welding torch

Abstract

The present invention provides a welding torch having a thumb rest surface that allows the worker's thumb to be stably placed. [Solution] In this welding torch 1, when the main body 20 is viewed from the side, with one end facing the front and the other end facing the rear, the side on which the thumb rest surface 40 is provided facing the upper side and the side on which the torch switch 30 is provided facing the lower side, a grip 21 is provided on the rear side of the torch switch 30 that is curved upward. The thumb rest surface 40 is located on the front side of the upper surface 22 of the main body 20 and includes an inclined surface that gradually slopes upward toward the front. The front end L2 of the thumb rest surface 40 is located in front of the front switch portion 30S of the torch switch 30, and the rear end L1 of the thumb rest surface 40 is located behind the front switch portion 30S of the torch switch 30.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a welding torch.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a welding torch that an operator holds and uses. This welding torch includes a handle for the operator to hold. A torch switch is provided on the handle to control the power supply from the power cable to the torch body. When the operator pulls (operates) this torch switch, power is supplied to the torch body and welding becomes possible.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In Patent Document 1, a pressing surface is provided on the front side (torch body side) of the upper part of the handle. This pressing surface is mainly used when removing the upper member provided on the front side of the upper part of the handle by pressing the pressing surface forward to slide the upper member. By contrast, welding torches have been increasing in size in recent years. When an operator holds the handle, the operator supports the front side of the upper part of the handle with the thumb. However, when the operator stably places the thumb, when the thumb is placed on the pressing surface disclosed in Patent Document 1, since it is not designed for the purpose of placing the thumb, there is a problem that the thumb becomes fatigued.

[0005]

[0006] The purpose of this disclosure is to solve the above problems and provide a welding torch having a thumb placement surface on which an operator's thumb can be stably placed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] [1] The welding torch of the present disclosure comprises a cylindrical main body portion that extends in one direction and is held by an operator; a torch body provided on one end of the main body portion; a power cable provided on the other end of the main body portion; a torch switch provided near the one end of the main body portion for controlling the power supply to the torch body; and a thumb rest surface provided near the one end of the main body portion, on the side opposite to the torch switch across the main body portion, on which the operator's thumb is placed, wherein the main body portion is provided on the one end side When the front side is considered the front, the other end side the rear, the side on which the thumb rest surface is provided the upper side, and the side on which the torch switch is provided the lower side, when the main body is viewed from the side, a grip is provided on the rear side of the torch switch that curves upward toward the front, the thumb rest surface includes an inclined surface on the front side of the upper surface of the main body that gradually slopes upward toward the front, the front end of the thumb rest surface is located in front of the front end of the switch of the torch switch, and the rear end of the thumb rest surface is located behind the front end of the switch of the torch switch.

[0008] [2] The welding torch according to [1], wherein the first inclination angle of the thumb rest surface with respect to the upper surface in a side view is approximately 165 to 175 degrees.

[0009] [3] An extension surface is provided in front of the front end of the thumb rest surface, such that the second inclination angle with respect to the upper surface in a side view is smaller than the first inclination angle of the thumb rest surface, as described in [2].

[0010] [4] The main body portion includes sides on both sides, and curved shoulder portions are provided on both sides of the thumb rest surface, extending downward toward the sides, as described in any one of items [1]-[3].

[0011] [5] The grip is a smooth surface, as described in any one of items [1]-[4].

[0012] [6] The welding torch according to any one of items [1]-[5], wherein the rear region of the main body part behind the rear end of the grip has a cylindrical shape with no protrusions over the entire surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The welding torch of this disclosure makes it possible to provide a welding torch having a thumb rest surface on which the worker's thumb can be stably placed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a first perspective view showing the overall configuration of the welding torch according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a second perspective view showing the overall configuration of the welding torch according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a side view of the handle of the welding torch according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a partially enlarged perspective view of the thumb rest surface of the welding torch according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] This is an end view taken along the VV line in Figure 4 (internal mechanism is omitted). [Figure 6] This is an end view taken along the line VI-VI in Figure 3 (internal mechanism is omitted). [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] The welding torch of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments described below, when referring to the number, quantity, etc., the scope of the present invention is not necessarily limited to that number, quantity, etc., unless otherwise specified. The same reference numeral will be used for the same part or equivalent part, and redundant descriptions may not be repeated. It is intended from the outset that the configurations in the embodiments will be used in appropriate combinations.

[0016] (Welding torch 1) Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the structure of the welding torch 1 of the present embodiment will be described. The welding torch 1 is provided so as to extend in one direction, and includes a cylindrical main body 20 that is gripped by an operator, a torch main body T provided at one end side of the main body 20, and a power cable PC provided at the other end side of the main body 20. For convenience of explanation, the side where the torch main body T is provided with respect to the main body 20 is referred to as the front side, and the side where the power cable PC is provided is referred to as the rear side. The side where the torch main body T inclines is referred to as the lower side, and the opposite side is referred to as the upper side. The left side when viewing the torch main body T from the main body 20 is referred to as the left side, and the right side is referred to as the right side. The left and right sides of the main body 20 may be referred to as the side surfaces.

[0017] The main body 20 includes a side surface 42 at a position closer to the front. A torch switch 30 for controlling the power supply from the power cable PC to the torch main body T is provided near the front side on the lower side of the main body 20. When the operator pulls (operates) this torch switch 30, power is supplied to the torch main body T and welding becomes possible.

[0018] The torch switch 30 has an outer surface shape that gradually protrudes downward toward the rear, and the torch switch 30 is pulled (operated) using the operator's index finger, or the index finger and middle finger.

[0019] When the main body 20 is viewed from the side, a thumb placement surface 40 for placing the operator's thumb is provided on the upper surface side opposite to the torch switch 30 of the main body 20. The upper surface side opposite to the grip 21 of the main body 20 is an upper surface 22 that smoothly extends from the rear to the front. The thumb placement surface 40 is composed of an inclined surface that gradually inclines upward toward the front on the front side of this upper surface 22. Curved shoulders 41 that face downward are provided on the left and right of the thumb placement surface 40. In a side view, the upper surface 22 may be horizontal or a gentle curved surface that curves slightly upward.

[0020] On the lower and rear side of the main body part 20, a grip 21 is provided which is recessed in a curved shape upward. On the grip 21, as anti-slip features, a plurality of convex portions 23 are provided in an arc shape so as to wrap around the grip 21. The amount of protrusion of the convex portion 23 from the surface of the grip 21 is about 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm, and when observing the surface of the grip 21 as a whole, it has a smooth surface that does not give a feeling of unevenness.

[0021] In this way, by providing the grip 21 with a smooth surface, the operator can grip the grip 21 at any position without the position where it is gripped by the convex portion 23 being restricted. When the operator is wearing anti-slip gloves or the like, it is not necessary to provide the convex portion 23.

[0022] (Configuration of the vicinity area of the thumb placement surface 40) Next, referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the configuration of the vicinity area of the thumb placement surface 40 will be described in detail. The rear end portion L1, which is the first boundary line between the front side of the upper surface 22 and the rear side of the thumb placement surface 40, is located above the torch switch 30, and the front end portion L2, which is the second boundary line as the end point on the front side of the thumb placement surface 40, is located in front of the switch front side portion 30S of the torch switch 30.

[0023] More specifically, with respect to the tangent line H1 to the upper surface 22 including the rear end portion L1, the front end portion L2 is located in front of the orthogonal line L3 that passes through the switch front side portion 30S of the torch switch 30 and is orthogonal to the tangent line H1, and the rear end portion L1 is located behind the orthogonal line L3.

[0024] In this way, by positioning the front end portion L2, which is the end point on the front side of the thumb placement surface 40, in front of the position S in front of the torch switch 30, when the operator grips the grip 21 so as to be able to pull the torch switch 30, the thumb placement surface 40 is arranged to extend in front of the torch switch 30, and in a natural state, it is possible to place the thumb on the thumb placement surface 40.

[0025] Furthermore, the first inclination angle α1 of the thumb rest surface 40 relative to the upper surface 22 in a side view (see Figure 3) should be approximately 165 to 175 degrees. This inclination angle allows the worker to rest their thumb in a natural position.

[0026] Furthermore, it is preferable that curved shoulder portions 41 are provided on the left and right sides of the thumb resting surface 40, extending downward toward the side surface 42 of the main body 20. By providing these curved shoulder portions 41, the operator can move their thumb from side to side without feeling any discomfort, thereby improving the operator's operability of the welding torch 1.

[0027] Furthermore, it is preferable that an extension surface 43 is provided in front of the front end L2 of the thumb rest surface 40, such that the second inclination angle α2 with respect to the upper surface 22 in a side view is smaller than the inclination angle α1 of the thumb rest surface 40. When the worker's thumb slides forward, the extension surface 43 functions as a stopper for the thumb.

[0028] Furthermore, in the rear region of the main body 20, specifically the rear region 45 behind the rear end 21p of the grip 21, a cylindrical shape is adopted, as shown in Figure 6, without any protrusions across the entire surface.

[0029] By adopting this shape, the operator can firmly grip the rear area 45 with their palm, further improving the operator's ability to control the welding torch 1 in various positions.

[0030] In addition, while there may be recesses for bolt tightening that are unavoidable due to the structure, these do not protrude from the surface of the cylindrical shape, so they do not come into contact with the palm of the worker's hand and do not cause any discomfort to the worker.

[0031] Although a welding torch has been described in the embodiments above, the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, and all modifications are made within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0032] 1 Welding torch, 20 Main body, 21 Grip, 21p Rear end, 22 Top surface, 23 Protrusion, 30 Torch switch, 30S Front side, 40 Thumb rest surface, 41 Shoulder, 42 Side, 43 Extension surface, 45 Rear area, H1 Tangent, L1 Rear end, L2 Front end, L3 Orthogonal line, PC Power cable, T Torch body.

Claims

1. It is provided to extend in one direction and has a cylindrical main body that is grasped by the worker, A torch body provided on one end of the main body, A power cable provided on the other end of the main body, A torch switch is provided at a position near one end of the main body for controlling the power supply to the torch body, At a position near one end of the main body, a thumb rest surface is provided on the side opposite to the torch switch, with the main body in between, where the worker's thumb is placed. Equipped with, In the main body, When one end is considered the front side, the other end is considered the rear side, the side on which the thumb rest surface is provided is considered the upper side, and the side on which the torch switch is provided is considered the lower side, When the main body is viewed from the side, A grip is provided on the rear side of the torch switch, which is curved upwards and recessed. The thumb rest surface includes an inclined surface on the front side of the upper surface of the main body that gradually slopes upward toward the front, The front end of the thumb rest surface is located in front of the front part of the torch switch. The rear end of the thumb rest surface is located behind the front part of the torch switch. Welding torch.

2. The first inclination angle of the thumb rest surface relative to the upper surface in a side view is approximately 165 to 175 degrees. The welding torch according to claim 1.

3. An extension surface is provided in front of the front end of the thumb rest surface, such that the second inclination angle with respect to the upper surface in a side view is smaller than the first inclination angle of the thumb rest surface. The welding torch according to claim 2.

4. The main body includes sides on both sides, On both sides of the thumb rest surface, curved shoulder portions are provided that extend downward toward the side surface. The welding torch according to claim 1.

5. The grip has a smooth surface. The welding torch according to claim 1.

6. In the rear region of the main body portion, beyond the rear end of the grip, there is a cylindrical shape without any protrusions across the entire surface. The welding torch according to claim 1.

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