Patent ID: 9364915
Filing Date: 2016-06-14
CPC Classification: B23K

Claim Text:
1. A welding diffuser and contact tip assembly for use with a welding apparatus, the assembly comprising: a diffuser comprising an interior chamber configured to receive a wire conduit that supplies electrode wire and a shielding gas used during a welding operation, and a plurality of openings defining exit passages for said shielding gas from the interior chamber to an exterior of the diffuser; a contact tip coupled to the diffuser and configured to receive electrode wire, comprising a front portion, a rear portion, and a contact tip bore extending between the front portion and rear portion; and a diffuser insert disposed within the interior chamber of the diffuser, comprising an insert bore extending therethrough configured to receive electrode wire, and an outer periphery with at least one surface feature configured to manipulate a flow of said shielding gas from within the interior chamber of the diffuser and out of said exit passages to thereby direct said flow of shielding gas about a molten welding puddle formed during a welding operation, wherein the diffuser insert and the at least one surface feature of the diffuser insert extend axially within the interior chamber of the diffuser along at least one of the exit passages, such that the diffuser insert is at least partially exposed at the at least one of the exit passages.