Abstract:
The present invention includes a multi-use welding gun body configured for use in multiple locations along a welding gun assembly. In a particular embodiment, the multi-use welding gun body includes an enclosure forming an exterior surface of the body, the enclosure configured for both receiving a welding wire and a power source and directing the same toward a torch and having a first enclosure end with a wire-receiving aperture extending to an internal block-receiving cavity, the wire receiving aperture shaped to selectively receive a torch and an extension having an orifice containing both welding wire and shielding gas. The block-receiving cavity of the enclosure extends axially with a non-circular profile to a cable-receiving cavity within the housing, the cable-receiving cavity extending longitudinally to the second enclosure end. The second enclosure end includes an aperture forming an end of the cable-receiving cavity. A removable block is positioned within the block-receiving cavity.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/274,953, filed on Nov. 15, 2005, now pending. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to the art of electric arc welding and more particularly to an improved handle for a welding gun between a wire feeder and a torch for the welding operation. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     In electric arc welding, a welding gun is a flexible, elongated element having a rear end connected to a wire feeder and a front end for a welding torch. The gun includes an elongated flexible conduit directing current and shielding gas from the wire feeder to the welding torch. Such a mechanism is employed for hand held welding and for robotic controlled welding in the trade. 
     The torch includes a contact tip through which the welding wire is directed from the wire feeder through the flexible tube to the welding operation. This tip is supported in a conductive cylindrical assembly receiving power from the wire feeder. 
     Shielding gas is directed from a diffuser in. the cylindrical assembly into a chamber defined by an outer nozzle through the nozzle into the area around the contact tip so the shielding gas forms a protective layer between the molten metal of the welding operation and atmosphere. All of these requirements of a torch require complex machined components at the end of the torch which substantially increases the cost and adversely affects the operability of the torch during the welding operation. Furthermore, the welding operation itself creates spatter, especially during short circuit conditions so the forward end of the torch including the contact tip and diffuser is subject to substantial deterioration over time caused by spatter together with the tremendous arc temperature involved in the welding operation. 
     Shielding gas is directed into the welding operation from diffuser orifices circumferentially spaced around the torch and directed ultimately to the contact tip at the welding operation. Consequently, torches have diffuser orifices for shielding gas; however, these orifices must be oriented to prevent unwanted cavitation. It has been found that these orifices should be as close as possible to the welding operation. Such closeness drastically increases the tendency for spatter to affect the laminar flow of shielding gas from the diffuser orifices. 
     Robotic assemblies are commonly used with welding guns. Previously, when robotic gun assemblies were dismantled, the down time was extensive because there was no quick and easy means to precisely reassemble the robotic gun. A previous example of a keyed alignment system for a welding torch used with a robotic gun assembly is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,117. A mounting arm which provides for various methods of changing position of the welding gun with respect to the robotic arm and the position of the gun with respect to its housing as well as providing easy disassembly of the gun from the robotic arm is described in co-pending application Ser. No. 11/178,819, filed on Jul. 11, 2005. Hex end structures for the torch end and welding wire feeder and are shown and described in co-pending application Ser. No. 11/268,085, filed on Nov. 7, 2005. 
     Furthermore, a welding gun which allows for various positions of the forward end and rear end of the gun is needed without complete disassembly of the gun. Accordingly, it is considered desirable to provide a welding gun which allows various positions of the welding gun with respect to the robotic assembly and with respect to the handle without completely disassembling either the gun or the robotic arm assembly. Also, providing a handle which allows for ease in assembly and disassembly of the welding gun as well as providing access to the internal components of the gun at either the welding torch end or wire feeder end is also desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a welding gun. In particular, the invention is directed to a welding gun having an integral handle adjacent a welding torch and an integral handle adjacent a welding wire feeder. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a welding gun assembly, for directing a welding wire toward a workpiece has a torch at a forward portion of the gun, a welding wire feeder at a rearward portion of the gun, and a handle positioned adjacent the wire feeder. The handle has a first cylindrical portion and a second hexagonally shaped portion adjacent the first cylindrical portion. The hexagonal portion has a first opening and a second opening adjacent the first opening. The handle further has an extension member with an opening therein and a first conduit connected to the cylindrical portion of the handle. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a handle for use with a welding gun assembly for applying welding wire to a workpiece, has a first cylindrical portion and a second hexagonal portion. The second hexagonal portion has a first opening and a second opening adjacent the first opening and an extension member with an opening therein. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a handle assembly for use with a welding gun assembly for applying welding wire to a workpiece, has a handle with a hexagonal shaped portion and a cylindrical shaped portion and an adapter which is attached to the cylindrical shaped portion. The adapter has a first external diameter portion having grooves thereon to receive a coiled spring. 
     One advantage of the present invention is the provision of providing an integral handle without the need for screws or other fasteners. The handle is inserted into a conduit and clamped or threaded into place. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of providing an internal handle at either or both of the torch and wire feeder ends of the welding gun assembly. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of the integral handle being reversible or able to be installed in positions 180 degrees apart. 
     Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of an integral handle having an opening formed therein to provide access to the internal components or a switch for the welding gun. 
     Yet another advantage of the present invention is the provision of an integral handle formed of two halves which enable the handle to be easily assembled, and installed and removed from the welding gun. 
     Still another advantage of the present invention is the provision of providing a coiled spring within the conduit and within an adapter which is installed into the integral handle to prevent kinking of the conduit hose. 
     Still other advantages and aspects of the invention will become apparent through the following description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The invention may take form in certain components and structures, a preferred embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a welding gun with integral handles adjacent a torch end and adjacent a welding wire feeder end; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view in partial cross section, of the integral handle adjacent the welding wire feeder of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view through line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view through line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view through line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view through line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a side-elevational view, in partial cross-section of the integral handle adjacent the welding torch of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view, along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the integral handle of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevational view, in partial cross-section, of an integral handle in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of the integral handle of  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings and described below are examples which embody the invention. It should be noted that the scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims, and not necessarily by specific features of exemplary embodiments. 
     For a welding operation of the type which the invention is concerned, it is the usual practice to provide a service station. This service station provides: a welding current of electricity; anti-oxidizing gas; a motor for feeding welding wire to the weld; and, optionally, a vacuum source for extracting fumes. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a robotic arm assembly generally designated by the numeral  10  includes a welding gun mount arm  12 , a welding gun front or first integral handle  14  and a welding torch assembly  16 . The gun mount arm  12  is a precision made instrument, typically manufactured from an aluminum alloy, preferably from 6061 aluminum alloy or the like. The gun mount arm  12  of the preferred embodiment is rotatably secured at a distal end  13  to a remote robotic machine arm  15 . The gun handle  14  is preferably made of a plastic that is capable of maintaining its shape under tight clamping pressure. The handle is installed at a first or front end of the gun assembly near the torch. A cylindrically shaped gun housing  18 , preferably made of brass, is installed at a second, or rear end of the gun assembly adjacent a welding wire feeder assembly  19 . A second integral handle  17 , also formed of plastic, is installed adjacent housing  18 . 
     The welding torch further includes a gooseneck  20  which can be an insulated, thick walled copper conductor tube that is wrapped in an aluminum or stainless steel jacket that is capable of dissipating heat quickly. The gooseneck extends from the front handle  14 . Although the gooseneck  20  as shown in  FIG. 1  is bent at a particular angle, the gooseneck may be manufactured to be straight or bent at any desired angle. The torch of the preferred embodiment further comprises a thick walled nozzle  21  machined from hard drawn copper and typically has a highly conductive copper tip. The arrangement of the nozzle  21  is conventional and accordingly is not described in detail herein. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an anti-oxidizing shielding gas, such as argon, carbon dioxide, or other gas as required, is fed into the housing  18 , via a port  23 . A tube  31  is threadably connected via nut  28  to the port  23 . A conventionally used power line  24  is further connected to the wire feeder  19  via a bolted connection  25 . The wire feeder housing is secured to the housing  18  via a bolt or other suitable fastener  33  threadably inserted into an opening of feeder housing  19 . 
     Welding wire  26  is inserted into the housing  18 ; the wire is on a set of motorized reels in wire feeder  19 ; whereby the wire may be fed forward controllably, in a conventional manner. The wire  26  may be received inside a close-coiled helical spring  30  ( FIG. 3 ), which serves as a guide for the wire on its passage to the welding torch. The above-described arrangements for supplying the welding current, the welding wire, and the gas, into the flexible conduit follow conventional practice as is well known in the welding art. 
     Continually referring to  FIG. 2 , housing  18  has a hollow internal cavity  40  for receiving conduit  50 . Conduit  50 , preferably formed of brass, has an opening formed therein for receiving welding wire  26 . The conduit has a grooved section  52  which has a plurality of openings  54  spaced approximately 90° apart. The holes serve as passageways for gas which enters the housing via tubing  31  into opening  37  ( FIG. 3 ) about welding wire  26 . A pair of O-rings  56 ,  58  or other suitable sealing material is received within grooves  57  of the conduit to seal and prevent gas from traveling or escaping into the cavity  40  of the housing  18 . The conduit  50  also has a hexagonal shaped portion  59  which is selectively received by a corresponding hexagonal shaped opening  42  of housing  18 . 
     The hexagonal shape of the conduit  50  allows the welding torch to be installed in different positions in the housing. Specifically, the hexagonal portion  59  has six holes  60  spaced approximately 60° apart formed in walls  63  of the conduit, as seen in  FIG. 2 . The conduit  50  is secured into position with respect to the housing  18  by bolt  61  or another suitable fastener. Bolt  61  extends through opening  62  formed in arm  64  extending radially outwardly from housing  18 . The bolt is received by one of the openings  60  in hexagonal portion  59  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Shielding gas travels through tube  31  into cavity  40  of housing  18  and then into the spaced apart holes  54  in groove  52 . The gas then travels through opening  37  surrounding the wire  26  and spring  30 . The wire initially passes through an opening  65  in a separate conduit  66  which is secured to an end member  67  of conduit  50 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , cylindrical end member  68  of conduit  50  extends into an opening  69  formed by two halves&#39;  70 ,  72  of integral handle or sleeve  17 . Integral sleeve  17  is preferably formed of plastic and is formed by two halves  70  and  72 . 
     The sleeve further has a first portion  80  which is hexagonally shaped and is generally solid with opening  69  formed adjacent walls  82 ,  84  of sleeve halves  70  and  72 . The sleeve further has walls  86 ,  88 ,  90 , and  92  which form the hexagonal shape of portion  80 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , adjacent to hexagonal portion  80  is second portion  94  which also is hexagonally shaped but has a hexagonal opening  96  formed by walls  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  90 , and  92  of halves  70  and  72 . Hexagonal opening  96  is adapted to receive block member  98  which is hexagonally shaped as well. Block  98  is preferably formed of brass and has walls  83 ,  85 ,  87 ,  89 ,  91 , and  93  which form a hexagonal configuration. 
     Block  98  is hexagonally shaped and is selectively received within hexagonally shaped opening  96  of sleeve  17 . Thus, block  98  can be positioned in anyone of six positions approximately 60 degrees apart with respect to the sleeve  17 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a metal or plastic clamp  100  extends around outer walls  82 ,  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  90 , and  92  of sleeve  17 . The clamp has an opening  102  formed by walls  103 ,  105 ,  107 ,  109 ,  111 , and  113  which conforms to the hexagonal shape of the sleeve and the block  98 . The clamp has two opposing ends  104 ,  106  which are secured together via a bolt fastener  108  which extends through openings  110 ,  112  formed in arms  114 ,  116 . The clamp further secures the two halves  70 ,  72  of the integral handle  17  together. The handle may be positioned in one of six positions 60 degrees apart with respect to the clamp. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , pipe-spigots  120 ,  122  are formed on feed ends of conventionally used power cables  124 ,  126  which extend through a welding gun plastic flexible sleeve  130  which extends between integral handle  17  and handle  14 . The pipe-spigots are inserted into sockets  132 ,  134  formed in end wall  136  of first block  98 . Plug ends of the pipe-spigots can be taper fit into the sockets  132 ,  134 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , first block  98  also has a conically-shaped socket  137  for receiving a tip or pipe-spigot  138  of a welding wire feed tube  140 . 
     When the plug-ends of the pipe-spigots are inserted tightly in the sockets  132 ,  134 , not only are the pipe-spigots secured very well mechanically to the block, but also there is an excellent, low resistance, electrical contact between the pipe-spigots and the block. A length of flexible electrical cable is brazed or soldered into a hole in the pipe-, spigots. 
     As compared with a single cable, dividing the electrical duty between two cables means that each cable can be a little less than half the current-carrying cross-section than the corresponding single cable. The reason each half-cable can be a little less than half the size is that each half-cable is contained in its own respective jacket, whereby cooling of the cable can be enhanced. 
     When only a single cable was provided, as in conventional designs, the conduit could be quite stiff. As a result, the welding operator found it quite tiring to operate the torch through a working day. 
     Splitting the cable into two and using two smaller-than-half cables, results in a greater improvement in physical flexibility and manipulability to the conduit; so much so as to extend by hours the period the operator can work comfortably. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in order to ensure the pipe-spigots  120 ,  122 ,  138  are pressed firmly into the sockets  132 ,  134 ,  137 , a plate or draw-ring  142 , preferably formed of steel, is provided as shown in  FIG. 5 . The approximately hexagonal shaped draw-ring has substantially U-shaped slots or cut-outs  144 ,  146 ,  148  which engage complementary recesses defined between collars provided on the pipe-spigots. 
     The draw-ring  142  is separate from the block  98  and can move slightly with respect to the block to adjust the position of the pipe-spigots. When the draw-ring is moved to the right, it urges the pipe-spigots tightly into the sockets  132 ,  134 ,  137  in the block  98 ; when the draw-ring is forced to the left, it disengages the pipe-spigots from the block. The draw-ring  142  is moved to the right by tightening a bolt  150  which is inserted into an opening  151  in the ring and into a corresponding opening  152  in the block. To move the draw-ring to the left, the bolt  150  is slackened, and then the head of the bolt may be tapped to the left to drive the pipe-spigots free from the sockets. (The angle of the taper in the sockets is such that the taper is self-locking). The bolt  150  is screw-threaded into the draw-ring  142  and passes through corresponding plain hole  152  in the block  98 . 
     As described, the cable and wire assembly includes the welding wire  26  inside its guide spring surrounded by tubing  140 ; and the two electrical cables inside their respective tubes  124 ,  126 . It will be noted that the three flexible pipes or tubes  124 ,  126 ,  140  can all have respective central internal “cores” of metal; these “cores” serve to provide excellent resistance to kinking of the pipes and tubes and to other types of mechanical failure. The entire wire and cable assembly is enclosed in sleeve  130 . 
     The wire and cable assembly is therefore very sturdy in the sense of being able to resist the abuse which is always likely to be imposed upon it in a practical welding shop, especially abuse such as snagging, twisting, and the like. On the other hand, none of the components of the wire and cable are thick or heavy, and therefore the assembly is light in weight, and is comparatively very flexible. It is easy for the operator to carry and manipulate a welding torch supported on such an assembly for long periods. 
     The sleeve further has elongated slots  154  and ribs  156  of varying lengths which extend along a longitudinal length of the sleeve halves. The sleeve has a cylindrical shape portion  158  through which the slots and ribs extend. Corresponding ribs and slots matingly engage each other to snap or secure halves  70 ,  72  of the handle together. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 9 , a projecting or extending member  160  is formed on an outer surface  162  of the cylindrical portion  158  and includes two halves  164 ,  166 . Each half has a groove  168 ,  170  formed therein. The projecting member is shown to be rectangular in shape; however, other configurations can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 9 , each half also has an opening  177  formed by three side walls,  171 ,  172 ,  173 ,  174 ,  175 ,  176  which together form a generally rectangular shaped opening. The opening permits access to the internal components of the welding gun, such as the power cables and the welding wire tubing. Also, the trigger for the welding gun handle assembly may be positioned within the opening. A trigger can be included in the handle, which, when operated, activates the welding current, starts the wire feed-motor, etc., back at the service station. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 9 , a cap  180  may be slidably inserted into the grooves  168 ,  170  of the sleeve. Flange  182  of the cap is inserted into the grooves and the cap covers the opening  177 . The cap  180  has a ridge or flange  182  which extends around an outer surface thereof. The flange is slidably received within grooves  168 ,  170  of the sleeve. The cap further has a top portion or housing  184  which has a hollow cavity  186  therein. The housing  184  can enclose internal components for a trigger assembly such as wiring, conduit tubing, etc. The cap provides easy access to the internal cavity of the sleeve and to the power lines and welding wire tube. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the cylindrical portion  158  of the sleeve has a distal end  188  which is secured to or engages an end portion  190  of conduit  130 . A collar or flange  191  extends from the sleeve and abuts the end portion  190  of conduit  130 . As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 9 , the sleeve can have a groove  192  formed between two outer walls  193 ,  195  at end  196  which matingly engages a corresponding rib  194  on an inner diameter of conduit  130 . To secure the sleeve to the conduit, a conventional hose clamp  197 , such as one made from metal or plastic, can be used to tighten around the outer surface of the sleeve to secure the sleeve or handle to the conduit  130 . Thus, the handle or sleeve  17  may be secured to the conduit tube  130  without the need for screws or other fasteners. 
     The other, front or supply end of the welding gun adjacent to the torch, will now be described. The gooseneck  20  extends between the torch nozzle  21  and first or front housing  14 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , a second block  200 , also formed of brass, is secured to an end portion of second conduit  202  which extends from end  204  of the gooseneck. Block  200  has an opening  201  for receiving the welding wire  26  and spring  30 . 
     A second sleeve  14  is essentially the mirror image of sleeve  17 . That is, the sleeve or handle can be positioned in reversed positions 180 degrees apart on the welding gun. Accordingly, the detailed description of sleeve  17  also applies for sleeve  14 . Sleeve  14  also has a hexagonal portion  212  and a cylindrical portion  214 . Hexagonal portion has a cylindrical opening  216  for receiving conduit  202 . A second hexagonal opening  218  formed by walls  209 ,  211 ,  213 ,  215 ,  217  and  219  receives walls  221 ,  223 ,  235 ,  227 ,  229  and  231  of hexagonal brass block  200 . Block  200  can be positioned in one of six positions 60 degrees apart with respect to sleeve  14 . A second draw ring  220  connected to block  200  by a bolt  275  receives pipe-spigots  222 ,  224  of power cables  124 ,  126  and pipe-spigot  226  of welding wire feed tube  140 . A clamp  230  is used to hold the sleeve on a distal end  232  of conduit  130 . Thus, the handle or sleeve  14  may be secured to the conduit tube  130  without the need for screws or other fasteners. Sleeve  14  also has extension  234  which has grooves  236  for receiving a cap  238  covering an access opening  239 ′. The handle and conduit can be easily disassembled by simply loosening and removing the clamp  197 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a mounting bracket  240  receives the sleeve  200 . The bracket has a hexagonally shaped opening  242  formed by walls  244 ,  246 ,  248 ,  250 ,  252 ,  254 . The bracket has two walls  256 ,  258  which are substantially parallel to each other and form a gap therebetween so that the bracket can expand slightly to remove or install the sleeve  200  in the opening  242 . Each wall  256 ,  258  has a threaded openings  260 ,  262  therein for receiving a fastener or threaded member  264  therethrough to clamp the sleeve within the mounting bracket. The bracket in turn is secured to mounting arm  12  by two bolts or fasteners  266  which extend through openings  270 ,  272  in bracket arm  274  into openings  276 ,  278  in arm  12 . 
     The hexagonal shape of the sleeve  14  as well as the opening  242  of the mounting bracket allows the sleeve, and the welding torch to be positioned in one of six positions approximately 60 degrees apart with respect to the mounting bracket of a robotic arm  12 . Such a robotic arm assembly is discussed in co-pending application Ser. No. 11/178,819, filed on Jul. 11, 2005. 
     The pipe-spigots may be secured into the block by means of the tapered sockets formed in end wall of block, or, alternatively, the pipe-spigots may be secured into a block by means of screw-threads. The block, preferably made of brass, and the plugs are brazed into the drilling as required: as a general rule in welding torches, the use of rubber seals should be avoided except where the sealed components have to be detachable. Because of the very tight restriction on the radial space envelope in the torch handle, the room available for the spigot-to-block connection, whatever its structure is severely limited. It is recognized that if this small space were occupied by a screw-thread connection, the constraints would be so tight that the screw-thread connection at that location would be unreliable. That is, if the pipe-spigot were secured into the block by means of a screw-thread connection, the screw-thread would be so small that there would be a danger that the thread would strip, even with just a small degree of abuse. It may be noted also that the components in question are “generally made of brass, which material has no great resistance to the stripping of threads if over-tightened. 
     The connection as described has good electrical properties. When assembled, the pipe-spigot becomes tightly wedged into the socket, which gives an excellent, large-contact-area, electrical connection for the heavy welding currents. 
     Preferably, the pipe-spigots at the service-station end should be identical to the spigots at the torch end. Although there is no premium on radial space at the service station end of the conduit, it is simpler to have components the same. 
     Although two electrical power pipes have been described, more than two may be provided. The draw-ring and draw bolt arrangement can be used to tighten more than two pipe-spigots into place (simultaneously) into suitable sockets. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 10-11 , an alternative embodiment is shown.  FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate the addition of a coiled spring to the integral handle and to the conduit. The coiled spring is added to prevent or minimize kinking of the flexible conduit cable  300  as the conduit is moved by the robotic arm assembly. 
     More particularly, conduit  300 , preferably formed of flexible plastic, has a spiraled groove  302  formed on an internal wall  301  of the conduit extending along the longitudinal length of the conduit. A coiled spring  304 , preferably made of metal is installed within the conduit and is press fit or otherwise engages the groove  302  formed in the internal wall of the conduit. The spring provides resilience and rigidity to the conduit and allows the conduit to bend without kinking. The spring extends outwardly from an end wall  306  of the conduit and onto an end wall  308  of an adapter  310 . The adapter is preferably formed of thermoplastic material. The adapter has end member  308  which has an outer diameter slightly less than an inner diameter of wall  301  of the conduit  300 . The end wall  308  is inserted into end wall  306  of conduit  300 . Adapter end  308  also has a spiraled groove  312  formed on an outer wall  314  of the end  308  corresponding to the groove  302  on inner wall  301  of the conduit. The adapter also has end  316  which includes walls  318  and  320  which have a groove  322  formed therebetween. Walls  318  and  320  have inner diameters which correspond to outer diameters of walls  325 , 326  of sleeve  328 . Similarly, groove  322  has an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of groove  330  of the sleeve. 
     The adapter has a plurality of slots  324  formed around the circumference of the adapter and through walls  318 ,  320  and groove  322  to enable the adapter to expand slightly to be installed onto and over the walls  325 ,  326  of sleeve  328 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the adapter end  308  is inserted into end  306  of the conduit until wall  316  abuts end  306  of the conduit. Then, a conventional hose clamp  332  is placed over the conduit end  306  and is tightened to secure the end of the adapter to the end of the conduit. End  316  of the adapter is installed over end  334  of the sleeve such that walls  318  and  320  aligns with walls  325 ,  326  and groove  322  aligns with groove  330  of the sleeve. Then, another hose clamp  340  is placed into groove  322  and is tightened to secure the adapter onto the sleeve. 
     One aspect of the integral handle is that the handle is secured to a conduit tube without the need for screws or other fasteners. The handle is inserted into the conduit and clamped or threaded into place. Another aspect of the internal handle is that it can be installed at either or both of the torch and wire feeder ends of the welding gun assembly. Yet another aspect of the handle is that the handle is reversible or able to be installed in positions 180 degrees apart. Still another aspect of the handle is an opening formed therein to provide access to the internal components or a switch for the welding gun. Yet another aspect of the handle integral handle is that it is formed of two halves which enable the handle to be easily installed and removed from the welding gun. Still another aspect of the handle is the provision of providing a coiled spring within the conduit and within an adapter which is installed into the integral handle to prevent kinking of the conduit hose. 
     The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.