Patent ID: 8395070

Claim:
An electrical contact assembly for a plasma torch tip, comprising: an electrically conductive contact portion having a first end and a second end; a compressible portion in mechanical communication with the second end of the electrically conductive contact portion; a mounting portion adapted to mount to a plasma torch; wherein the compressible portion comprises a spring assembly; wherein the assembly includes a spring housing adapted to receive a coil spring in a generally coaxial relation; wherein the spring housing defines an outer diameter and an inner diameter together defining a generally uniform cylindrical wall comprising a spring housing main body and enclosing a hollow cavity adapted to receive the coil spring; wherein the spring housing has a first end and a second end including a retaining ridge, the retaining ridge extending inward toward a longitudinal axis from the inner diameter of the spring housing, and the retaining ridge has an inner diameter and an outer diameter; and, wherein the compressible portion further comprises a plunger received by the hollow cavity, and the plunger defining a head and a shaft, the head having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the spring housing and greater than the inner diameter of the retaining ridge, and the shaft having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of the retaining ridge.