Interchangeable plasma nozzle interface
First Claim
1. An interchangeable nozzle plug interface for a thermal spray plasma gun and an interchangeable nozzle plug, comprising:
- a receptacle on said plasma gun, said receptacle fabricated at least partially from an electrically conductive material and having a face section and a first cylindrical bore extending from within said plasma gun to said face section;
a mating end section of said interchangeable nozzle plug, said interchangeable nozzle plug being fabricated from an electrically conductive material and having a distal end section and a second cylindrical bore extending from said mating end section to said distal end section;
a clamping assembly on said plasma gun for mechanically securing said mating end section to said face section; and
an annular seal between said face section and said mating end section to prevent leakage of cooling liquid and/or plasma gas,wherein said mating end section of said interchangeable nozzle plug and said face section of said plasma gun are adapted to, when joined, (a) align said first cylindrical bore and said second cylindrical bore so as to form a continuous passage for plasma gas to flow from said first cylindrical bore through said second cylindrical bore, (b) form a channel for cooling liquid to flow from said plasma gun through said interchangeable nozzle plug and to a return path in said plasma gun, and (c) create an electrical contact between said plasma gun and said interchangeable nozzle plug.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a standard interface for providing mechanical location, mechanical orientation, electrical connections, and water chamber seals for the exchange of a variety of plasma forming nozzles each associated with a specific plasma plume characteristic. The flexibility of the nozzle attachment is improved over prior designs by providing a standard exterior nozzle configuration and nozzle clamping assembly on the plasma gun so that multiple nozzles configurations (giving different plasma flow properties) can easily be used with the same devices. The joining of the nozzle to the receptacle forms a channel for cooling liquid to flow from the plasma gun through the nozzle to a return path in the plasma gun and creates an electrical contact between the plasma gun and the nozzle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An interchangeable nozzle plug interface for a thermal spray plasma gun and an interchangeable nozzle plug, comprising:
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a receptacle on said plasma gun, said receptacle fabricated at least partially from an electrically conductive material and having a face section and a first cylindrical bore extending from within said plasma gun to said face section; a mating end section of said interchangeable nozzle plug, said interchangeable nozzle plug being fabricated from an electrically conductive material and having a distal end section and a second cylindrical bore extending from said mating end section to said distal end section; a clamping assembly on said plasma gun for mechanically securing said mating end section to said face section; and
an annular seal between said face section and said mating end section to prevent leakage of cooling liquid and/or plasma gas,wherein said mating end section of said interchangeable nozzle plug and said face section of said plasma gun are adapted to, when joined, (a) align said first cylindrical bore and said second cylindrical bore so as to form a continuous passage for plasma gas to flow from said first cylindrical bore through said second cylindrical bore, (b) form a channel for cooling liquid to flow from said plasma gun through said interchangeable nozzle plug and to a return path in said plasma gun, and (c) create an electrical contact between said plasma gun and said interchangeable nozzle plug. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An interchangeable nozzle for use with a plasma gun having a nozzle plug receptacle with a face portion and a plasma outlet, said nozzle comprising:
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an interchangeable nozzle plug fabricated from an electrically conductive material and having a mating end section, a distal end section, a cylindrical bore extending from said mating end section to said distal end section, said nozzle configured for forming an interface with said plasma gun wherein said mating end section and said face portion join to align said cylindrical bore and plasma outlet forming a continuous passage for plasma gas to flow from said plasma gun through said cylindrical bore, and an annular seal between said face portion and said mating end section so that, joining said mating end section and said face portion also forms a channel for cooling liquid to flow from said plasma gun through said nozzle and to a return path in said plasma gun and the annular seal prevent leakage of cooling liquid and/or plasma gas, wherein joining said mating end section and said face portion creates an electrical contact between said plasma gun and said nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of forming an interface between a plasma gun and an interchangeable nozzle plug, comprising:
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providing a plasma gun having a nozzle plug receptacle and a clamping assembly, said receptacle fabricated at least partially from an electrically conductive material, said receptacle having a face section and a first cylindrical bore extending from within said plasma gun to said face section; providing a mating end section of said interchangeable nozzle plug, said nozzle plug being fabricated from an electrically conductive material and having a distal end section and a cylindrical bore extending from said mating end section to said distal end section; securing said mating end section to said face portion with said clamping assembly, wherein said mating end section and said face portion join to align said cylindrical bore and plasma outlet forming a passage for plasma gas to flow, forming a channel for cooling liquid to flow from said plasma gun through said nozzle plug, and creating an electrical contact between said plasma gun and said nozzle plug; and
preventing leakage of cooling liquid and/or plasma gas between said face section and said mating end section with an annular seal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification