Thread Connection for a Torch System

• US 20150076819A1
• Filed: 09/19/2013
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hypertherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hypetherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Mather, Jonathan P., Cornish, Jeffrey R., Mandadzhiev, Boris, Smith, Geoffrey W., Jogdand, Harshawardhan, Laflamme, Shawn, Caccavaro, George
• Granted Patent: US 9,642,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 285/391
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 10/00 Welding or cutting by means of a plasma
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/32 Accessories earthing connections H01R
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/3423 Connecting means, e.g. electrical connecting means or fluid connections

Abstract

A connector component is provided for assembly into a torch. The connector component comprises a body that includes a proximal end and a distal end disposed along a longitudinal axis. At least two thread regions are disposed radially about the longitudinal axis on a surface of the body near the proximal end. Each thread region includes at least two parallel threads disposed on the surface of the body. In addition, at least two smooth regions are each disposed radially about the longitudinal axis between a pair of thread regions on the surface of the body.

Claims

1. A connector component configured for assembly into a torch, the connector component comprising:

a body including a proximal end and a distal end disposed along a longitudinal axis;

at least two thread regions disposed radially about the longitudinal axis on a surface of the body near the proximal end, wherein each thread region includes at least two parallel threads disposed on the surface of the body; and

at least two smooth regions each disposed radially about the longitudinal axis between a pair of thread regions on the surface of the body.

2. The connector component of claim 1, wherein the connector component comprises a male component configured to securely engage a female component.

3. The connector component of claim 2, wherein the male component includes a gap disposed at the distal end of the body, the gap being configured to prevent rotation of the male component in the female component unless the gap is aligned with a corresponding rim of the female component.

4. The connector component of claim 1, wherein the connector component comprises a female component configured to securely engage a male component.

5. The connector component of claim 4, wherein the female component includes a rim disposed on the distal end of the body, the rim being configured to prevent rotation of the male component in the female component unless the rim is aligned with a corresponding gap of the male component.

6. The connector component of claim 1, wherein the connector component includes three thread regions.

7. The connector component of claim 1, wherein the connector component is configured to secure a corresponding component.

8. The connector component of claim 7, wherein at least one of the smooth regions of the connector component is configured to align with at least one of the thread regions of the corresponding component to facilitate slidable displacement of one component into the other component.

9. The connector component of claim 7, wherein one component is rotatable in relation to the other component in a first direction by a number of degrees less than 360°

to secure the other component.

10. The connector component of claim 9, wherein the number of degrees comprises one of less than or equal to about 60°

, 90°

, or 180°

.

11. The connector component of claim 9, wherein the components are disengaged when one component is rotated in relation to the other component in a second direction opposite from the first direction by about the same number of degrees.

12. The connector component of claim 1, wherein the threads of one thread region are discontinuous from the threads of an adjacent thread region.

13. The connector component of claim 1, wherein the connector component is coupled to a consumable of the plasma arc torch for attaching the consumable to another element of the plasma arc torch.

14. The connector component of claim 13, wherein the consumable comprises one of an electrode, nozzle, retaining cap, shield or torch.

15. The connector component of claim 1, wherein the location and orientation of the threads on one thread region are substantially the same as those of another thread region.

16. The connector component of claim 1, wherein the at least two thread regions are disposed radially about the body in a rotationally symmetrical arrangement.

17. The connector component of claim 1, wherein the at least two smooth regions are disposed radially about the body in a rotationally symmetrical arrangement.

18. The connector component of claim 1, wherein the at least two parallel threads are oriented substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

19. The connector component of claim 1, wherein the at least two parallel threads are evenly spaced relative to each other along the longitudinal axis.

20. A consumable connector component for attaching a consumable to a corresponding component of a torch, the consumable connector component comprising:

a cylindrical body including a proximal end and a distal end disposed along a longitudinal axis;

a plurality of longitudinally-oriented smooth regions disposed radially about a surface of the body about the proximal end; and

a plurality of longitudinally-oriented segments disposed radially about the body interspersed between the smooth regions, each segment including a plurality of threads disposed in parallel to one another along the surface of the body such the threads of one segment are discontinuous from the threads of an adjacent segment.

21. The consumable connector component of claim 20, wherein the location and orientation of the threads on one segment are substantially the same as those of a different segment.

22. The consumable connector component of claim 20, wherein the discontinuous threads prevent the corresponding component from engaging more than one segment of threads during rotation.

23. A method for engaging a first component and a second component for a torch, the first and second components each having i) a plurality of thread regions each having a plurality of threads and ii) a plurality of slotted regions characterized by the absence of threads, the method comprising:

aligning radially at least one thread region of the first component with at least one slotted region of the second component;

sliding the first component into the second component longitudinally in the radially aligned position; and

rotating the first component in one direction relative to the second component to engage at least one thread of the thread region of the first component with at least one thread of the thread region of the second component to secure the first and second components relative to one another.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

preventing the first component from rotating with respect to the second component during the sliding;

engaging a gap of the first component with a rim of the second component; and

rotating the first component relative to the second component in one direction after the engaging.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein rotating the first component relative to the second component comprises rotating the first component by a number of degrees less than 360°

.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the number of degrees is one of less than or equal to about 60°

, 90°

or 180°

.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising rotating the first component relative to the second component in an opposite direction by about the same number of degrees to disengage the two components.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first component is prevented from rotating further in the opposite direction when an edge of a thread region of the first component encounters an edge of a thread region of the second component in the rotational path.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein at least one of the first component or the second component is coupled to a consumable of the plasma arc torch.

30. The method of claim 23, further comprising aligning radially the plurality of thread regions of the first component with the plurality of slotted region of the second component.

31. The method of claim 23, further comprising aligning radially the plurality of slotted regions of the first component with the plurality of thread regions of the second component.