Thermal Torch Lead Line Connection Devices and Related Systems and Methods

• US 20140110382A1
• Filed: 01/08/2013
• Published: 04/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hypertherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hypertherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Beliveau, Jeremy, Mather, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 9,148,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/121.49
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5205 Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet H01R13/5221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/28 Cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/3423 Connecting means, e.g. electrical connecting means or fluid connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

In some aspects, lead connector assemblies for plasma arc torches for providing electrical and fluid connections can include male and female connectors. The female connector can include a current conductive member, a sealing member, clearance region, binding region, and a locking ring having a locking flange. The male connector can include a body defining an internal fluid passage, an electrical contact region, a sealing region, a locking trough, and a driving lip. The male connector, when assembled to the female connector, typically has an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration. In the engaged configuration, the male connector is locked within the female connector, the electrical contact region forms an electrical connection with the current conducting member, the sealing region forms a seal against the sealing member, the locking trough receives the locking flange, and the locking flange is positioned between the driving lip and the binding region.

Claims

1. A lead connector assembly for a plasma arc torch for providing electrical and fluid connections between a male lead connector and a female lead connector disposed in association with a plasma arc torch power supply, wherein the female lead connector comprises a current conductive member, a sealing member, clearance region, binding region, and a locking ring having a locking flange, the male lead connector comprising:

a body defining an internal fluid passage, an electrical contact region, a sealing region, a locking trough, and a driving lip, the male lead connector, when assembled to the female lead connector, having an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration,

wherein, in the engaged configuration, the electrical contact region forms an electrical connection with the current conducting member, the sealing region forms a seal against the sealing member, the locking trough receives the locking flange, and the locking flange is positioned between the driving lip and the binding region, and, as a result of the engaged configuration, the male lead connector is locked within the female lead connector.

2. The lead connector assembly of claim 1, wherein, in the disengaged configuration, the locking flange is located substantially within the clearance region, the locking flange is substantially outside of the locking trough, and both the binding region and the driving lip are arranged one side of the locking flange, and, as a result of the disengaged configuration, the male lead connector can be removed from the female lead connector.

3. The lead connector assembly of claim 1, wherein in the disengaged configuration, the electrical contact region is substantially in contact with the current conductive member.

4. The lead connector assembly of claim 3, wherein in the disengaged configuration, the sealing member does not form a seal with the sealing region.

5. The lead connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the fluid includes a gas and/or a liquid.

6. A plasma arc torch having at least two fluid lines comprising:

a torch body defining a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage, the torch body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a torch consumable mounting location disposed at the distal end of the torch body;

a lead mounting location disposed at the proximal end;

a first extension tube coupled to the first fluid passage;

a second extension tube coupled to the second fluid passage;

a first connector coupled to the first extension tube, the first connector having an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration with a corresponding first lead connector; and

a second connector coupled to the second extension tube, the second connector having an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration with a corresponding second lead connector,

wherein, in the engaged configuration of the first connector, the first connector is retained within the first lead connector by a locking flange of a locking ring of the first lead connector disposed along a driving lip of the first connector, the locking flange retaining the first connector by a binding region of the first lead connector, and, in the engaged configuration, the first connector provides electrical communication and fluid sealing between the first connector and the first lead connector;

wherein, in the disengaged configuration of the first connector, the locking flange is offset from the binding region of the first connector and is configured to be displaced by the driving lip of the first connector;

wherein, in the engaged configuration of the second connector, the second connector is retained within the second lead connector by a locking flange of a locking ring of the second lead connector disposed along a driving lip of the second connector, the locking flange retaining the second connector by a binding region of the second lead connector, and, in the engaged configuration, the second lead connector provides electrical communication and fluid sealing between the second connector and the second lead connector; and

wherein, in the disengaged configuration of the second connector, the locking flange is offset from the binding region of the first connector and is configured to be displaced by the driving lip of the second connector.

7. The plasma arc torch of claim 6, wherein, in the disengaged configuration of the first connector, the electrical communication is maintained by the first connector.

8. The plasma arc torch of claim 7, wherein, in the disengaged configuration of the first connector, the first connector does not provide fluid sealing.

9. The plasma arc torch of claim 6, wherein the first connector is configured to provide coolant and plasma cutting current to the plasma arc torch.

10. The plasma arc torch of claim 6, wherein the second connector is configured to provide shield gas and starting current to the plasma arc torch.

11. A method for electrically and fluidly coupling two conduits that deliver electricity and a fluid from a plasma arc torch control unit to a plasma arc torch, the method comprising:

translating a male connector defining a first conduit toward a female connector defining a second conduit in an assembly direction;

engaging an electrical contact connection between the male connector and the female connector;

mechanically coupling the male and female connectors to create a sealed fluid flow path that limits fluid from exiting a joint between the male and female connectors; and

cooling the electrical contact connection by a fluid flowing through the conduit.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising translating a locking ring of the female connector;

and translating the male connector away from the female connector in an unassembled direction.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein mechanically coupling the male and female connectors comprises translating a locking ring of the female connector.

14. A lead connector for a plasma arc torch for providing an electrical and fluid connection with an adjoining female connector, the lead connector comprising:

a electrically conductive body defining;

a fluid passage means configured to receive a fluid from the female connector;

a means for establishing an electrical connection with a current conducting member disposed within the female connector;

a means for establishing a fluid connection with a fluid passage of the female connector; and

a means for being retained within the female connector by a locking collar disposed within the female connector.

15. The lead connector of claim 14, wherein the means for being retained within the female connector comprises a means for being retained by a locking flange of a displaceable locking ring.

16. A method for establishing an electrical connection and a fluid connection between a plasma arc torch and a plasma arc torch control unit, the plasma arc torch control unit having a fluid conduit and the plasma arc torch having a fluid delivery line for providing a fluid to the plasma arc torch, the method comprising:

inserting a first connector component into a receptacle of a second connector component, the first connector component being inserted a first distance, which is sufficient so that a first substantially cylindrical portion of the first connector component contacts a current conducting member of the second connector component placing the first and second connector components in electrical communication with one another;

inserting the first connector component into the receptacle an additional, second distance so that a second substantially cylindrical portion of the first connector component contacts a sealing element of the second connector component; and

engaging a resilient, deflectable locking flange of a locking ring in a recess of the first connector component to limit movement of the first connector component away from the second connector component, wherein in an engaged configuration, the first and second connector components are fluidly and electrically connected to one another and together define a fluid flow path for delivering the fluid to the plasma arc torch.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising disengaging the locking flange from the recess by pushing the locking ring into the second connector component so that the locking flange is arranged in a clearance region of the second connector component.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising moving the first connector component away from the second connector component to separate the first and second connector components.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein, as the first connector component moves out of the second connector region, a driving lip of the first connector component deflects the locking flange away from the recess and into the clearance region.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the second substantially cylindrical portion has an average width that is larger than an average width of the first substantially cylindrical portion.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the sealing element in contact with the second substantially cylindrical portion creates a fluid seal that limits fluid from escaping the fluid flow path.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising cooling a region where the first substantially cylindrical portion contacts the current conducting member by a fluid flowing through the fluid flow path.