Patent ID: 7078646

Claim:
A robotic welding unit, comprising at least one robotic arm comprising a TIG welding torch with a tungsten electrode which has a sharpened end, said torch further comprising at least one wire guide/nozzle assembly for an electric arc welding torch, comprising: a) at least one nozzle for delivering gas, said nozzle comprising a first axis longitudinally oriented with said nozzle; and b) at least one wire-guide system for guiding at least one consumable wire which has a fusible extremity, said wire-guide system comprising a first section, said first section comprising the downstream end of said wire-guide system, said first section further comprising a second axis longitudinally oriented with said first section, wherein said downstream end directs said consumable wire into said nozzle, wherein said fusible extremity of consumable wire and said tungsten electrode lie in one and the same plane, wherein said nozzle further comprising a peripheral wall, said peripheral wall having at least one cut-out through which said wire-guide system passes, wherein said first axis and said second axis are oriented at an angle between about 5° and about 50° relative to each other, and wherein said wire is guided in such a manner that an end of said wire grazes said sharpened end of said tungsten electrode and then enters into an electrical snot created by said tungsten electrode on at least one piece to be welded.