Patent ID: 6870120

Claim:
A welding torch comprising an electrode, means to supply weld filler material, a nozzle surrounding the electrode, means to supply inert gas to the nozzle and a shroud surrounding the nozzle, means to form a seal between the nozzle and the shroud, the means to form a seal being arranged to allow relative movement between the nozzle and the shroud, wherein the means to form a seal comprises a plurality of members, each member having an aperture and a periphery, the dimensions of the aperture in a first member being substantially the same as the dimensions of the nozzle, the dimensions of the periphery of the first member being less than the dimensions of the periphery of a second member, the dimensions of the periphery of the second member being substantially the same as the dimensions of the shroud, the dimensions of the aperture in the second member being greater than the dimensions of the aperture in the first member, the members being slidably mounted to allow relative movement between the nozzle and the shroud.