HIGH ACCESS CONSUMABLES FOR A PLASMA ARC CUTTING SYSTEM

• US 20150181686A1
• Filed: 03/09/2015
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hypertherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hypertherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Shipulski, E. Michael, Darrow, Clifford Glenn, Schulze, Christopher, Higgens, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 10,194,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 10/00 Welding or cutting by means of a plasma
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 35/00 Rods, electrodes, materials, or media, for use in soldering, welding, or cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 35/0216 Rods, electrodes, wires
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/34 Details, e.g. electrodes, nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/3421 Transferred arc or pilot arc mode
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/3442 Cathodes with inserted tip
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/3457 Nozzle protection devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/3468 Vortex generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A torch extender for a plasma arc cutting system is provided. The plasma torch extender includes an elongated substantially dielectric body that defines a first end and a second end and includes a flexible section that is poseable across a plurality of orientations. The torch extender also includes a first connector, at the first end of the elongated substantially dielectric body, which mates with a consumable set, and a second connector, at the second end of the elongated substantially dielectric body, which mates with a torch mount. The torch extender further includes a consumable detection medium that communicates the presence of the consumable set. The consumable detection medium is disposed within the elongated substantially dielectric body and extends between the first end and the second end of the elongated substantially dielectric body.

Claims

1. A plasma torch extender for a plasma arc cutting system, the plasma torch extender comprising:

an elongated substantially dielectric body including a first end and a second end, the elongated substantially dielectric body having a flexible section adapted to be poseable across a plurality of orientations;

a first connector at the first end of the elongated substantially dielectric body adapted to mate with a consumable set;

a second connector at the second end of the elongated substantially dielectric body adapted to mate with a torch mount; and

a consumable detection medium adapted to communicate the presence of the consumable set, the consumable detection medium disposed within the elongated substantially dielectric body and extending between the first end and the second end of the elongated substantially dielectric body.

2. The plasma torch extender of claim 1 wherein the flexible section of the elongated substantially dielectric body is arranged such that it can be manipulated to position the first end of the elongated substantially dielectric body at a predetermined range of angles with respect to the second end of the elongated substantially dielectric body.

3. The plasma torch extender of claim 1 wherein the plurality of orientations include at least one movement to at least one of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, or 90 degree angles.

4. The plasma torch extender of claim 1 wherein the flexible section of the elongated substantially dielectric body is arranged such that it can be manipulated to position the first end of the elongated substantially dielectric body at a compound angle with respect to the second end of the elongated substantially dielectric body.

5. The plasma torch extender of claim 1 wherein the first end of the elongated substantially dielectric body remains fixed with respect to the second end of the elongated substantially dielectric body after the body is manipulated, by a user, to assume the desired posture.

6. The plasma torch extender of claim 1 wherein the flexible section of the elongated substantially dielectric body is configured such that it can be manipulated to position the first end of the elongated substantially dielectric body with respect to the second end of the elongated substantially dielectric body across a range of angles, spanning from 0 degree to 360 degrees.

7. The plasma torch extender of claim 1 wherein the consumable detection medium is adapted to detect the presence of the consumable set as a function of translating at least one of a mechanical, pneumatic or electric signal received from the first end of the elongated substantially dielectric body.

8. The plasma torch extender of claim 1 wherein the consumable detection medium for communicating the presence of the consumable set includes a consumable sensor that detects the presence of the consumable set.

9. The plasma torch extender of claim 8 wherein the consumable sensor includes at least one of a mechanical, pneumatic or electric sensor.

10. The plasma torch extender of claim 8 further including a transmission medium relocates a functionality of the consumable sensor from the first end of the elongated substantially dielectric body to a torch sensor located at the second end of the elongated substantially dielectric body.

11. The plasma torch extender of claim 1 wherein the second end of the elongated substantially dielectric body is configured to mate with a mechanized torch body or a handle of the plasma arc torch.

12. The plasma torch extender of claim 1 wherein the elongated substantially dielectric body includes at least one of a gas channel for providing a plasma gas to a plasma arc torch or a power conductor for providing a cutting current to the plasma arc torch.

13. The plasma torch extender of claim 1 wherein the second end of the elongated substantially dielectric body is further arranged to connect to at least one of a camera or a borescope disposed proximate to the elongated substantially flexible body.

14. A plasma torch extender for a plasma arc cutting system, the plasma torch extender comprising:

an elongated substantially dielectric body including a first end and a second end, the first end configured to mate with a consumable set and the second end configured to mate with a torch handle, the elongated substantially dielectric body having a flexible section including a set of serially interconnected conduits, each conduit being moveable relative to an adjacent conduit in three dimensions such that the flexible section is poseable across a plurality of orientations; and

a transmission medium for communicating information indicative of the presence of the consumable set, the transmission medium disposed relative to the elongated body and providing a transmission path between the first end and the second end of the elongated body.

15. The plasma torch extender of claim 14 wherein each conduit is a generally longitudinal cylindrical body.

16. The plasma torch extender of claim 14 wherein the longitudinal axis of each conduit is arranged to be moveable, about the connection point, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the adjacent conduit, to a plurality of predetermined orientations.

17. The plasma torch extender of claim 16 wherein at least one end of each conduit includes a motion limiter that limits movement of the conduit relative to the connection point with its adjacent conduit.

18. The plasma torch extender of claim 17 wherein the motion limiter is arranged to allow movement of the conduit, relative to the connection point, to a predetermined range of movements.

19. The plasma torch extender of claim 14 wherein the plurality of the serially connected conduits are positioned substantially internal to the elongated substantially dielectric body.

20. The plasma torch extender of claim 14 wherein the flexible section is at least 6 inches long.

21. The plasma torch extender of claim 14 wherein the second end of the elongated substantially dielectric body is further arranged to connect to at least one of a camera or a borescope disposed proximate to the elongated substantially flexible body.

22. The plasma torch extender of claim 14 wherein the transmission medium for communicating information indicative of the presence of the consumable set includes a consumable sensor that detects the presence of the consumable set.

23. The plasma torch extender of claim 22 wherein the consumable sensor includes at least one of a mechanical, pneumatic or electric sensor.

24. The plasma torch extender of claim 22 wherein the transmission medium is arranged to relocate a functionality of the consumable sensor from the first end of the elongated substantially dielectric body to a torch sensor located at the second end of the elongated substantially dielectric body.

25. The plasma torch extender of claim 14 wherein the flexible section is poseable to form a compound angle.

26. The plasma torch extender of claim 14 wherein the flexible section is moveable across a range of orientations, including at least one movement spanning from 0 degree to 180 degrees, between the first and the second end of the elongated substantially dielectric body.

27. The plasma torch extender of claim 14 wherein the plurality of serially connected conduits further include at least one of a gas channel for providing a plasma gas to the plasma arc torch or a power conductor for providing a cutting current to the plasma arc torch that passes through the plurality of serially connected conduits.

28. The plasma torch extender of claim 14 wherein the first end of the elongated substantially dielectric body remains stationary with respect to the second end of the elongated substantially dielectric body after positioning by a user.

29. A plasma arc torch cutting system comprising:

a torch mount;

a torch extension member having a first end and a second end, the torch extension member having a flexible section configured to be poseable across a range of angles;

a first connector at the first end configured to mate with a torch tip that includes an electrode and a nozzle;

a second connector at the second end configured to mate with the torch mount; and

a transmission medium for communicating information indicative of the presence of the torch tip, the transmission medium disposed within the torch extension member and extending between the first end and the second end.

30. The plasma arc torch cutting system of claim 29 wherein the flexible section of the torch extension member is arranged to be fully poseable to form a compound angle.

31. The plasma arc torch cutting system of claim 29 wherein the flexible section of the torch extension member is arranged to remain fixed after being posed to assume a desired posture.

32. The plasma arc torch cutting system of claim 29 wherein the flexible section of the torch extension member is arranged such that it can be manipulated to position the first end of the torch extension member at a predetermined range of angles with respect to the second end of the torch extension member.

33. The plasma arc torch cutting system of claim 29 wherein the transmission medium for communicating information indicative of the presence of the torch tip is coupled with a torch tip sensor that detects the presence of the torch tip.

34. The plasma arc torch cutting system of claim 33 wherein the torch tip sensor includes at least one of a mechanical, pneumatic or electric sensor.

35. The plasma torch cutting system of claim 33 wherein the transmission medium for communicating information indicative of the presence of the torch tip further is arranged to relocate a functionality of the torch tip sensor from the first end of the torch extension member to a torch sensor located at the second end of the torch extension member.

36. The plasma torch cutting system of claim 33 wherein the second end of the torch extension member is connected to a mechanized torch body or a handle of the plasma arc torch.

37. The plasma torch cutting system of claim 29 wherein the extension member includes at least one of a gas channel for providing a plasma gas to a plasma arc torch or a power conductor for providing a cutting current to the plasma arc torch.