Patent ID: 7262386
Filing Date: 2007-08-28
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. A contact tip for a welding gun, said tip having a central passage for a welding wire moving in a given direction toward a workpiece and receiving a welding signal by contact of said wire with said tip, said passage having an innermost end, an outermost exit end and a length of at least 1.5 inches; an opening in said contact tip intersecting said passage and generally perpendicular to said given direction; a pressure element slidably mounted in said opening for movement toward and against said wire; and a circular, sheet metal spring surrounding said contact tip and engaging said element to urge said element against said wire moving through said passage, said sheet metal spring has two distal ends spaced from each other and said tip includes a circular groove intersecting said opening for holding said spring around said tip, said circular groove including a key structure extending parallel to said given direction and between said distal ends of said spring to prevent rotation of said spring in said groove.