Method and apparatus for improved plasma arc torch cut quality
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of controlling a secondary gas that exits a secondary gas passage exit orifice at an end of a plasma arc torch body, the method comprising:
- controlling the flow of a secondary gas to provide a secondary gas density that reduces entrainment of the secondary gas into a plasma gas that forms a plasma arc.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Controlling the flow of a secondary gas reduces entrainment of the secondary gas and a plasma gas that forms a plasma arc in a plasma arc torch system. Reducing entrainment of the secondary gas and the plasma gas that forms the plasma arc improves the quality of cuts made with the plasma arc torch.
37 Citations
38 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling a secondary gas that exits a secondary gas passage exit orifice at an end of a plasma arc torch body, the method comprising:
controlling the flow of a secondary gas to provide a secondary gas density that reduces entrainment of the secondary gas into a plasma gas that forms a plasma arc. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
7. A plasma arc torch system comprising:
-
a torch body having a first end and a second end;
a plasma exit orifice at the first end of the torch body, a plasma arc ejects from the plasma exit orifice;
a secondary gas passage including a secondary gas exit orifice at the first end of the torch body; and
a control means for controlling the secondary gas to reduce entrainment of the secondary gas and the plasma arc at a location external to the plasma exit orifice. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of operating a plasma arc torch having a nozzle including a plasma exit orifice and having a secondary gas passage including a secondary gas exit orifice, the method comprising:
-
flowing a plasma gas to form a plasma arc that extends through the plasma exit orifice; and
controlling the density of a secondary gas flowing through the secondary gas exit orifice to reduce a density differential between the secondary gas and the plasma gas at the secondary gas exit orifice. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A system for cutting a material with a plasma arc torch, the system comprising:
-
a torch that generates a plasma arc from a plasma gas flow, the plasma arc extends through a plasma exit orifice, the torch having a secondary gas flow that contacts the plasma arc; and
a controller for controlling the density of the secondary gas flow to reduce the density differential between the plasma arc and the secondary gas flow when the secondary gas flow contacts the plasma arc. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A system for cutting a material with a plasma arc, the system comprising:
-
a torch that generates a plasma arc from a plasma gas flow, the torch having a secondary gas flow that contacts the plasma arc at a location about an end of the torch; and
a heater for controlling the temperature of the secondary gas flow to reduce entrainment between the secondary gas flow and the plasma arc before the secondary gas flow contacts at least a portion of the plasma arc. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
-
-
34. A method for operating a plasma arc torch, the method comprising:
-
generating a plasma cutting arc with a plasma gas in a plasma arc torch;
contacting a secondary gas with the plasma gas at a location about an end of the plasma arc torch; and
controlling the secondary gas to reduce the difference between the plasma gas density and the secondary gas density, wherein the secondary gas density at ambient conditions is less than the density of Nitrogen gas at ambient conditions and the secondary gas comprises at least 20% of an inert gas. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
-
Specification