Apparatus and Method for a Liquid Cooled Shield for Improved Piercing Performance
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A retaining cap for a plasma arc torch comprising:
- an outer component having an interior surface and an exterior surface which defines, at least in part, a first liquid coolant channel;
an inner component circumferentially disposed within the outer component and having an exterior surface and an interior surface which defines, at least in part, a second liquid coolant channel;
a gas flow channel defined at least in part by the interior surface of the outer component and the exterior surface of the inner component; and
a port located at an end of the gas flow channel between the interior surface of the outer component and the exterior surface of the inner component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shield for a plasma arc torch that pierces and cuts a metallic workpiece producing a splattering of molten metal directed at the torch, the shield protecting consumable components of the plasma arc torch from the splattering molten metal. The shield can include a body, a first surface of the body configured to be contact-cooled by a gas flow, a second surface of the body configured to be contact-cooled by a liquid flow, and a seal assembly configured to be secured to the body and disposed relative to the second surface configured to retain the liquid flow contact-cooling the second surface.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A retaining cap for a plasma arc torch comprising:
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an outer component having an interior surface and an exterior surface which defines, at least in part, a first liquid coolant channel; an inner component circumferentially disposed within the outer component and having an exterior surface and an interior surface which defines, at least in part, a second liquid coolant channel; a gas flow channel defined at least in part by the interior surface of the outer component and the exterior surface of the inner component; and a port located at an end of the gas flow channel between the interior surface of the outer component and the exterior surface of the inner component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 20)
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10. A shield retaining cap for retaining a shield to a plasma arc torch comprising:
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an outer component having an interior surface and an exterior surface; an inner component circumferentially disposed within the outer component and having an interior surface and exterior surface; and a liquid coolant channel comprising; a first portion of the liquid coolant channel defined, at least in part, by a portion of the interior surface of the inner component; a second portion of the liquid coolant channel defined, at least in part, by the exterior surface of the inner component and the interior surface of the outer component; and a port between the exterior surface of the inner component and the interior surface of the outer component and disposed at an end of at least one of the outer component or the inner component. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21)
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17. A retaining cap for a plasma arc torch comprising:
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a shell having an exterior surface that defines, at least in part, a first liquid coolant channel; a liner circumferentially disposed within the shell and having an interior surface that defines, at least in part, a second liquid coolant channel; and a gas flow channel defined at least in part by and located between the shell and the liner.
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18. A shield retaining cap for a plasma arc torch comprising:
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a shell; a liner disposed circumferentially within an interior surface of the shell; and a liquid coolant channel comprising; a first portion of the liquid coolant channel defined, at least in part, by an interior surface of the liner; and a second portion of the liquid coolant channel defined, at least in part, by a portion of the interior surface of the shell and, at least in part, by a portion of an exterior surface of the liner.
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19. A method for cooling a plasma arc torch comprising:
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directing a liquid coolant to an electrode; directing the liquid coolant to a nozzle through a first liquid coolant channel defined, at least in part, by a first retaining cap; and directing the liquid coolant from the nozzle to a shield through a second liquid coolant channel defined, at least in part, by a second retaining cap.
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22. A shield retaining cap for a plasma arc torch comprising:
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a substantially cylindrical body dimensioned to receive a shield of the plasma arc torch; a liquid coolant channel defined by the substantially cylindrical body wherein the liquid coolant channel comprises a return path and a supply path which directs a coolant to impinge a circumferentially extending portion of the shield. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification