A flexible conductive gun tube has a plurality of articulated segments connected in series for conducting welding current from a torch handle to a diffuser. Each of the articulated segments has an outer housing having a radially inwardly projecting rim at a first end, and an internal annular groove proximate a second end. A first attachment member includes a ball portion and a first attachment projection that extends away from ball portion and is attached to a first adjacent segment of the gun tube. A second attachment member includes a socket and a second attachment projection that extends axially from the socket past the internal annular groove. The second attachment projection is attached to a second adjacent segment of the gun tube. A retaining ring is located within the internal annular groove, and a biasing member is located axially between the retaining ring and the socket.

A processing head assembly is disclosed. In some examples, the processing head assembly comprises a fabrication energy source; a wire feedstock surrounded by a shield and one or more filler feedstocks surrounded by one or more nozzles. In some examples, the fabrication energy source includes the wire feedstock surrounded by the shield. A method of depositing material on a substrate using a processing head assembly for use with a fabrication energy source; a wire feedstock surrounded by a shield and one or more filler feedstocks surrounded by one or more nozzles is disclosed. In some examples, the method comprises projecting a fabrication energy beam from the fabrication energy source onto the substrate at a spot, projecting the wire feedstock surrounded by the shield onto the substrate at the spot and projecting the one or more filler feedstocks surrounded by the one or more nozzles onto the substrate close to the spot.

Provided is an apparatus for coating a girth weld and a cutback region surrounding said girth weld, said apparatus having lateral travel at least equal to the length of the cutback region and circumferential rotational travel around the pipe. The apparatus can provide a multiple component coating accurately and safely, without the need for solvent flushing of the apparatus.

The disclosure includes a welding cup system comprising a tube having an open top, an open bottom, a sidewall extending between the open top and the open bottom, and an open channel. The open channel may extend through an interior portion of the tube from the open top to the open bottom. The open top may be arranged and configured to slideably couple to at least a portion of a torch assembly. The open channel may be arranged and configured to allow gas to flow from the open top to the open bottom, and allow a welding electrode to extend through the open channel from open top towards the open bottom. The welding cup system may have a side profile that may define an asymmetrical shape.

A welding torch (18) for a welding system (10) includes a substantially spherical main body (20) that has an integrated coolant chamber (60) which is in fluid communication with at least one coolant port (62). The substantially spherical main body (20) is a joint head (22) of a ball joint (24) of the welding system (10). A welding system (10) includes a torch bracket (16) and the welding torch (18). The torch bracket (16) has a socket (26, 28) of a ball joint (24), and the socket (26, 28) receives the substantially spherical main body (20) of the welding torch (18) in a spherically orientable manner thereby forming the ball joint (24).

Disclosed is a flexible TIG welding torch having a torch body for performing an angle adjustment of a torch head with respect to a torch handle, wherein the torch body includes: a multi-array spiral wires having both ends connected to the torch head and the torch handle; a first protective sleeve supported in contact with outer sides of the wires and organized as a mesh structure; a second protective sleeve laminated as a mesh structure on an outer side of the first protective sleeve, and bonded onto an inner surface of a clad body of the torch body; and an adhesive layer impregnated into the mesh structures of the first and second protective sleeves to fix the first and second protective sleeves to each other, and support compressive and tensile stresses formed in the first and second protective sleeves.

Systems and methods are provided for indicating schedules in welding-type torches. A welding-type system may comprise a welding-type power source, a welding-type torch, driven by the welding-type power source, and a welding-type connector configured for connecting the welding-type power source to the welding-type torch. The welding-type torch may comprise one or more indication components configured for providing, to a user of the welding-type system, indications relating to at least one of operations of the welding-type torch, status of welding-type operations, or welding-type parameters. The one or more indications comprise an indication of a present value of a particular welding-type parameter that pertains to configuration of the welding-type power source; and the one or more indication components are configured to provide the indication of present value of the particular welding-type parameter without requiring a change to structure of the welding-type connector.

Some examples of the present disclosure relate to welding torches having a thermal insulating plate (400). The thermal insulating plate is comprised of a thermally insulating material, and is positioned between a front housing (302) and a drive gearbox (324) of the welding torch. The front housing (302) is connected to a gooseneck that conducts electrical energy to a torch tip (i.e. front end) of the welding torch. The drive gearbox (324) includes a gear assembly configured to drive a drive roll that moves a wire electrode through the welding torch (e.g. toward the torch tip of the torch). The thermal insulating plate (400) acts as a heat dam to decrease and/or reduce thermal energy transfer from the torch tip of the welding torch (e.g. via the front housing) towards the rear of the welding torch (e.g. through the drive gearbox), where the thermal energy may heat the welding torch handle and/or damage some of the more expensive and/or sensitive components in the handle (e.g. a motor of the drive gearbox).

Approaches herein provide a torch handle including a pneumatically controlled jaw operable to engage an electrode. In one approach, a system is provided for distributing gas within the torch handle, the system including a pneumatic cylinder within a main housing of the torch handle. The pneumatic cylinder is coupled to a shaft for actuating a first member of a jaw relative to a second member of the jaw. The system further includes a gas passageway through the main housing, the gas passageway extending to an exit orifice disposed within the second member. A flow controller is operable to direct a flow of a gas to either the pneumatic cylinder or the gas passageway. In one approach, the first member is actuated towards the second member when the gas is directed through the gas passageway, and actuated away from the second member when the gas is directed to the pneumatic cylinder.

An example conversion apparatus for a welding torch includes: an insulator configured to be mechanically coupled to a first component of a welding torch, to insulate the first component from a first contact tip, and to guide shielding gas through a bore of the insulator, wherein the first component is configured to be in electrical contact with a second contact tip; and a contact tip holder configured to be attached to the welding torch via the insulator, to hold the first contact tip, to conduct welding current to the first contact tip, and to receive the shielding gas from the insulator.