arc welding torch

Abstract

In the case of an arc welding torch apparatus having a consumable electrode, the electrode in the arc welding torch apparatus is guided in a replaceable wire core, which is arranged in a guide element at least in the rear end region of the arc welding torch apparatus, the guide element surrounding the wire core and being designed as a replaceable wearing part, and the guide element of the wire core is provided for joint replacement of the wire core due to wear. It is recommended that the guide element be provided with a predetermined end position in the arc welding torch apparatus relative to its insertion direction into the arc welding torch apparatus, and that a position signaling device be detectable outside the arc welding torch apparatus when the guide element reaches the end position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an arc welding torch having a consumable electrode, wherein the electrode is provided with a movement direction that feeds from the rear end of the arc welding torch toward the front end of the arc welding torch. In the region where the electrode is consumed during the arc welding process, the electrode in the arc welding torch is guided in a replaceable wire core. The wire core is arranged in a guide element at least in the rear end region of the arc welding torch. The guide element surrounds the wire core and is designed as a replaceable wearing part. The guide element of the wire core is provided to be replaced together with the wire core due to wear. Such an arc welding torch can preferably also be provided with a medium feed for shielding gas or active gas and for electric current. Background Art

[0002] There are many different welding processes. The present invention is particularly relevant to arc welding. Arc welding is based on the heat generated by an electric arc between a welding electrode and the workpiece being welded. Due to the heat generated, the material or materials to be welded melt locally. In almost all arc welding processes, a shielding gas is supplied to the arc region, firstly to create an ionized atmosphere between the welding electrode and the workpiece, which reduces the electrical resistance, and secondly to protect the welding electrode and the workpiece from oxidation. Instead of the inert gas used as shielding gas in this case, reactive gases or mixtures can be used for the reaction. Likewise, electrodes can be supplied that do not require an external gas supply, since the substances required for this purpose are integrated into the electrode and are released when the electrode melts.

[0003] An electric arc welding torch is typically designed so that a user or robot can direct a metal welding wire (also called a filler metal) toward a desired joint on a target metal workpiece. The wire is guided through the torch and ultimately delivered to the target metal workpiece through an opening in the contact tip at the workpiece-facing end of the torch.

[0004] When voltage is applied to the torch's inner barrel and the welding wire makes contact with the target metal, a high current flows from the torch's inner barrel through the so-called tip adapter, then through the contact tip, through the welding wire, and possibly through the arc, to the target metal, and then to ground. The high current and arc cause the welding wire to melt in the shielding gas atmosphere, resulting in the formation of molten droplets in the welding wire and the generation of an arc.

[0005] The arc melts the metal of the target metal sheet and the fed welding wire. These are connected by droplets of liquid falling from the welding wire or by droplets that transfer to the liquefaction point of the target metal piece during a short circuit. Due to the short distances from the contact tip and gas nozzle to the arc and / or the heated target metal piece, these components are heated to high temperatures. Due to the high thermal load, the contact tip, in particular, is subject to significant wear.

[0006] Most commonly, the front end of a conventional welding torch system, at the welding process end, essentially consists of a contact tip, a tip adapter, and an external gas nozzle. These components are typically detachably mounted on a neck (outer tube, inner tube) and are thermally or electrically coupled to each other and to other parts of the neck via contact surfaces or threads, and / or insulated. However, the outer tube must be electrically decoupled from other live parts because, for safety reasons, it cannot receive voltage. Thermal coupling of the components attempts to dissipate the energy introduced into the contact tip or gas nozzle in the form of heat via the outer or inner tube as efficiently as possible, thereby reducing the maximum temperature of the contact tip and thus reducing wear.

[0007] In the case of a typical type of arc welding torch system, the welding wire of the arc welding torch system, which serves as a consumable electrode, and shielding gas—if such gas is involved in the given welding process—are supplied to the rear end area of ​​the system. The welding wire is fed from its rear end through the interior of the arc welding torch system according to its consumption, so as to exit at the front, process-side end. For this purpose, a wire feeder device, known per se, is arranged in the rear end area and feeds the welding wire—for example, via a driven wheel set—through the interior of the arc welding torch system. To protect the arc welding torch system itself from wear caused by the feeding movement of the welding wire, the welding wire is usually arranged in a so-called wire core. Due to the feeding movement of the welding wire, wear within the arc welding torch system therefore occurs primarily in the wire core, rather than on components of the arc welding torch system's housing. The latter therefore wears out instead of other components within the arc welding torch system. As a result, the wire core needs to be replaced from time to time.

[0008] Conventionally, in order to replace the wear-related wire core, the welding torch had to be dismantled, and in particular, and most importantly, the other rear end of the arc welding torch, which is the end facing away from the welding process side and is located opposite the wire feeder, had to be dismantled. This is associated with the fact that the disassembly and assembly of the arc welding torch device takes a lot of time. Therefore, a solution is known from EP 1 658 155 B1, in which the wire core is replaced from the welding process end of the arc welding torch device. In order to dismantle and remove the wire core, it is only necessary to dismantle the front end of the arc welding torch device, wherein the connection of the guide device for the wire core to the other components of the arc welding torch device must be loosened and the guide device must be removed together with the wire core. Then, the new wire core is reinserted into the welding torch from the front together with the guide device and pushed into the rear end of the welding torch, and the guide device is removably fixed again in the arc welding torch device.

[0009] A disadvantage of this approach is that, in particular, the wire core assembly in the rear end area of ​​the arc welding torch must be performed blindly, making it impossible to check whether the newly introduced components are correctly arranged and assembled. This incorrect assembly becomes apparent only after the arc welding torch has been put back into operation, if the arc welding torch does not function as intended and / or generates expensive scrap due to incorrect assembly. This then necessitates a time-consuming and expensive disassembly and reassembly of the arc welding torch, as well as a temporary shutdown of the welding system, which involves high investment costs. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a possibility for better control and evaluation of the correct assembly of a replacement wire core in the case of an arc welding torch device of the type mentioned in the introduction.

[0011] According to the present invention, this object is achieved in an arc welding torch apparatus of the aforementioned type, wherein a guide element in the arc welding torch is provided with a predetermined end position relative to the direction in which it is inserted into the arc welding torch, and when the guide element reaches this position, a position signaling device indicates the correct position of the guide element. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the position signaling device indicates the correct position via a signal that is perceptible on or from outside the arc welding torch apparatus. Particularly preferably, the position signaling device is designed as a position indicator disposed externally of the arc welding torch apparatus, which can be visually detected from the outside as a signal when the target position of the guide element is reached. However, in principle, other embodiments of the position signaling device are also conceivable, such as visually detectable position indicators. For example, an electrical signal can be triggered or interrupted by correctly positioning a guide element that receives and inserts the wire core into the arc welding apparatus, and then made perceptible to the operator using a suitable device. Similarly, an acoustic signal or a visually detectable signal on a display device can be generated when the desired target position of the guide element or the wire core is reached.

[0012] In another particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, provision can be made for the guide element to be guided with one of its ends through an outer end-side housing part of the arc welding torch, in particular together with the welding wire, and in this case, in the position of use of the guide element in the arc welding torch, the guide element protrudes outwardly from the outer housing part of the arc welding torch. The outer housing part can in particular be an end cap of the arc welding torch, which is connected to a jacket tube extending in the longitudinal axis of the arc welding torch.

[0013] To ensure both the secure positioning of the wire core in the rear region, at the wire feed end, within the arc welding torch and the function of the position indicator device with the guide element, it is particularly advantageous if the guide element is formed as a sleeve with outer surfaces having different diameters relative to their longitudinal extension along its longitudinal axis. This allows at least one segment of the guide device to be used for precise positioning according to a predetermined target position along the longitudinal axis of the arc welding torch, while another segment of the guide device functions as a position indicator device protruding from the housing of the arc welding torch. At least one segment of the guide device with a larger diameter can abut a stop inside the arc welding torch when in the desired position. This predetermined position of the guide device can then be visually signaled outside the housing of the arc welding torch by at least one portion of the guide device with a smaller diameter. This segment thus takes over the function of the position indicator device. In this case, it is particularly preferred that, as viewed in the direction of insertion of the wire core into the arc welding torch, the segment with the smaller outer diameter, in particular the smallest outer diameter, is located in front of at least one segment of the guide device with one or more larger outer diameters.

[0014] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a sleeve-shaped inlet body can be provided, which is connected to the housing of the arc welding body, in particular detachably connected. The housing can be in particular a casing tube, which also has the outer surface of the housing of the arc welding torch device and / or an end cap attached to the casing at the end. The sleeve-shaped inlet body can be provided with a cylindrical recess extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The cylindrical recess can preferably have a constant diameter and serves as a receptacle for the guide body, wherein the guide body is preferably arranged in this receptacle without connection. In the area of ​​its outer surface, the sleeve-shaped inlet body can be connected to the housing of the arc welding torch device, in particular it can be detachably connected, for example by a threaded connection. The inlet body can preferably be connected to an end part of the housing, for example an end cap. In the front area of ​​the front end of the inlet body, the through groove of the end side part of the housing can be provided with a shoulder, so that a position stop is formed for the inlet body in the insertion direction of the replaceable part, the wire core and the guide body. In the further course, the through-channel of the end piece can preferably taper conically, wherein the conical section can advantageously be provided as a push-in limit for the guide element.

[0015] It may also be advantageous to seal the guide element against the end cap and the sleeve-shaped inlet body with a sealant to prevent leakage of the shielding gas supplied to the welding process point within the arc welding torch. In this case, one of the sealing means can preferably be arranged on the outer jacket surface between two sections of the guide body having different diameters. The section with the smaller diameter can be a section of the guide element, the end of which protrudes from the end cap when correctly positioned. The other section with the larger diameter can preferably be a section of the guide element that is arranged together with the guide element in the inlet body, preferably without being connected but still with as little gap as possible. This first sealing element is particularly preferably arranged on the tapered section between the two sections with the larger and smaller diameters and also rests against the through-hole in the end cap, preferably in the region of the tapered section of the through-hole. Consequently, the sealing element does not generate any relevant retaining forces between the guide element and the inlet body, making it particularly easy to release the guide element and the wire core from the arc welding torch without releasing any retaining or connecting forces.

[0016] The second sealing element is preferably arranged on a section with a larger diameter of the outer jacket surface of the guide element. This section is preferably designed to have a larger diameter than the section with a constant diameter and is located in a cylindrical groove of the inlet body.

[0017] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the guide element is held in the inlet body in a non-positive or positive manner. This provides additional security, namely that the guide element remains correctly positioned not only when it is inserted into the arc welding torch device but also during its operation.

[0018] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a solution may also be advantageous in which the guide element that receives one of the ends of the wire core is arranged in its end position - even during use of the arc welding torch apparatus - without the need for a retaining force within the arc welding torch apparatus. Since the position signaling device preferably signals continuously not only during the insertion process but also during operation, and at least when necessary by means of a correctly positioned arrangement, this can also be done without retaining forces. If a deviation of the guide element from its intended position is determined based on the position signaling device, appropriate measures can be taken. This solution also has the advantage that due to the lack of retaining forces, the assembly comprising the wire core and the guide element can be pulled completely out of the arc welding apparatus from the front, in the process point area, particularly easily, without having to overcome retaining forces, and without having to dismantle the arc welding torch apparatus itself, in particular at its rear end.

[0019] This object is also achieved by an assembly for replacing a wire core according to claim 12 .

[0020] The aspect of the present invention relating to replaceable components is based on the idea of ​​being able to ensure the correct position arrangement of the end of the replaceable component introduced from the front on the welding process side of the arc welding torch device, so that the reaching or non-reaching of the predetermined position of the blind plate and the jointly inserted wire core and the guide body can be checked from the outside, in particular visually. Since the arrangement must take place in the invisible interior of the arc welding torch device, an externally perceptible position signaling device, in particular a visually perceptible position indicator, is of great help in avoiding incorrect positioning of the wire core and at least one guide element of the replaceable component inserted from the front. It is preferred here that the position signaling device, in particular the position indicating device, only signals the correct actual arrangement in the desired position within the housing when the guide device belonging to the wire core and the jointly inserted replaceable component has actually reached the end position.

[0021] A specific solution that is particularly easy to implement technically can provide that the position signaling device, in particular the position indicator, is part of a guide element or another component of a replaceable component assembly that is installed in the corresponding arc welding torch apparatus due to wear to replace the component assembly of the worn wire core. The position signaling device, in particular the position indicator, should therefore be inserted into the arc welding torch apparatus together with the assembly at the process-side end and fully penetrate the arc welding torch apparatus until its rear end passes through the arc welding torch apparatus. When the desired end position of the guide element in the arc welding torch apparatus is reached, the position signaling device, in particular the position indicator, of the replaceable component should emerge again from the housing of the arc welding torch apparatus in the rear end region facing away from the process side and thus be visually perceptible from the outside.

[0022] According to another aspect of the invention, the risk of the welding wire becoming tangled due to the feeding movement of the welding wire and due to the entry into a narrow groove provided on the end face of the arc welding torch is reduced. In an arc welding torch of the type mentioned at the outset, this object is achieved according to the invention by a kink protection device for the welding wire, in which the welding wire is guided, protrudes from the arc welding torch and is arranged between an outer end cap of the arc welding torch housing and a wire feeder, as specifically described in claim 17.

[0023] A preferred further development of this aspect of the present invention can provide that the kink protector is removably arranged in the arc welding torch apparatus, with segments of the kink protector protruding from recesses in the end cap of the arc welding torch apparatus. This makes it particularly easy to provide the kink protector as a replaceable consumable part. Since the kink protector is arranged within the housing of the arc welding torch apparatus, it can preferably be designed as a component of an assembly that can be replaced entirely with a new assembly of the same type when the wire core wears. Regarding the kink protector for the welding wire disposed in the wire feed end region of the arc welding torch apparatus, it is also advantageous for the kink protector to be sleeve-shaped and have a continuous recess for receiving the welding wire, and preferably, the boundary wall of the continuous recess on the wire feed end side is provided with a bevel. The recess preferably extends concentrically with the intended longitudinal axis of the welding wire. It can also be advantageous for the diameter of the recess to match the diameter of the welding wire so that the welding wire is securely guided in the recess and encounters minimal resistance when passing through the recess. The bevel can facilitate safe and kink-free entry of the welding wire into the kink protector.

[0024] The present invention can be particularly advantageous in automated welding processes in which the arc welding torch is guided and moved by a welding robot. A problem in this context is that, in order to replace a worn wire core, not only may the arc welding torch apparatus itself need to be completely or partially disassembled. The arc welding torch apparatus itself may also need to be removed from the robot to gain access to and replace the wire core. The more extensive the required disassembly, the more extensive and time-consuming the subsequent reassembly will be. Due to the disassembly, the welding robot, to which the arc welding torch apparatus is already attached, may even require another, time-consuming teaching cycle. Therefore, replacing the wire core according to the present invention from the end of the welding process, together with the position signaling device according to the present invention, can be particularly advantageous in preventing extensive disassembly and subsequent reassembly of the automated welding system. The wire core can thus be replaced quickly and without extensive disassembly work, while still allowing the new wire core to be positioned correctly within the arc welding torch apparatus.

[0025] According to the invention, this advantage is particularly pronounced when a hollow-shaft robot, such as a "Motoman" type robot, produced by the manufacturer Yaskawa Europe GmbH, 65760 Eschborn, Germany, is used as a welding robot. In such a hollow-shaft robot, the welding medium, such as welding wire, shielding gas, and current, is guided approximately or at least approximately concentrically with the axis of rotation of the hollow shaft via a holder for attaching the arc welding torch to the robot, which holder is designed as a rotationally driven hollow shaft. In this case, disassembling the arc welding torch device itself and the robot holder is particularly laborious. A particularly advantageous solution for such a hollow-shaft robot and an arc welding torch interacting with the hollow-shaft robot is described, for example, in EP 1 689 550 B1. The content of this publication is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0026] A preferred electric arc welding torch, intended for placement on a welding robot having a robot arm, may include a connection device that is rotatable relative to the robot arm and includes: a fastening device for attaching the welding torch to the welding robot; a receiving device for mounting the welding torch and transmitting a driven rotational motion to the welding torch; an electrical connection for a welding power cable, via which the robot-side welding torch device can be electrically connected to a welding power source; and a power transmission device, via which the welding current cable can be electrically connected to the torch-side welding torch device. The power transmission device may include a stator that is configured for non-rotatable placement relative to the robot arm but rotatable relative to the connection device on the welding robot side. Furthermore, the stator may include a bushing through which at least one consumable required for the welding process can be guided toward the receiving device, wherein the receiving device and the fastening device are designed as a rotor and are therefore rotatable relative to the stator. The receiving device and / or the fastening device may be electrically conductively connected to the stator via electrical contact devices, wherein the fastening device of the rotor is designed for attachment to the connection device of the robot. Due to the attachment to the connection device of the robot, the rotation axis of the rotor is at least substantially aligned with the rotation axis of the connection device of the robot and the rotor is rotatable about the rotation axis and the stator.

[0027] Furthermore, it can be preferred that, in the arc welding torch device according to the present invention, a groove is provided which extends along the axis of rotation of the rotor and is centrally (aligned) relative to the axis of rotation by both the fastening device and the receiving device, wherein the inlet opening of the groove in the stator and the outlet opening of the groove in the rotor are also centrally arranged and thus aligned relative to the axis of rotation. In this particularly preferred solution for a hollow-shaft robot, the inlet opening in the arc welding torch for the welding medium from the welding cable is thus positioned along the axis of rotation of the arc welding torch. The outlet opening for discharging the welding medium from the rotor and transferring it to the torch neck is also aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotor. The entire groove thus preferably extends along the axis of rotation of the rotor and therefore also along the robot-side connection device, via which the rotational movement of the rotor about the stator is generated and transmitted from the robot to the rotor.

[0028] In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the welding wire can be inserted into the arc welding torch at the wire feed end and passed through the wire core to the end of the arc welding torch at the process end. During use of the arc welding torch, the wire is continuously fed as the wire tip melts in the process zone. The welding wire thus moves longitudinally through the entire arc welding torch and, consequently, through the connecting flange of the hollow-shaft robot for the arc welding torch and its stator. To replace the wire core and its components, the arc welding torch is preferably only slightly disassembled in the process-side area to gain access to the process-side end of the wire core. The arc welding torch and its process-side end can then be completely removed by hand. The arc welding torch remains assembled to the connecting flange of the hollow-shaft robot, and both worn and new wire cores and associated components, preferably including position signaling devices and / or preferably kink protection devices, are moved within the arc welding torch, passing through the robot-side connecting flange. Consequently, wire core replacement is extremely fast and reliable, even when using a hollow-shaft robot.

[0029] Further preferred embodiments of the invention emerge from the claims, the description and the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown purely schematically in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0031] Figure 1 It is a preferred embodiment of the arc welding torch equipment and the wire feeding equipment according to the present invention.

[0032] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the rear end area of ​​an arc welding torch apparatus.

[0033] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Detailed exploded view.

[0034] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a rear end region of another embodiment of an arc welding torch apparatus according to the present invention.

[0035] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Detailed exploded view.

[0036] Figure 6 is a highly schematic diagram of an articulated arm robot used as a welding robot;

[0037] Figure 7 is a highly schematic basic cross-sectional illustration of an embodiment of a welding torch of an electric arc welding torch apparatus.

[0038] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A more detailed illustration of the welding torch apparatus;

[0039] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 Cross-sectional view of the stator of a welding torch device together with the sliding contact device.

[0040] Figure 10 yes Figure 9 A side view of an assembly;

[0041] Figure 11 is an embodiment of a suitable articulated arm robot;

[0042] Figure 12 is based on Figure 11 Detailed enlarged view of midline A.

[0043] Figure 13 yes Figure 10 A cross-sectional view of a sliding contact device; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] Figure 1 A preferred embodiment of an arc welding torch device 1 according to the invention is shown. The arc welding torch device 1 is used in an automatic welding machine, such as a welding robot, not shown in detail. The arc welding torch device 1 is arranged on an end manipulator of a robot, not shown in detail, which end manipulator is movable in different spatial directions, preferably in all spatial directions on any desired feed path. The end manipulator can thereby carry the arc welding torch 1 along its feed path, and the arc welding torch 1 can form a weld seam on a workpiece. The arc welding torch can in principle be designed in the same way as the arc welding torch disclosed and described in WO 2005 / 049259 A1, with the differences with regard to the end region of the arc welding torch being seen in Figure 1 , and will be discussed below. Due to a non-absolutely necessary but particularly preferred embodiment of the arc welding torch 1, according to which the arc welding torch 1 has an outer stator part and an inner rotor part, and the welding medium is fed and supplied to the welding point at least substantially along and coaxially with the longitudinal axis 3 of rotation of the arc welding torch device and the end effector, the welding torch can be continuously rotated and twisting of the welding cable during the rotational movement can be avoided. It is expressly pointed out that the arc welding torch shown and discussed here is given only as an example of the present invention, and that the present invention can in principle also be used with other types of arc welding torches - in particular with arc welding torch devices having a specific structure that differs from the structure of the arc welding torch device discussed below.

[0045] The arc welding torch 1, shown merely as an example of the present invention, is a welding torch 1 that operates according to the gas shielded metal arc welding method. In this case, a welding wire 7, consumed during the welding process, is delivered to a predetermined welding point and continuously advanced during the welding process as the welding wire 7 is consumed. In this case, the welding wire 7, along with its core 8a and preferably surrounding insulation, is most commonly fed through the interior of the welding torch 1 (primarily through the shield tube 2). Furthermore, a shielding gas is supplied to the welding point, also most commonly through the shield tube 2. In this embodiment, the shielding gas is an inert gas; in other embodiments according to the present invention, an active gas—or a mixture of both—may also be provided as the shielding gas. In a preferred embodiment, current is also supplied to the arc welding torch 1 in the region of the rear end 6 of the arc welding torch, passes through the arc welding torch to the welding point or process point, and is used to ignite the arc in the region of the welding point or process end 5 of the arc welding torch and maintain it for the welding process. Therefore, when in use, the arc welding torch 1 is connected to or equipped with a welding power source (not shown) and a wire feeder 12. In a preferred embodiment, the welding wire, shielding gas, and current are fed to the arc torch at its power connection point via a known welding cable, particularly a coaxial welding cable. At the gas connection point of the arc torch 1, shielding gas is introduced into a conduit 9 inside the torch 1 to guide the shielding gas from the connection point through the conduit 9 to the free end at the weld point. Current is also conducted from the welding cable through the torch 1 to the weld point or process point. Current is also conducted inside the torch to the process point without current flowing outside the arc torch 1.

[0046] The arc welding torch device 1 thus has a torch neck 4 connected to a cable hose assembly 2. The cable hose assembly 2 extends approximately from a rear end 6 of the arc welding torch device 1 to the welding torch at a front end 5 at the welding process end. Figure 2 As shown, several replaceable consumable parts are arranged inside the arc welding torch 1; these will be discussed in more detail below.

[0047] exist Figure 2 , the rear end 6 of the arc welding torch device 1, which is remote from the process point of the welding, and the associated open front end 5 of the arc welding torch device 1 are shown in a detailed view together with two drive rollers 10, 11 of a wire feeding device 12. In this illustration, the welding wire 7 is shown between the two drive rollers 10, 11, whose outer peripheral surfaces are opposite to each other. The drive rollers 10, 11 are located directly opposite the rear end 6 of the arc welding torch device 1, which is remote from the process point of the arc welding torch 1. The front end 6 of the approximately tubular shield tube ends in an end cap 14, which has a through hole 16 ( Figure 3), which opens toward the front outer end of the end cap 14. The end cap 14 opens toward the process end of the arc welding torch apparatus, and from there, a stepped central recess 17 is provided in the direction of the open through-hole 16. The latter initially has a constant, larger diameter 18, which merges into the recess's constant diameter 19, which is smaller in comparison. This region, in turn, transitions into the through-hole 16. The inner circumferential surface of the smaller diameter portion 19 is provided with an internal thread 19a. Similarly, the inner circumferential surface of the larger diameter region 18 also has an internal thread 18a. The latter extends until just before the transition to the smaller diameter 19.

[0048] The outer / shell surface of the end cap 14 has a section 14a that widens conically from the end toward the process point and merges into a section 14b of the shell surface with a constant diameter. The end face 20 of the end cap 14, facing the process point, rests against an outer shoulder 21 of the shield tube 2 of the arc welding torch 1. The shield tube 2 extends into the region of the larger inner diameter 18 of the end cap 14 until shortly before the transition to the smaller diameter 19. The inner diameter 23 of the through-hole of the shield tube 2 in its front end region corresponds to the smaller diameter 19 of the recess 17 of the end cap 14, allowing the sleeve-shaped inlet body 25 to be accommodated in the shield tube 2 via its outer shell surface with at least a substantially positive fit. To secure the axial position of the sleeve-shaped inlet body 25, the through-hole 24 of the shield tube 2 has a shoulder 26 with a smaller inner diameter, which serves as a stop for the inlet body 25.

[0049] In the region of the shield tube 2, a cutout 28 or a radial circumferential groove is formed in the outer housing surface or outer housing surface of the sleeve-shaped inlet body 25, which serves to receive a sealing element 29 or a sealing device, such as, in particular, an O-ring. The section of the outer surface of the inlet body 25, which is situated opposite the smaller diameter 19 of the groove of the end cap 14, is provided with an external thread 30, which can be screwed into the internal thread 19a of the cylindrical circumferential surface of the section of the groove 17 of the end cap 14 having the smaller diameter 19.

[0050] The sleeve-shaped inlet body 25 is formed with a through groove 25a having a continuous, constant inner diameter. Only in the region where the guide element 32 (preferably not connected to the inlet body) is located within the through groove 25a of the inlet body 25 does the groove 25a have a cutout 25b or groove for accommodating a sealing element 33 or a sealing device, such as, in particular, an O-ring. The sealing element arranged in the groove 25b of the inlet body 25 thus contacts the outer housing surface of the guide body 32.

[0051] The inlet body 25 has an outer shell surface with different segments that differ from one another primarily in their outer diameter. In the illustrated embodiment, the first segment of the outer shell surface, located near the rear end of the arc torch, has an external thread 30, by which the inlet body 25 is screwed into the internal thread 19a of the end cap 14, thereby being removably connected to the end cap 14. Towards the process end 5 of the arc torch apparatus 1, the external thread 30 is followed by a cutout 35, which is followed by an unthreaded segment 36 of the outer shell surface having the same outer diameter as the threaded segment 30. The unthreaded segment 36 has a circumferential groove 28, in which an additional sealing element 29—in the illustrated embodiment, an O-ring—can be accommodated.

[0052] In the direction of the process end 5, another final segment 37 of the outer jacket surface of the inlet body 25 follows, which also has a constant, but smaller, outer diameter than the preceding segments. The insertion or rotational restriction of the shield tube 2 on the inlet body is caused by a shoulder 38, which is formed by the change in diameter between the final segment 37 of the outer jacket surface and the preceding segment 36.

[0053] In its front end region, the shield tube 2 in turn has an external thread 39 on its outer housing surface, onto which the end cap 14 is screwed with its internal thread 18a. The screwing movement is limited by the end face 20 of the end cap 14 striking the shoulder 21 of the shield tube. Reaching this position constitutes a visual check of whether the end cap is correctly installed and tightened.

[0054] exist Figure 3 In FIG, the wire feed end or rear end 6 of the arc welding torch apparatus 1 is shown in an exploded view, as well as the situation when the wire core 8a is replaced. As can be seen here, the inlet body 25 is screwed into the end cover 14 during operation of the arc welding torch apparatus 1. Likewise, all seals are inserted into their grooves and remain there even when the wire core is replaced. Figure 3In the illustration, the shield tube 2 is not shown; it is connected unchanged to the end cap 14 via a common screw connection and remains connected even during the replacement of the wire core 8a. To replace the wire core 8a, the arc welding torch is first disassembled at the process end 5 so that the wire core 8a and the guide element 32 can be pulled out of the process end 5 together. In the applicant's existing arc welding torch, into which the invention described herein will be integrated in the future, the gas nozzle, current contact tip, and optional tip adapter, for example, can be detached from the arc welding torch and removed from the welding wire. The wire core 8a can then be pulled out of the arc welding torch from the process end 5. The guide body 32, which is seated on the wire core 8a and connected to the latter by a press fit, is pulled out of the arc welding torch apparatus 1 along with the wire core. In this embodiment, the guide element, located in the recess in the end cap and the recess in the inlet body, is largely unconnected to either component and can therefore be pulled out of both components and out of the arc welding torch 1 together with the wire core 8a without requiring additional effort, particularly without significant effort. When the assembly is pulled out, only the relatively small retaining force acting on the outer housing surface of the guide element via the O-ring has to be overcome.

[0055] The new wire core 8a can then be arranged at one of its ends on the welding wire 7 and inserted and arranged in the guide body 32. The guide body 32 and the wire core 8a on the welding wire 7 can then be pushed together into the welding torch and thus also into the arc welding torch device 1 in a single operation. This insertion movement in the direction of the end cap 14 continues until the guide body 32 has completely passed through the open through-slot 16 of the end cap 14 with its end 32a on the end cap (serving as a position indicator) and the end 32a of the guide element 32 protrudes outward from the end cap 14. The visually recognizable end of the guide element 32, together with one of its ends 32a arranged outside the arc welding torch device 1, provides a means for checking whether the guide body 32 and the wire core 8a are arranged in the predetermined target position within the arc welding torch device 1 (without additional technical expenditure). Since the guide body 32 is sealed only at its predetermined position to prevent leakage of the shielding gas flowing in the arc welding torch equipment, the end 32a of the part of the guide body 32 visible outside the end cover 14 also provides an inspection to determine whether the newly inserted wire core 8a and its guide body 32 are arranged so that the arc welding torch 1 is sealed to prevent the shielding gas from escaping from the end 6 of the arc welding torch 1 at the end cover.

[0056] The components of the guide body 32 include a cylindrical end region segment 32a which, in the position of use on the arc welding torch 1, faces the wire feeder and, in this embodiment, is elongated and has a constant outer diameter. The end region segment 32a merges into a segment 32b which widens conically towards the end 5 on the process side and adjoins a cylindrical segment 32c with a larger, preferably constant outer diameter. Figure 2 and 3In the embodiment shown, segment 32c has a shoulder with a slightly reduced outer diameter. When inserted into the arc welding torch 1, the guide body 32 is first inserted into the inlet body 25 with its end region 32a. Since the outer diameter of the front portion of segment 32c in the insertion direction roughly corresponds to the inner diameter of the through-slot 25a of the inlet body 25, the guide body is guided within the inlet body during its feed motion. As a result, the end region segment 32a is also aligned in the correct position and arranged concentrically around the longitudinal axis 3, and can be inserted into the through-slot 16 of the end cap 14. Since the end region segment 32a has a constant outer diameter that is only slightly smaller than the diameter of the through-slot 16, the end region segment 32a can be fully inserted into the through-hole, while a portion of the end region segment 32a can be pushed out of the through-slot 16 of the end cap. This portion of the end region segment, which can be referred to as a position indicator, is thus externally identifiable in the end position in the welding torch 1 and is positioned relatively close to the junction of the wire feeder, where the feed motion is applied to the welding wire 7. The position indicator device can be used to provide a signal that is visually perceptible from the outside, indicating that the guide body and the wire core 8a are correctly positioned inside the arc welding torch.

[0057] The single-piece component of the guide body 32 is provided with a through-groove 34, which, in the region of the end region segment 32a, has a preferably constant diameter that is only slightly larger than the diameter of the welding wire used in this case. In the region of the segment 32c, which has a larger outer diameter, the through-groove 34 has a larger, but also constant, diameter, so that the rear end of the wire core 8a can be arranged in this region of the through-hole. The inner diameter of the groove 34 in this region roughly corresponds to the outer diameter of the wire core. Due to the change in diameter in the through-groove 34, the front end of the wire core 8a rests on the shoulder 34a. The single-piece construction of the guide body 32 ensures good guiding properties for the welding wire 7 in the guide body 32, and the risk of the welding wire 7 becoming stuck and thus bending during its movement is at most low.

[0058] Tilting the opening of the through groove 34 in the end face area of ​​the end area 32a of the guide body helps prevent the welding wire 7 from being stuck on or clamped in the guide body 25 during the feeding movement device, and helps facilitate the insertion of the welding wire end into the guide body 25.

[0059] Different guide elements 32 with different diameters of through-grooves 34 can also be provided for different welding wires. In particular, such a system can have guide bodies that are identical in their geometry, but differ in the diameter of their respective through-grooves 34 and, optionally, also in the material used for the guide elements, so that adaptation to a given welding wire material can be achieved in an advantageous manner.

[0060] The end 32a of the portion of the guide element 32 through which the welding wire 7 is guided, protruding from the end cap 14, also shortens the free, unguided length of the welding wire between the wire feeder and the arc welding torch 1. Because the outer diameter of the end portion of the guide element 32 portion is smaller than the outer diameter of the front end of the end cap, the portion of the guide element protruding from the arc welding torch can be positioned closer to the point of contact between the welding wire and the two feed rollers of the wire feeder. The welding wire is thus received and guided by the guide element portion earlier, which reduces the risk of the wire kinking. The section of the guide element portion with the smaller outer diameter that is guided through the end cap 14 and protrudes from the end cap 14 can be referred to as an anti-kink device.

[0061] Another advantage of the present invention is that, unlike before, the end cap 14 neither guides nor contacts the welding wire 7 nor the wire core 8a, so the usually complicated end cap 14 is no longer a wearing part.

[0062] exist Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the diagram of FIG, another preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. This is largely the same Figure 1-3 The preferred embodiments of the present invention are the same, which is why only the differences will be discussed below to avoid repetition. Figure 1-3 The above description is also incorporated by reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the embodiment.

[0063] According to Figure 1-3 The main difference of the embodiment of the arc welding torch device is that the guide element 32 has (only) one section 32c with a larger diameter, which has a continuous, constant diameter after its tapered section 32b in the direction of the process end of the welding torch. In this preferred embodiment, there is no increase in diameter on the outer jacket surface of the guide element after the tapered section - and viewed in the direction of the process end - which can be used for form-fitting and / or force-fitting retention of the guide element. In addition, in this preferred embodiment, there are no sealing elements (such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 The sealing element 33 of another embodiment of the present invention rests on the outer circumference of the segment 32 c having a constant diameter. Consequently, there is also no sealing element between the inlet body 25 and the guide element 32, which sealing element could exert a retaining force on the guide element 32. This is advantageous in particular for replacing the wire core 8a, since due to the lack of retaining force on the guide element 32, the wire core and the guide element can be removed more easily, i.e. with less force, from the arc torch device towards the process end. However, since the arc torch device according to the invention has a signaling device, using which the correct position can be checked, preferably for the entire period of use of the arc torch with the specific wire core, an additional retaining force is not absolutely necessary either.

[0064] Figure 6-13 In particular, an articulated arm robot 101, which has already been used in various ways, is shown. The articulated arm robot 101 is designed as a so-called hollow-axis robot, which is particularly suitable for use in conjunction with the present invention. Suitable robots of this type are, for example, robots of the AR or MA series, which are manufactured by Yaskawa Europe GmbH, 65760 Eschborn. The robot has a frame part 102 and an arm 103 arranged thereon and having a plurality of joints 104. The free end 105 of the arm of the articulated arm robot 101 can thus follow any desired three-dimensional motion path.

[0065] At the free end 105 of the arm 103, the robot is provided with a connection flange 106 of a connection device for receiving a welding torch 107 of an arc welding torch device ( Figure 6 ). The connecting flange 106 can perform a motor-driven rotational movement about the rotation axis 108 and relative to the last link of the arm 103. Figure 6 In FIG, a spacer block is drawn in front of the welding torch, which serves as an extension of the connecting flange 106 of the robot and can be provided as a non-essential option.

[0066] Figure 7-10 The arc welding torch 107 shown in more detail in FIG. 1 has a fastening device 109 and a receiving device 110 ( Figure 7 ). A fastening device 109 is provided for connecting the welding torch 107 to the connecting flange 106 of the robot arm 103 in a detachable but non-rotatable manner. Conversely, the receiving device 110, together with the contact device, serves to receive the torch neck 111 of the welding torch 107 and transmit the welding current to the torch neck 111. This transmission will be explained in more detail below. Since the receiving device 110 can be non-rotatably connected to the connecting flange 106 of the robot via the fastening device 109 in a manner that will be explained in more detail below, the robot performs a rotational movement. The receiving device 110 and the fastening device 109 are also collectively referred to as part of the rotor, which can perform this rotational movement by driving the connecting flange about the axis of rotation 108. For this purpose, the rotor is non-rotatably connected to the connecting flange, in particular, it is detachably connected.

[0067] The rotor can rotate about axis 108 relative to the last link of the robot arm 103, to which the connecting flange 106 is attached. The robot shown in the figure has a total of six drive axes, a number that is only an example of possible uses for an arc welding torch. Articulated arm robots with a different number of driven motion axes can also be used in conjunction with the arc welding torch according to the present invention.

[0068] The fixed stator, located inside the rotor and the last link of the robot arm 103, has a tubular bushing 114, which is arranged in the center of the welding torch device and has a cylindrical groove 115. The longitudinal axis 116 of the groove 115 is aligned with the rotation axis 108 of the connecting flange 106. The bushing 114 extends approximately over the entire length of the fastening device and the receiving device. The upper end of the bushing 114 on the robot side is provided with an external thread 117 as an electrical connection, a coaxial cable 118 ( Figure 6 and Figure 7 ) can be detachably mounted on the external thread 117 by being screwed thereon. In addition to the thread 117 of the bushing, a cone 119 ( Figure 8 ) as a conductive contact between the welding current cable 118a of the coaxial cable 118 and the sleeve 114. In the case of such a coaxial cable 118, the welding current cable 118a having an outer insulation 118b is coaxially arranged around the central channel 118c. The central channel 118c can be used to feed the welding wire 7 to the welding torch by a feeding motion and to allow the inert gas to flow to the front end of the welding torch 107.

[0069] In the region of the end on the torch side, below the illustration, the bushing 114 is surrounded by a bell-shaped segment 123 of the stator ( Figure 8 and Figure 9 ) is surrounded by a bell-shaped segment 123, which has a circular cross-section and is electrically conductively connected to the bushing. In an embodiment, the bell-shaped segment 123 is integrally connected to the bushing 114. A contact device 124, comprising a slip ring 125 disposed in the bell-shaped segment, is disposed substantially within the interior of the bell-shaped segment 123 on the bushing 114. The contact device 124 comprises a contact surface 126 formed on the end face of the slip ring 125. The contact surface 126 is biased by a compression spring 127 acting parallel to the longitudinal axis 116 of the bushing 114. The compression spring 127 is supported within the interior of the stator's bell-shaped segment 123 and presses the contact surface 126 against a similarly substantially annular surface of a connecting bell 135. Both the annular surface of the connecting bell 135 and the contact surface 126 are components of the contact device 124 and are each arranged concentrically about the longitudinal axes 108, 116 and traversed by a continuation of the groove 115.

[0070] Between the slip ring 125 and the interior of the bell-shaped segment 123 there is a contact segment 145 which establishes an electrical contact between the slip ring 125 and the bell-shaped segment 123. The spring action of the contact segment 145 has the effect of establishing an electrical contact between the slip ring 125 and the inner surface 133 of the bell-shaped segment 123. The material of the slip ring 125 is a good electrical conductor, for example copper or a copper alloy. The contact segment 145 can therefore preferably be silver-plated to ensure particularly good current transmission. The back-compression spring 127 of the slip ring 125 and its contact surface 126 ( Figure 9) is designed as a fixed component and part of the stator and serves as an electrical transition to the rotor to which the connecting bell 135 belongs and which can rotate around the longitudinal axis 108.

[0071] Therefore, the bell 135 ( Figure 8 ) is also electrically conductive due to its preferably silver-plated surface and abuts the slip ring 125 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 116 of the bushing 114 and in the direction of the torch end. The bushing 114, the slip ring 125 and the connecting bell 135 have aligned central holes that are generally part of a central groove 115 extending along the longitudinal axis 108.

[0072] Compression spring 127 thus presses against slip ring 125, which in turn presses against connecting bell 135 via its contact surface 126; the latter is therefore always in contact with contact surface 126—specifically, in electrically conductive contact. Connecting bell 135 is additionally secured relative to its axial position on the bushing by ring 148. Furthermore, connecting bell 135 mates with the conical outer surface of a "brass flange with bushing" 149 via its conical silver-plated inner surface and is axially centered. Furthermore, as part of the stator, a seal 136 is located between the stator's bell element 123 and slip ring 125 in a groove 150 in the slip ring 125. This seal ensures that bell element 123 is seated gas-tightly on slip ring 125.

[0073] The “brass flange with bushing” 149 mates with the preferably silver-plated connecting bell 135 via a cone and is screwed via a plastic insulating sleeve 151 onto a fastening element 152 , which is part of the fastening device and serves as a counterpart for the welding torch connection.

[0074] In this embodiment, the housing 141, the end cap 142 adjacent to one end of the housing 141, and the cover 154 adjacent to the other end of the housing 141 in the direction of the torch neck 111 are designed as plastic components. In this embodiment, the housing 141 also includes a fastening device 109 for fastening to the connecting flange 106 of the hollow-shaft robot. Together with the cover 154 and the cover 142, the housing 141 electrically seals and isolates the internal structure. The welding torch receiving device 110 is made of a metallic, electrically conductive material but is also separated from the current-carrying components by a plastic sleeve 151 with a flange serving as an insulator. The welding torch receiving device 110 extends through the plastic housing 141 and the cover 154.

[0075] A fastening device 109, constructed as part of a plastic housing 141, is non-rotatably but removably connected to the connecting flange of the robot 106. A receiving device 110 for a welding torch is also non-rotatably connected to the plastic housing 141, and the welding torch is removably connected to a fastening element 152 in a rotationally fixed manner. In principle, the housing 141, located outside the welding torch, is part of the arc torch rotor. This rotor is arranged concentrically with the internal stator of the arc torch relative to the axis of rotation 108 and can rotate about the internal stator due to the motor-driven rotational movement of the robot's connecting flange 106 relative to the internal stator. Conversely, while the rotor moves with the robot-side connecting flange 106, the stator remains stationary and does not rotate with it. In some embodiments, this stationary arrangement relative to the connecting flange 106, fastening device 109, and rotor can be achieved integrally, for example, by fastening a welding cable to the threads 117 of a bushing 114 and securing its rotational position due to the torsional rigidity of the welding cable. In other embodiments of the present invention, additional rotational locking of the stator on the robot can also be provided.

[0076] This makes it possible to transmit the rotary drive motion of the robot's connecting flange 106 to the welding torch via the plastic housing 141 using a fastening ring 153 and fastening element 152 arranged in the housing 141. However, the stator does not perform this rotary motion, as it is rotationally fixed to the robot arm via a coaxial cable 118, and possibly via additional fastening devices. However, the torsional resistance exhibited by this cable 118 is sufficient to secure the stator, although a small portion of the drive torque may not be transmitted to the stator via the bearing 143 due to friction torques, which cannot be completely eliminated. In the illustrated embodiment, the stator comprises at least the following components: a bushing 114 and a slip ring 125, as well as a compression spring 127. The rotor is mounted on the stator via bearings 143, in this embodiment, ball bearings.

[0077] The plastic housing 141 is closed towards the welding torch by a cover 154 which covers the fastening ring 153. The housing 141 is covered towards the welding torch cable by an end cap 142. If required, the stator can also be additionally fastened to a rotationally fixed part of the robot, for example via the cover 142.

[0078] The current required to perform the welding process flows from welding current cable 118a, which is connected to the stator's bushing 114 via a threaded connection on external thread 117 and continues in the stator to bell segment 123. A contact segment 145 is present, through which the current is transmitted to slip ring 125, also part of the stator. The current is transferred to the silver-plated connecting bell 135 via sliding contact between contact surface 126 and the connecting bell 135. The connecting bell 135 is part of the rotor and rotates about the axis of rotation 108 along with the driving rotational movement of the connecting flange 106 and the housing 141. The connecting bell 135 has a conical, also silver-plated, surface 137 on its inner surface. This surface mates with the counter-cone of the bushed brass flange 149, resulting in a tight press fit and, therefore, good power transmission. Within the brass bushing 149, there is another electrically conductive contact segment 155X6, through which the welding current is transmitted to the welding torch via the inserted inner tube. The welding torch is fastened via a fastening element 152 which is insulated from the inner tube.

[0079] The shielding gas can flow to the torch neck 111 through the groove 115 of the sleeve 114 via the coaxial cable 118. The welding wire 7 can also be fed into the torch neck 111 in the same manner and continuously advanced. If necessary, a data cable (not shown) can be integrated into the coaxial cable 118.

[0080] Reference Symbol List

[0081] 1 Arc Welding Torch 26 Shoulder

[0082] 2 Cover tube 28 insert / slot

[0083] 3 Longitudinal axis 29 Sealing element

[0084] 4 Torch neck 30 (25) external thread

[0085] 5 Welding process side end 32 guide element

[0086] 6 Rear end 32a End / end area

[0087] 7 Welding wire 32b tapered segment

[0088] 8a core 32c segment

[0089] 9 Pipe 33 Sealing element

[0090] 10 driving roller 34 through groove

[0091] 11 Driving roller 34a shoulder

[0092] 12 Wire feeding device 35 Insert

[0093] 13 Housing 36 Non-threaded segment

[0094] 14 End cap 37 small diameter segment

[0095] 14a Conical segment 38 shoulder

[0096] 14 External thread of cylindrical segment 39 (2)

[0097] 16 open through holes 101 joint robot

[0098] 17 Stepped center groove 102 frame

[0099] 18 Larger diameter 103 arms

[0100] 18a Internal thread 104 joint

[0101] 19 Smaller diameter 105 Free end

[0102] 19a internal thread 106 connection flange

[0103] 20 side 107 welding torch

[0104] 21 External shoulder 108 Rotation axis

[0105] 23 2 inner diameter 109 fastening equipment

[0106] 24 2 through slot 110 receiving device

[0107] 25 Sleeve-shaped inlet body 111 Torch neck

[0108] 25a Through slot

[0109] 25b insert / slot

[0110] 114 Bushing 134 Sliding surface

[0111] 114a Longitudinal slot 135 (silver plated) connecting bell

[0112] 115 groove 136 seal

[0113] 116 longitudinal axis 137 flange surface

[0114] 117 External thread 141 Plastic housing

[0115] 118 coaxial cable 142 cover

[0116] 118a Welding current cable 142a Hole

[0117] 118b External insulation 143 bearing

[0118] 118c channel 145 contact sheet

[0119] 119 cones 148 rings

[0120] 123 Bell segment 149 Brass flange with bushing

[0121] 124 contact device 150 (126) slot

[0122] 125 Slip Ring 151 Plastic Sleeve

[0123] 126 Sliding surface 152 Fastening element

[0124] 127 Compression spring 153 Fastening ring

[0125] 129 groove 154 cover

[0126] 130 Compression spring 155 Contact sheet

[0127] 133 inner surface

Claims

1. An arc welding torch device, which has a consumable electrode, the electrode having a movement direction of feeding from the rear end of the arc welding torch device to the front end of the arc welding torch device, in the area where the electrode is consumed during the arc welding process, the electrode in the arc welding torch device is guided in a replaceable wire core, the wire core is arranged in a guide element at least in the area of ​​the rear end of the arc welding torch device, the guide element surrounds the wire core and is designed as a replaceable wearing part, the guide element of the wire core is provided for replacement related to the common wear of the wire core, characterized in that In the arc welding torch device, the guide element is provided with a predetermined end position regarding the direction in which it is inserted into the arc welding torch device, and when the guide element reaches the end position, the position signal device can be detected outside the arc welding torch device, wherein the rear end of the wire core terminates in the guide element.

2. The arc welding torch device according to claim 1, characterized in that The position signaling device is designed as a position indicating device, and the position indicating device, which is arranged outside the arc welding torch device, can be visually perceived when the guide element reaches the end position.

3. The arc welding torch device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The position indicating device is part of the guide element.

4. The arc welding torch device according to claim 1, characterized in that The guide element is guided with one end thereof through an outer end-side housing part of the arc welding torch device and projects outward from the outer end-side housing part of the arc welding torch device from its housing.

5. The arc welding torch device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The guide element is guided with one end through the end cover of the arc welding torch device and projects outward from the outer end-side housing part of the arc welding torch device from the housing thereof.

6. The arc welding torch device according to claim 1, characterized in that The guide element is designed as a sleeve which has different outer diameters with respect to its longitudinal extent along its longitudinal axis.

7. The arc welding torch device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The guide element for the wire core has two sections of outer jacket surface, each section having a constant diameter, between which a section with a conical shape of the outer jacket surface is arranged.

8. The arc welding torch device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The end of the guide element passes solely through the outer end-side housing part and is arranged without connection thereto.

9. The arc welding torch device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The end of the guide element passes solely through the end cap and is arranged without connection on the outer end-side housing part.

10. The arc welding torch device according to claim 1, characterized in that The guide element for the wire core is arranged with its larger outer diameter in the sleeve-shaped inlet body and is not connected to the inlet body.

11. The arc welding torch device according to claim 10, characterized in that: The sleeve-shaped inlet body is detachably fixed to the housing of the arc welding torch apparatus at its outer jacket surface.

12. The arc welding torch apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: The sleeve-shaped inlet body is detachably fixed with its outer jacket surface to the outer end-side housing portion of the arc welding torch device.

13. The arc welding torch apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The outer end-side housing portion of the arc welding torch device is detachably arranged on the shield tube of the arc welding torch device.

14. The arc welding torch apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: A sealing element is arranged between an outer end-side housing part of the arc welding torch device and the guide element for the wire core.

15. The arc welding torch apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: A second sealing element is arranged between the sleeve-shaped inlet body and the housing of the arc torch apparatus.

16. The arc welding torch apparatus according to claim 15, wherein: The second sealing element is arranged on a section with a larger diameter on the outer surface of the guide element (32), the section with the larger diameter being designed as a section with a constant diameter and being located in a cylindrical groove of the inlet body (25).

17. The arc welding torch apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: The guide element (32) is arranged in the inlet body (25) in a force-fitting or form-fitting manner.

18. The arc welding torch apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: The inlet body (25) is provided with a notch (25b) or a groove on the inner side surface, a sealing device (33) is arranged in the notch (25b) or the groove, and the sealing device (33) is also in contact with the outer side surface of the guide element (32).

19. A replaceable assembly for an arc welding torch device and a housing-side end cover of the arc welding torch device, the replaceable assembly comprising a wire core arranged for arrangement inside the arc welding torch device and a guide element arranged in the region of one end of the wire core and surrounding the wire core, characterized in that A component on which the guide element is formed and a segment with a smaller outer diameter, an adjacent segment with a tapered outer segment, and a segment with a larger outer diameter adjacent to the tapered outer segment.

20. The replaceable assembly according to claim 19, wherein: The segment with the smaller outer diameter is a segment with a constant smaller diameter.

21. The replaceable assembly according to claim 19, wherein: The end portion of the outer surface of the component having the guide element matches the through hole of the end cap, so that in the use position of the guide element, the end portion thereof protrudes from the through hole of the end cap.

22. The replaceable assembly according to claim 21, wherein: In its use position, the guide element rests on the inner surface of the end cover or on the inner surface of another part of the housing of the arc welding torch device, whereby the insertion movement of the replaceable component is restricted and the end of the guide element protrudes from the end cover and therefore from the arc welding torch.

23. An arc welding torch device with a consumable electrode, wherein the electrode has a movement direction of feeding from the rear end of the arc welding torch device to the front end of the arc welding torch device, and in the area where the electrode is consumed during the arc welding process, the electrode in the arc welding torch device is guided in a replaceable wire core, and the wire core is arranged in a guide element at least in the area of ​​the rear end of the arc welding torch device, which surrounds the wire core and is designed as a replaceable consumable part, and the guide element of the wire core is provided for replacement related to the common wear of the wire core, characterized in that A kink protection device for the welding wire protrudes from the arc welding torch device and is arranged between the outer end cover of the arc welding torch device and the wire feeding device, and the welding wire is guided in the kink protection device, wherein the kink protection device is formed as a whole with a container for the wire core arranged in the arc welding torch device, and the rear end of the wire core terminates in the container.

24. The arc welding torch apparatus according to claim 23, wherein: The kink guard is removably disposed in the arc torch apparatus, and segments of the kink guard protrude from recesses in the end cover of the arc torch apparatus.

25. The arc welding torch apparatus according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that: The kink protector is sleeve-shaped and has a continuous groove for receiving the welding wire.

26. The arc welding torch apparatus according to claim 25, wherein: At the wire feeding side end, the boundary wall of the continuous groove is provided with an inclined surface.

27. The arc welding torch apparatus according to claim 23, wherein: The kink protection device is arranged to be unattached to the arc torch apparatus.

28. The arc welding torch apparatus according to claim 23, wherein: Due to the positive-fit arrangement of the kink protector in the axial direction in the arc welding torch apparatus, the kink protector is arranged at a predetermined position in the arc welding torch apparatus.

29. An arc welding torch device with a consumable electrode, wherein the electrode has a movement direction of feeding from the rear end of the arc welding torch device to the front end of the arc welding torch device, and in the area where the electrode is consumed during the arc welding process, the electrode in the arc welding torch device is guided in a replaceable wire core, and the wire core is arranged at least in a guide element in the area of ​​the rear end of the arc welding torch device, which surrounds the wire core and is designed as a replaceable consumable part, and according to one of the preceding claims, the guide element of the wire core is provided for the common replacement of the wire core due to wear, characterized in that In the region of the wire-feeding-side end of the arc welding torch device, only the integrally designed guide element is in contact with the wire core, wherein the rear end of the wire core ends in the guide element.

30. The arc welding torch apparatus according to claim 29, wherein: The guide element and at least one contact region of the guide element with the conductor core comprise a non-conductive material.

31. The arc welding torch apparatus according to claim 30, wherein: The entire one-piece guide element consists of electrically non-conductive material.

32. The arc welding torch apparatus according to claim 29, wherein: A plurality of guide elements can be inserted alternately and interchangeably into the arc welding torch device and comprise different materials.

33. The arc welding torch apparatus according to claim 32, wherein: The different materials include ceramic or plastic materials.

34. The arc welding torch device according to claim 29, which is provided for arrangement on a welding robot having a robot arm, the robot arm being provided with a connection device capable of rotating relative to the robot arm, comprising a fastening device for attaching the welding torch device to the welding robot, a receiving device for holding the welding torch and transmitting the driven rotational movement to said welding torch, an electrical connection for a welding current cable, via which the robot side of the welding torch device can be electrically connected to a welding current source, a current transmission device, via which the welding current cable can be electrically connected to the torch side of the welding torch device, the current transmission device having a stator which is provided for a non-rotatable arrangement relative to the robot arm but which is relatively rotatable relative to the connection device on the welding robot side, a channel in the stator, through which at least one consumable required for the welding process can pass in the direction of the receiving device, The receiving device and the fastening device are designed as rotors, which are thus rotatable relative to the stator, and the receiving device and / or the fastening device can be connected to the stator in an electrically conductive manner via electrical contact devices, wherein The attachment device of the rotor is designed to be attached to the connection device of the robot, and due to the attachment to the connection device of the robot, the rotation axis of the rotor is at least substantially aligned with the rotation axis of the connection device of the robot, and the rotor is able to rotate around the rotation axis and the stator.

35. The arc welding torch apparatus according to claim 34, wherein: A groove extends along the axis of rotation of the rotor, the groove extending centrally relative to the axis of rotation through the fastening device (109) and through the receiving device (110), the inlet opening of the groove in the stator and the outlet opening of the groove in the rotor being arranged centrally relative to the axis of rotation.

Images