A male welding lead connector apparatus including a slidable member to block the male welding lead connector from rotating relative to a female welding lead connector when the two connectors are engaged with one another. A method of locking a male welding lead connector to a female welding lead connector using a special male welding lead connector including a slidable member to block the male welding lead connector from rotating relative to a female welding lead connector when the two connectors are engaged with one another.

A welding power cable includes at least one welding power source, a welding torch, and a workpiece. The welding power cable is provided with an outer casing for protecting and insulating an electrically conductive cable, wherein the electrically conductive cable is situated within the casing. The end face of the welding power cable is provided with an electrically conductive contacting means for establishing an electrically conductive contact with the welding power source in particular, and a connection means for establishing a detachable mechanical connection, in particular between the welding power source and the welding power cable. This provides an option for connecting and disconnecting such a welding power cable to/from a welding power source in a quick and reliable manner while keeping the torsional stress on the welding power cable in the area of the connection to the welding power source.

A system for transmitting power and current includes a power cable having stranded wires and an exposed end. The stranded wires are ultrasonically welded together. Ultrasonically welding the wires creates a bundle of wires at the exposed end that may be free from air pockets, reducing oxidation and improving the current path through the cable.

In some aspects, a plasma torch head for a plasma arc torch can include ports disposed within a base portion that are configured to receive fluids and electrical signals from a plasma torch lead via a plasma torch receptacle, the ports being shaped to align the torch head and the plasma torch receptacle during connection and including: a central coolant supply port to convey a liquid coolant to the torch head, the central coolant supply port extending a length to primarily align the plasma torch head with the torch receptacle, the central coolant supply port further including a flat surface shaped to secondarily align the torch head with the torch receptacle upon mating engagement, and an ohmic contact connector defining a tertiary alignment feature; and a connector disposed about the base portion shaped to engage with and couple to the torch receptacle.

An electromagnetic radiation steering mechanism An electromagnetic radiation steering mechanism configured to steer electromagnetic radiation to address a specific location within a two-dimensional field of view comprising a first optical element having an associated first actuator configured to rotate the first optical element about a first rotational axis to change a first coordinate of a first steering axis in the two-dimensional field of view, a second optical element having an associated second actuator configured to rotate the second optical element about a second rotational axis to change a second coordinate of a second steering axis in the two-dimensional field of view, and an electromagnetic radiation manipulator optically disposed between the first and second optical elements. A first angle is defined between the first and second rotational axes and a second angle is defined between the first and second steering axes. The electromagnetic radiation manipulator is configured to introduce a difference between the first angle and the second angle.

A welding current source for supplying an arc welding torch with electric current and electric voltage for carrying out an arc welding method, wherein the arc welding current source is provided with a housing in which a current transformer device is provided for processing electric current and voltage fed into the welding current source for suitability in an arc welding method, wherein furthermore two pole contact devices are provided on the housing of the welding current source, each of which protrudes out of the housing along a respective longitudinal axis and is provided with connecting means for receiving a welding current cable. The aim is to provide a possibility that collisions with welding current cables connected to a welding current source of the aforementioned type can be prevented as much as possible.

A rotating coupler assembly for use in welding torches that operates between 0 and 800 amps. The rotating coupler assembly allows for 360 degrees of rotation while keeping rotational friction at a minimum. The breakaway torque for the rotating coupler assembly is insignificant and the rotating coupler assembly can be rotated with little effort by hand. While the rotating coupler assembly minimizes rotational friction the design allow for rotating coupler assembly to continue to operate after 1-5 mm of wear on the contact surfaces. An embodiment of the rotating coupler assembly can be quickly disconnected from the unicable.

The present invention concerns a welding or plasma torch (1) comprising a main body (4) suited to be held by a user and an interface area (8) suited to receive a cable (10) for connection to a power supply unit (101). Guide means (20) are provided, which are suited to guide the cable (10) inside the main body (4) and comprise a first sleeve (22) connected to the main body (4) through a spherical constraint and a second sleeve (24) connected to the first sleeve (22) through a spherical constraint element.

A connector component configured for coupling a consumable component to a plasma arc torch is provided. The connector component comprises a body having a proximal end and a distal end disposed along and defining a longitudinal axis. The connector component includes at least two engagement regions disposed radially about the longitudinal axis on a surface of the body. Each engagement region includes at least one engagement feature disposed on the surface of the body. The connector component also includes at least two free regions disposed radially about the longitudinal axis on the surface of the body. Each free region is radially located between a pair of the engagement regions and characterized by an absence of the engagement feature.

A quick-change coupling (16), for coupling a device carrier (14) to a carrier unit (12) of a welding cell (11), especially for welding together components for internal combustion engine exhaust systems, includes a first coupling unit (18) to be fixed to a carrier unit (12) and a second coupling unit (20) to be fixed to the device carrier (14). One of the coupling units (18, 20) has a pushing meshing recess (24) and the other of the coupling units (18, 20) has a pushing meshing body (26) that can be inserted into the pushing meshing recess (24) in a direction of pushing (R). A positive-locking positioning device (46) is adjustable between a released state and a positive-locking positioning state. With the pushing meshing body positioned meshing with the pushing meshing recess, the positive-locking positioning device in the positive-locking positioning state holds the pushing meshing body in an operating position.