ends defining a throat therebetween aligned with the outer open end of said slot, said peripheral wall projecting outwardly of one side of said base plate portion and defining, in conjunction with said base plate portion, said recess in which said one end of said shroud is supportively telescoped, said shroud including a peripheral portion thereof at said one end at least substantially fully closing said throat, said pipe means including axially spaced abutment portions defining a narrow circumferential radially outwardly opening groove therebetween, the portions of said base plate portion defining the inner end of said slot being receivable in said groove, at least one of said pipe means abutment portions being threadedly adjustable on said pipe means for adjustably varying the width of said groove and clamping said base plate portions defining the inner end of said slot in said groove, said one end of said shroud including combustion air admitting radial openings formed therein, said radial slot, outward of said pipe means and inward of said shroud also defining combustion air inlet means.