Plasma torch
First Claim
1. A front-end assembly for a plasma arc torch utilizing a single inlet gas for both plasma and secondary gas, comprising:
- a. subassembly including a tip element with integral swirl ring said subassembly being removable from said plasma arc torch;
b. an electrode having an integral hollow elongated interior cooling tube, said electrode nesting in said subassembly;
c. a nozzle, said subassembly nesting in said nozzle; and
d. means for releasably mounting said nozzle on said torch, said subassembly nesting in said nozzle, and said electrode nesting in said subassembly when said nozzle is mounted on said torch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A three-part front-end assembly for a plasma arc cutting torch utilizing a single inlet gas is disclosed. The front-end assembly includes (1) an electrode having an integral, hollow, elongated, interior cooling tube, (2) a tip element with integral swirl ring, and (3) a nozzle. The electrode having an integral, hollow, interior cooling tube stacks upon and nests in the tip element with integral swirl ring. Both of these elements then nest in the nozzle forming the stack configuration of this three part, front end assembly. The invention also includes as a separate element, an electrode having an integral, hollow, elongated, interior cooling tube. Another separate element of this invention is the tip element with integral swirl ring.
101 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A front-end assembly for a plasma arc torch utilizing a single inlet gas for both plasma and secondary gas, comprising:
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a. subassembly including a tip element with integral swirl ring said subassembly being removable from said plasma arc torch; b. an electrode having an integral hollow elongated interior cooling tube, said electrode nesting in said subassembly; c. a nozzle, said subassembly nesting in said nozzle; and d. means for releasably mounting said nozzle on said torch, said subassembly nesting in said nozzle, and said electrode nesting in said subassembly when said nozzle is mounted on said torch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A removably elongated electrode for use in a plasma arc torch, said torch further including an electrically conductive seat, a trigger assembly, a compressed air source, a subassembly including a tip element with integral swirl ring and a nozzle comprising:
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a. a elongated outer tube having a first open end and a second closed end; b. an integral hollow elongated interior cooling tube sized to fit inside of said outer tube forming an annular conduit between said interior cooling tube and said outer tube, said interior cooling tube having a first end and a second end, said first end of said interior cooling tube engaging and sealing with said first open end of said outer tube; c. a radial shoulder positioned on the exterior of said outer tube, said shoulder having at least one port therein perforating said outer tube, said port in communication with said annular conduit; and d. said radial shoulder engaging an electrically conductive seat when said electrode is assembled with said subassembly and said nozzle; and e. said radial shoulder being blown out of engagement with said conductive seat by said compressed air source when said trigger is engaged and said electrode is assembled with said nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 19)
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18. A removable subassembly including a tip element with integral swirl ring for use in a plasma arc torch employing an elongate electrode, and an inlet gas, said integral swirl ring including:
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a. a hollow generally cylindrical electrically nonconductive body sized to allow said electrode to pass through said hollow body, said hollow body having a larger diameter than said electrode to create an annular passageway for passage of said inlet gas; b. a plurality of longitudinally aligned channels in the exterior of said body for passage of said inlet gas; c. said hollow body having a first end and a second end; and d. said first end abutting said shoulder of said electrode and said first end forming a plurality of tangentially aligned slots causing said gas to swirl in said annular passageway, after it passes through said slots.
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Specification