Plasma arc torch consumables cartridge

• US 6,989,505 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2003
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Victor Equipment Co. (Enovis Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Thermal Dynamics Corporation (Enovis Corp.)
• Inventors: Conway, Christopher J., MacKenzie, Darrin H., Gugliotta, Mark, Kinerson, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa J.
• Application Number:
  US10/409,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20030213784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 21912148-12153, 219/75, 313/231.31
• US Class Current: 219/121.53
• 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 consumables cartridge for use in a plasma arc torch is provided that comprises a cartridge body and at least one other consumable component such as a tip or an electrode, for example. The consumables cartridge provides for ease of use and replacement of the torch consumable components by replacing the consumables cartridge when consumable components require replacement rather than replacing consumable components individually or one at a time. Further, methods of installing, removing, and replacing the consumables cartridge are also provided by the present invention.

Claims

1. A consumables cartridge for a plasma arc torch, the consumables cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body;

an electrode disposed at least partially within the cartridge body and in direct contact with the cartridge body;

a tip disposed adjacent the electrode, the tip being in direct contact with the cartridge body; and

a spacer disposed between the electrode and the tip,

such that the cartridge body provides a structure to house and position the electrode, the tip, and the spacer within the plasma arc torch.

2. The consumables cartridge according to claim 1 further comprising a quick disconnect operatively engaged between the consumables cartridge and the plasma arc torch, and wherein the consumables cartridge is removably connected to the plasma arc torch through the quick disconnect such that the consumables cartridge and the plasma arc torch may be quickly assembled and disassembled.

3. The consumables cartridge according to claim 1 wherein the consumables cartridge is removably securable to the plasma arc torch at least partially by a canted coil spring.

4. The consumables cartridge according to claim 3 wherein the canted coil spring is disposed within a groove defined by the plasma arc torch.

5. The consumables cartridge according to claim 1 further comprising a dual pitch locking connector for removably securing the consumables cartridge to the plasma arc torch.

6. A consumables cartridge for a plasma arc torch having a cathodic member, the consumables cartridge being removably securable to the plasma arc torch and comprising an electrode in direct contact with the consumables cartridge and configured to electrically contact the cathodic member, the consumables cartridge providing for a cooling fluid flow between the electrode and the cathodic member when the consumables cartridge is engaged with the plasma arc torch.

7. A consumables cartridge for a plasma arc torch, the consumables cartridge being removably securable to the plasma arc torch and comprising:

an anode member secured to an exterior portion of the consumables cartridge; and

a tip in direct contact with the consumables cartridge and in electrical contact with the anode member,

the tip and the anode member being configured to allow a fluid flow between the tip and the anode member.

8. A consumables cartridge for a plasma arc torch, the consumables cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body defining at least one passageway for the distribution of fluid or gas; and

at least one additional consumable component selected from the group consisting of a central anode member, an electrode, a tip, a spacer, a tip guide, a tip seal, a distal anode member, a shield cup, a baffle, a coolant guide, a coolant seal, a secondary cap, a secondary spacer, and a locking ring,

wherein the additional consumable component is in direct contact with the cartridge body such that the cartridge body provides a structure to house and position the additional consumable component.

9. A consumables cartridge for a plasma arc torch, the consumables cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body;

a central anode member disposed within the cartridge body and in direct contact with the cartridge body; and

a locking ring disposed around a proximal portion of the cartridge body and in direct contact with the cartridge body,

wherein the locking ring secures the consumables cartridge to a torch head of the plasma arc torch, and the cartridge body provides a structure to house and position the central anode member and the locking ring.

10. A consumables cartridge for a plasma arc torch, the consumables cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body;

an electrode disposed at least partially within the cartridge body and in direct contact with the cartridge body;

a tip disposed adjacent the electrode, the tip being in direct contact with the cartridge body;

a spacer disposed between the electrode and the tip;

a coolant guide disposed adjacent the tip;

a coolant seal disposed adjacent the coolant guide;

a secondary cap disposed adjacent a distal end portion of the tip; and

a secondary spacer disposed between the coolant seal and the secondary cap,

wherein the cartridge body provides a structure to house and position at least the electrode and the tip.

11. A consumables cartridge for a plasma arc torch, the consumables cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body;

an electrode disposed at least partially within the cartridge body and in direct contact with the cartridge body;

a tip disposed adjacent the electrode, the tip being in direct contact with the cartridge body;

a spacer disposed between the electrode and the tip;

a secondary cap disposed adjacent a distal end portion of the tip; and

a secondary spacer disposed between the tip and the secondary cap

wherein the cartridge body provides a structure to house and position at least the electrode and the tip.

12. A consumables cartridge for a plasma arc torch, the consumables cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body;

a central anode member disposed within the cartridge body and in direct contact with the cartridge body;

an electrode disposed at least partially within the cartridge body and in direct contact with the cartridge body;

a tip disposed adjacent the electrode, the tip being in direct contact with the cartridge body;

a spacer disposed between the electrode and the tip;

a distal anode member disposed around a distal end portion of the cartridge body and in electrical contact with the central anode member and the tip;

a baffle disposed around the distal anode member;

a shield cup disposed around the baffle;

a coolant guide disposed adjacent the tip;

a coolant seal disposed adjacent the coolant guide;

a secondary cap disposed adjacent a distal end portion of the tip; and

a secondary spacer disposed between the coolant seal and the secondary cap,

wherein the cartridge body provides a structure to house and position at least the central anode member, the electrode, and the tip.

13. A consumables cartridge for a plasma arc torch, the consumables cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body;

a central anode member disposed within the cartridge body and in direct contact with the cartridge body;

an electrode disposed at least partially within the cartridge body and in direct contact with the cartridge body;

a tip disposed adjacent the electrode, the tip being in direct contact with the cartridge body;

a spacer disposed between the electrode and the tip;

a distal anode member disposed around a distal end portion of the cartridge body and in electrical contact with the central anode member and the tip;

a baffle disposed around the distal anode member;

a shield cup disposed around the baffle;

a secondary cap disposed adjacent a distal end portion of the tip; and

a secondary spacer disposed between the tip and the secondary cap,

wherein the cartridge body provides a structure to house and position at least the central anode member, the electrode, and the tip.

14. A consumables cartridge for a plasma arc torch, the consumables cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body;

a central anode member disposed within the cartridge body and in direct contact with the cartridge body;

an electrode disposed at least partially within the cartridge body and in direct contact with the cartridge body;

a tip disposed adjacent the electrode, the tip being in direct contact with the cartridge body;

a spacer disposed between the electrode and the tip;

a distal anode member disposed around a distal end portion of the cartridge body and in electrical contact with the central anode member and the tip;

a baffle disposed around the distal anode member;

a shield cup disposed around the baffle;

a coolant guide disposed adjacent the tip;

a coolant seal disposed adjacent the coolant guide;

a secondary cap disposed adjacent a distal end portion of the tip;

a secondary spacer disposed between the coolant seal and the secondary cap; and

a locking ring disposed around a proximal end portion of the cartridge body and in direct contact with the cartridge body,

wherein the cartridge body provides a structure to house and position at least the central anode member, the electrode, the tip, and the locking ring.

15. A plasma arc cutting system, comprising:

a plasma arc torch; and

a consumables cartridge removably securable to the plasma arc torch, the consumables cartridge comprising;

a cartridge body defining at least one passageway for the distribution of fluid or gas; and

at least one consumable component selected from the group consisting of a central anode member, an electrode, a tip, a spacer, a distal anode member, a shield cup, a baffle, a coolant guide, a coolant seal, a secondary cap, a secondary spacer, and a locking ring; and

a positioning system for positioning the plasma arc torch with respect to a workpiece,

wherein the consumable component is in direct contact with the cartridge body such that the cartridge body provides a structure to house and position the consumable component.

16. A cartridge body for a plasma arc torch consumables cartridge, the cartridge body defining at least one passageway for the distribution of fluid or gas and an internal bore that engages at least one consumable component, wherein a position of the at least one consumable component is established by the internal bore.

17. The cartridge body according to claim 16 wherein the position comprises concentricity.

18. The cartridge body according to claim 16 comprising at least two consumable components, wherein concentricity between the two consumable components is established.

19. The cartridge body according to claim 16 wherein the position comprises axial position.

20. The cartridge body according to claim 16 wherein the position comprises radial position.

21. A cartridge body for use in a plasma arc torch, the cartridge body comprising at least one fluid passageway and providing a structure to house and position at least one consumable component.

22. The cartridge body according to claim 21 wherein the fluid passageway comprises a plasma gas passageway.

23. The cartridge body according to claim 21 wherein the fluid passageway comprises a secondary gas passageway.

24. The cartridge body according to claim 21 wherein the fluid passageway comprises a cooling fluid passageway.

25. The cartridge body according to claim 21 wherein the cartridge body comprises a plurality of fluid passageways that accommodate a plasma gas, a secondary gas, and a cooling fluid.

26. A consumables cartridge for a plasma arc torch, the consumables cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body defining at least one passageway for the distribution of fluid or gas; and

a locking ring disposed around a proximal portion of the cartridge body and in direct contact with the cartridge body,

wherein the locking ring secures the consumables cartridge to a torch head of the plasma arc torch and the cartridge body provides a structure to house and position the locking ring.