Plasma arc torch
First Claim
1. A plasma torch comprising:
- a cathode and electrode having connecting ends configured for a coaxial telescoping connection with one another on a central longitudinal axis of the torch; and
interengageable detents on the connecting ends of the cathode and electrode, at least one of the detents being movable in a generally radial direction relative to the central longitudinal axis of the torch between an undeflected state and a deflected state, said at least one detent being movable from said undeflected state to said deflected state when said cathode and electrode are telescoped one into the other, and being movable from said deflected state back toward said undeflected state when the cathode and electrode are further telescoped to a point where the detents on the cathode and electrode are generally axially aligned whereby the at least one detent is engageable with the other detent to interconnect the cathode and electrode and inhibit axial movement of the electrode away from the cathode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plasma arc torch has a cathode and electrode having connecting ends configured for a coaxial telescoping connection with one another on a central longitudinal axis of the torch. The connecting ends have interengageable detents thereon, with at least one of the detents being movable in a generally radial direction relative to the central longitudinal axis of the torch between an undeflected state and a deflected state. The at least one detent is movable from the undeflected state to the deflected state when the cathode and electrode are telescoped one into the other, and is movable from the deflected state back toward the undeflected state when the cathode and electrode are further telescoped tc, a point where the detents on the cathode and electrode are generally axially aligned. In this position, the at least one detent is engageable with the other detent to interconnect the cathode and electrode and inhibit axial movement of the electrode away from the cathode.
120 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A plasma torch comprising:
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a cathode and electrode having connecting ends configured for a coaxial telescoping connection with one another on a central longitudinal axis of the torch; and interengageable detents on the connecting ends of the cathode and electrode, at least one of the detents being movable in a generally radial direction relative to the central longitudinal axis of the torch between an undeflected state and a deflected state, said at least one detent being movable from said undeflected state to said deflected state when said cathode and electrode are telescoped one into the other, and being movable from said deflected state back toward said undeflected state when the cathode and electrode are further telescoped to a point where the detents on the cathode and electrode are generally axially aligned whereby the at least one detent is engageable with the other detent to interconnect the cathode and electrode and inhibit axial movement of the electrode away from the cathode.
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2. A plasma torch comprising:
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a cathode and electrode having connecting ends configured for a coaxial telescoping connection with one another on a central longitudinal axis of the torch; and interengageable detents on the connecting ends of the cathode and electrode, at least one of the detents being movable in a generally radial direction relative to the central longitudinal axis of the torch between an undeflected state and a deflected state, said at least one detent being movable from said undeflected state to said deflected state when said cathode and electrode are telescoped one into the other, and being movable from said deflected state back toward said undeflected state when the cathode and electrode are further telescoped to a point where the detents on the cathode and electrode are generally axially aligned whereby the at least one detent is engageable with the other detent to interconnect the cathode and electrode and inhibit axial movement of the electrode away from the cathode; the connecting end of one of said cathode and electrode comprising at least one resilient prong defined by at least one longitudinal slot in said connecting end, said detent being on the prong and comprising a generally radial detent surface engageable with an opposing generally radial detent surface of the other detent. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A plasma torch cathode having a connecting end adapted for electrical connection with an electrode in the torch and a detent extending radially from the connecting end for interconnecting the electrode and cathode in the torch, the detent being movable in a generally radial direction relative to a central longitudinal axis of the cathode between an undeflected state and a deflected state for allowing relative telescopic movement of the cathode and electrode to interconnect the cathode and the electrode, said detent being movable from said undeflected state to said deflected state when said cathode and electrode are telescoped one into the other, and being movable from said deflected state back toward said undeflected state when the cathode and electrode are further telescoped thereby to interconnect the cathode and electrode, said detent inhibiting axial movement of the electrode out of the torch upon interconnection of the cathode and electrode.
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11. A plasma torch cathode having a connecting end adapted for electrical connection with an electrode in the torch and a detent extending radially from the connecting end for interconnecting the electrode and cathode in the torch, the detent being movable in a generally radial direction relative to a central longitudinal axis of the cathode between an undeflected state and a deflected state for allowing relative telescopic movement of the cathode and electrode to interconnect the cathode and the electrode, said detent inhibiting axial movement of the electrode out of the torch upon interconnection of the cathode and electrode;
the connecting end of the cathode comprising at least one resilient prong defined by at least one slot extending longitudinally in the connecting end of the cathode, the detent having a detent surface extending generally radially from said at least one prong. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A plasma torch electrode having a connecting end adapted for interconnection with the plasma torch, said connecting end being resiliently movable relative to a central longitudinal axis of the electrode between a normal, undeflected state and a deflected state in which the diameter of the connecting end of the electrode is substantially changed from its normal, undeflected state, said radial movement permitting insertion in and interconnection with the torch.
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15. A plasma torch electrode having a connecting end adapted for interconnection with the plasma torch, said connecting end being resiliently movable relative to a central longitudinal axis of the electrode between a normal, undeflected state and a deflected state in which the diameter of the connecting end of the electrode is substantially changed from its normal, undeflected state, said radial movement permitting insertion in and interconnection with the torch;
the connecting end having a detent extending radially therefrom for use in interconnecting the electrode with the torch and inhibiting axial movement outward from the torch upon interconnection of the electrode and the torch. - View Dependent Claims (16)
- 17. A plasma torch electrode having a connecting end and a detent on the connecting end extending generally radially therefrom for interconnection with a cathode of the plasma torch to inhibit axial movement of the electrode out of the torch.
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21. A plasma torch comprising:
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a cathode and electrode having connecting ends configured for coaxial telescoping movement relative to one another on a central longitudinal axis of the torch; a detent on the connecting end of the electrode; a corresponding detent in the plasma torch arranged for interengagement with the detent on the electrode connecting end upon insertion of the electrode in the torch; the detent on the connecting end of the electrode being movable in a generally radial direction relative to the central longitudinal axis of the torch between an undeflected state and a deflected state for allowing insertion of the electrode in the torch to a position in which the detent on the electrode connecting end is axially aligned and interengageable with the detent in the plasma torch to inhibit axial movement of the electrode outward from the torch.
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22. A plasma torch electrode having a connecting end adapted for interconnection with the plasma torch, said connecting end being resiliently movable relative to a central longitudinal axis of the electrode between a normal, undeflected state and a deflected state in which the diameter of the connecting end of the electrode is substantially changed from its normal, undeflecied state, said radial movement permitting insertion in and interconnection with the torch;
the connecting end of the electrode comprising at least one resilient prong defined by at least one slot extending longitudinally in the connecting end of the electrode.
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23. A plasma torch comprising:
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a cathode and electrode having connecting ends configured for coaxial telescoping movement relative to one another on a central longitudinal axis of the torch; a detent on the connecting end of the electrode; a corresponding detent in the plasma torch arranged for interengagement with the detent on the electrode connecting end upon insertion of the electrode in the torch; the detent on the connecting end of the electrode being movable in a generally radial direction relative to the central longitudinal axis of the torch between an undeflected state and a deflected state for allowing insertion of the electrode in the torch to a position in which the detent on the electrode connecting end is interengageable with the detent in the plasma torch to inhibit axial movement of the electrode outward from the torch; and a tubular central insulator having an upper portion surrounding the cathode on the central longitudinal axis of the torch and a lower portion for receiving the electrode connecting end therein, the detent of the torch being on the lower portion of the central insulator.
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Specification