Gas-cooled plasma arc cutting torch
First Claim
1. A nozzle for a gas-cooled plasma arc cutting torch, the nozzle comprising:
- a generally hollow, conductive body configured to receive an electrode;
a plasma exit orifice disposed at an end of the body; and
a cooling gas flow channel defined by one or more fins disposed about an exterior surface of the body and configured to direct a majority of a cooling gas flow between opposing surfaces of the one or more fins of the cooling gas flow channel thereby allowing a lesser amount of the cooling gas to flow over the fins, the body providing a thermally conductive path that transfers heat from the body to the cooling gas flow channel during an operation of the torch, the one or more fins having a height and a width, the height of the opposing surfaces of the one or more fins being greater than a width of the channel between the opposing surfaces.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for a gas-cooled plasma arc torch. Components of the torch can include an electrode, nozzle and a shield, each of which can be gas-cooled. The nozzle can be disposed relative to the electrode and can include a generally hollow conductive body and a cooling gas flow channel defined by at least one fin disposed about an exterior surface of the body, the body providing a thermal conductive path that transfers heat between the nozzle to the cooling gas flow channel during operation of the torch. The shield can be disposed relative to the nozzle and can include a generally hollow conductive body and a cooling gas flow channel defined by at least one fin disposed about an exterior surface of the body, the body providing a thermal conductive path that transfers heat between the shield to the cooling gas flow channel during operation of the torch.
94 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A nozzle for a gas-cooled plasma arc cutting torch, the nozzle comprising:
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a generally hollow, conductive body configured to receive an electrode; a plasma exit orifice disposed at an end of the body; and a cooling gas flow channel defined by one or more fins disposed about an exterior surface of the body and configured to direct a majority of a cooling gas flow between opposing surfaces of the one or more fins of the cooling gas flow channel thereby allowing a lesser amount of the cooling gas to flow over the fins, the body providing a thermally conductive path that transfers heat from the body to the cooling gas flow channel during an operation of the torch, the one or more fins having a height and a width, the height of the opposing surfaces of the one or more fins being greater than a width of the channel between the opposing surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A shield for a gas-cooled plasma arc cutting torch, the shield comprising:
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a generally hollow, conductive body configured to protect a nozzle; a cooling gas exit orifice disposed at an end of the body; and a cooling gas flow channel defined by one or more fins disposed about an exterior surface of the body and configured to direct a majority of a cooling gas flow between opposing surface of the one or more fins of the cooling gas flow channel thereby allowing a lesser amount of the cooling gas to flow over the fins, the body providing a thermally conductive path that transfers heat from the body to the cooling gas flow channel during an operation of the torch, the one or more fins having a height and a width, the height of the opposing surfaces of the one or more fins being greater than a width of the channel between the opposing surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An electrode for a gas-cooled plasma arc cutting torch comprising:
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a generally cylindrical elongate electrode body; a high thermionic emissivity material disposed at a distal end of the electrode body; an internal electrical contact surface at a proximal end of the electrode body, the internal electrical contact surface sized to receive a circumscribing radial spring element; an external gas cooled surface including a cooling gas flow channel defined one or more fins and configured to direct a majority of a cooling gas flow between opposing surfaces of the one or more fins of the cooling gas flow channel, the external gas cooled surface disposed opposite the internal electrical contact surface, the one or more fins having a height and a width, the height of the opposing surface of the one or more fins being greater than a width of the channel between the opposing surfaces; and a wall thickness between the internal electrical contact surface and the gas cooled surface sized to provide a thermal conductive path that transfers sufficient heat to the cooling gas flow channel during operation of the torch to prevent premature failure of the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A gas-cooled plasma arc torch system comprising:
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a torch body including a plasma gas flow path for directing a plasma gas to a plasma chamber in which a plasma arc is formed; an electrode disposed relative to a proximal end of the torch body; a nozzle disposed relative to the electrode at a distal end of the torch body to define the plasma chamber, the nozzle comprising; a generally hollow conductive body configured to receive the electrode; a plasma exit orifice disposed at an end of the nozzle body; and a cooling gas flow channel defined by one or more fins disposed about an exterior surface of the nozzle body and configured to direct a majority of a cooling gas flow between opposing surfaces of the one or more fins of the cooling gas flow channel thereby allowing a lesser amount of the cooling gas to flow over the fins, the nozzle body providing a thermally conductive path that transfers heat from the nozzle to the cooling gas flow channel during an operation of the torch, the one or more fins having a height and a width, the height of the opposing surfaces of the one or more fins being greater than a width of the channel between opposing surfaces; and a shield disposed relative to the nozzle at the distal end of the torch body, the shield comprising; a generally hollow conductive body configured to protect the nozzle; a cooling gas exit orifice disposed at an end of the body; and a cooling gas flow channel defined by one or more fins disposed about an exterior surface of the shield body and configured to direct a majority of a cooling gas flow between opposing surfaces of the one or more fins of the cooling gas flow channel thereby allowing a lesser amount of the cooling gas to flow over the fins, the shield body providing a thermally conductive path that transfers heat from the shield to the cooling gas flow channel during an operation of the torch, the one or more fins having a height and a width, the height of the opposing surfaces of the one or more fins being greater than a width of the channel between opposing surfaces.
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Specification