Method and apparatus for alignment of components of a plasma arc torch
DCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A coolant tube for a plasma arc torch, the coolant tube comprising:
- an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a coolant passage extending therethrough, wherein the elongated body is not rigidly attachable to a torch body; and
a surface located on an exterior portion of the elongated body adapted to mate and align with an electrode along a direction of a longitudinal axis of the elongated body, wherein an opening in the second end of the elongated body does not contact an inner surface of the electrode.
6 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coolant tube and electrode are adapted to mate with each other to align the tube relative to the electrode during operation of the torch. Improved alignment ensures an adequate flow of coolant along an interior surface of the electrode. In one aspect, an elongated body of the coolant tube has a surface adapted to mate with the electrode. In another aspect, an elongated body of the electrode has a surface adapted to mate with the coolant tube. The surfaces of the tube and electrode may, for example, be flanges, tapered surfaces, contours, or steps.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A coolant tube for a plasma arc torch, the coolant tube comprising:
-
an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a coolant passage extending therethrough, wherein the elongated body is not rigidly attachable to a torch body; and
a surface located on an exterior portion of the elongated body adapted to mate and align with an electrode along a direction of a longitudinal axis of the elongated body, wherein an opening in the second end of the elongated body does not contact an inner surface of the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An electrode for a plasma arc torch, the electrode comprising:
-
a hollow elongated body having an open end and a closed end; and
a surface located on an interior portion of the elongated body adapted to mate and align with a coolant tube along a direction of a longitudinal axis of the coolant tube, wherein the coolant tube is not rigidly attachable to a torch body and an opening in the second end of the coolant tube does not contact an inner surface of the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A plasma arc torch comprising:
-
a torch body;
a coolant tube, the tube comprising an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a coolant passage extending therethrough, and a surface located on an exterior portion of the elongated body, wherein the elongated body is not rigidly attachable to the torch body; and
an electrode supported by the torch body, the electrode comprising a hollow elongated body having an open end and a closed end, and a surface located on an interior portion of the elongated electrode body adapted to mate and align with the tube along a direction of a longitudinal axis of the tube, wherein an opening in the second end of the coolant tube does not contact an inner surface of the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A plasma arc torch comprising:
-
a torch body;
an electrode supported by the torch body, the electrode comprising a hollow elongated body having an open end and a closed end;
a coolant tube, the tube comprising an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a coolant passage extending therethrough, wherein the elongated body is not rigidly attachable to the torch body; and
means for aligning mating surfaces of the coolant tube and the electrode along a direction of a longitudinal axis of the tube, wherein an opening in the second end of the coolant tube does not contact an inner surface of the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A coolant tube for a plasma arc torch, the coolant tube comprising:
-
an elongated body having a first end, a second end, and a coolant passage extending therethrough, wherein the elongated body is not rigidly attachable to a torch body; and
a surface located on an exterior portion of the elongated body adapted to (a) mate with an electrode and (b) align respective longitudinal axes of the electrode and coolant tube along a direction of the respective longitudinal axes, wherein an opening in the second end of the elongated body does not contact an inner surface of the electrode.
-
Specification