Plasma arc torch head connections

• US 6,919,526 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2003
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thermal Dynamics Corporation (Enovis Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Thermal Dynamics Corporation (Enovis Corp.)
• Inventors: Conway, Christopher J., MacKenzie, Darrin H., Gugliotta, Mark, Kinerson, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOANG, TU BA
• Application Number:
  US10/409,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20040079735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121.36, 219/121.48, 219/121.49, 219/121.5, 219/121.51, 219/121.52, 219/121.63, 219/75, 219/137
• US Class Current: 219/121.5
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 10/00 Welding or cutting by means of a plasma
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/291 the shielding means being a gas
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/28 Cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/34 Details, e.g. electrodes, nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/3431 Coaxial cylindrical electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/3436 Hollow cathodes with internal coolant flow
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/3442 Cathodes with inserted tip
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/3468 Vortex generators
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/3478 Geometrical details
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/3489 Means for contact starting

Abstract

A plasma arc torch is provided that comprises torch head connections that are made between consumable components and a torch head independent of rotational alignment of the consumable components. Accordingly, connections for the flow of a cooling fluid, plasma gas, and/or a secondary gas are made independent of rotational alignment. Additionally, electrical connections are also provided that are independent of rotational alignment of the various plasma arc torch components.

Claims

1. A plasma arc torch comprising:

a torch head;

a proximal element fixedly disposed within the torch head and defining a distal face with at least one fluid passageway formed through the distal face; and

a distal element adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the proximal element, the distal element defining a proximal face with at least one fluid passageway formed through the proximal face,

the proximal and distal elements being configured to define at least one chamber between the distal and proximal faces when the proximal and distal elements are engaged, the chamber in fluid communication with the fluid passageway in the proximal element and the fluid passageway in the distal element to make a fluid connection between the fluid passageways independent of rotational alignment of proximal and distal elements.

3. The plasma arc torch according to claim 1 further comprising a locking ring disposed around one of the proximal and distal elements the locking ring being engageable with the other of the proximal and distal elements to removably secure the proximal element and the distal element.

4. The plasma arc torch according to claim 3 wherein the locking ring is threadedly engageable with the other of the proximal and distal elements.

5. The plasma arc torch according to claim 4 further comprising a ball lock mechanism disposed within the locking ring.

2. A plasma arc torch comprising:

a proximal element defines a plurality of fluid passageways therethrough; and

a distal element defines a plurality of fluid passageways therethrough,

the proximal and distal elements being configured to define a plurality of chambers when the proximal and distal elements are engaged, each of the chambers being in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of fluid passageways defined in the proximal element and at least one of the plurality of fluid passageways defined in the distal element, to make a fluid connection between the fluid passageways independent of rotational alignment of the proximal and distal elements,

the plurality of chambers being defined by the proximal and distal elements such that when the proximal and distal elements are engaged the fluid connections provided by the chambers are made in a predetermined order, and

the plurality of chambers being defined by the proximal and distal elements such that when the proximal and distal elements are disengaged the fluid connections provided by the chambers are broken in another predetermined order.

6. A plasma arc torch comprising:

a torch head;

a proximal element fixedly disposed within the torch head and defining a plurality of axial fluid passageways that accommodate a corresponding plurality of fluid types; and

a distal element adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the proximal element, the distal element defining a plurality of axial fluid passageways that accommodate a corresponding plurality of fluid types,

the proximal and distal elements being configured to define at least one chamber when the proximal and distal elements are engaged, the chamber in fluid communication with the axial fluid passageways through the proximal element and the axial fluid passageways in the distal element to make a fluid connection between the fluid passageways independent of rotational alignment of the proximal and distal elements.

7. A plasma arc torch comprising:

a torch head;

a proximal element fixedly disposed within the torch head;

at least one electrical member disposed within the proximal element; and

a distal element adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the proximal element; and

at least one electrical member disposed within the distal element,

wherein when the proximal and distal elements are engaged, the electrical member in the proximal element engages the electrical member in the distal element to make an electrical connection independent of rotational alignment of the proximal and distal elements.

8. A plasma arc torch comprising:

a proximal element defining a distal face with at least one fluid passageway formed through the proximal face; and

a distal element adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the proximal element, the distal element defining a proximal face with at least one fluid passageway formed through the proximal face,

the proximal and distal elements being configured to define at least one chamber between the distal and proximal faces when the proximal and distal elements are engaged, the chamber being disposed annularly along at least a portion of at least one of the proximal and distal elements and that is in fluid communication with at least one fluid passageway through the proximal element and at least one fluid passageway in the distal element to make a fluid connection between the fluid passageways.

9. A method of conducting fluid between fluid passageways through two engaged elements in a plasma arc torch, the method comprising the step of delivering fluid to at least one substantially annular chamber defined between the two engaged elements, the at least one substantially annular chamber being in fluid communication with at least one fluid passageway formed through a face defined in each element, independent of rotational alignment of the elements.

10. A proximal element of a plasma arc torch, the proximal element being fixed and adapted for engagement with a distal element of the plasma arc torch, the distal element defining at least one fluid passageway therethrough, the proximal element comprising:

a distal face;

at least one fluid passageway formed through the distal face; and

a portion for defining at least one chamber between the distal face and the distal element when the proximal and distal elements are engaged, the at least one chamber being disposed annularly along at least a portion of the distal face of the proximal element, the at least one chamber being in fluid communication with at least one fluid passageway through the proximal element and at least one fluid passageway in the distal element to make a fluid connection between the fluid passageways independent of rotational alignment of the proximal and distal elements.

11. A distal element of a plasma arc torch, the distal element being fixed and adapted for engagement with a proximal element of the plasma arc torch, the proximal element defining at least one fluid passageway therethrough, the distal element comprising:

a proximal face;

at least one fluid passageway formed through the proximal face; and

a portion for defining at least one chamber between the proximal face and the proximal element when the proximal and distal elements are engaged, the at least one chamber being disposed annularly along at least a portion of the proximal face of the distal element, the at least one chamber being in fluid communication with at least one fluid passageway through the proximal element and at least one fluid passageway in the distal element to make a fluid connection between the fluid passageways independent of rotational alignment of the proximal and distal elements.

12. A plasma arc system comprising:

a positioning system, the positioning system comprising a positioning tube; and

a plasma arc torch, the plasma arc torch comprising;

a proximal element defining a distal face with at least one fluid passageway formed through the distal face, the proximal element being engageable with the positioning tube, and

a distal element a proximal face with defining at least one fluid passageway formed through the proximal face, the distal element being engageable with the proximal element,

the proximal and distal elements being configured to define at least one chamber between the distal and proximal faces when the proximal and distal elements are engaged, that is in fluid communication with at least one fluid passageway through the proximal element and at least one fluid passageway in the distal element to make a fluid connection between the fluid passageways independent of rotational alignment of the proximal and distal elements.

13. A plasma arc system comprising:

a positioning system, the positioning system comprising a positioning tube; and

a plasma arc torch, the plasma arc torch comprising;

a proximal element defining a distal face with at least one fluid passageway formed through the distal face, the proximal element being engageable with the positioning tube, and

a distal element defining a proximal face with at least one fluid passageway formed through the proximal face, the distal element being engageable with the proximal element;

the proximal and distal elements being configured to define at least one chamber between the distal and proximal faces when the proximal and distal elements are engaged, that is disposed annularly along at least a portion of at least one of the proximal and distal elements and that is in fluid communication with at least one fluid passageway through the proximal element and at least one fluid passageway in the distal element to make a fluid connection between the fluid passageways.

14. A plasma arc torch comprising:

a proximal element defining a distal face with at least one fluid passageway formed through the distal face;

a distal element engageable with the proximal element, the distal element defining a proximal face with at least one fluid passageway formed through the proximal face; and

at least one of the proximal and distal elements including means for establishing a fluid connection between the fluid passageways in the proximal and distal elements, independent of rotational alignment of the proximal and distal elements.

15. The plasma arc torch according to claim 14 further comprising means for conducting electric power between the proximal and distal elements independent of rotational alignment of the proximal element and the distal element.

16. A plasma arc torch comprising:

a proximal element comprising;

a plurality of fluid passageways therethrough;

a proximal cathodic electrical element; and

a proximal anodic member;

a distal element removably engaged to the proximal element, the distal element comprising;

a plurality of fluid passageways therethrough;

a distal cathodic electrical element; and

a distal anodic electrical element,

the proximal and distal elements being configured to define a plurality of substantially annular chambers when the proximal and distal elements are engaged, each of the substantially annular chambers being in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of fluid passageways defined by the proximal element and at least one of the plurality of fluid passageways defined by the distal element, to make a fluid connection between the fluid passageways independent of rotational alignment of the proximal and distal elements,

at least one of the substantially annular chambers and the fluid passageways in fluid communication therewith conduct a plasma gas between the proximal and distal elements,

at least one of the substantially annular chambers and the fluid passageways in fluid communication therewith conduct a secondary fluid gas between the proximal and distal elements,

at least one of substantially annular chambers and the fluid passageways in fluid communication therewith conduct a cooling fluid between the proximal and distal elements, and

at least one of the proximal cathodic and anodic electrical members is substantially annular and disposed to electrically contact at least one of the distal cathodic and anodic electrical members when the proximal and distal elements are engaged independent of the rotational alignment of the proximal and distal elements.

17. A plasma arc torch comprising:

a proximal element comprising;

a plurality of fluid passageways therethrough;

a proximal cathodic electrical element; and

a proximal anodic electrical element,

a distal element removably engaged to the proximal element, the distal element comprising;

a plurality of fluid passageways therethrough;

a distal cathodic electrical element; and

a distal anodic electrical element,

the proximal and distal elements being configured to define a plurality of substantially annular chambers when the proximal and distal elements are engaged, each of the substantially annular chambers being in fluid communication with at least one of the plurality of fluid passageways defined by the proximal element and at least one of the plurality of fluid passageways defined by the distal element, to make a fluid connection between the fluid passages,

at least one of the substantially annular chambers and the fluid passageways in fluid communication therewith conduct a plasma gas between the proximal and distal elements,

at least one of the substantially annular chambers and the fluid passageways in fluid communication therewith conduct a secondary gas between the proximal and distal elements,

at least one of substantially annular chambers and the fluid passageways in fluid communication therewith conduct a cooling fluid between the proximal and distal elements, and

at least one of the proximal cathodic and anodic electrical members is substantially annular and disposed to electrically contact at least one of the distal cathodic and anodic electrical members when the proximal and distal elements are engaged.