Electrode for a contact start plasma arc torch and contact start plasma arc torch employing such electrodes
DCFirst Claim
1. An electrode for a contact start plasma arc torch in electrical communication with a power supply, the electrode being movable relative to a nozzle within a plasma chamber of the torch, the electrode comprising:
- an elongated electrode body formed of an electrically conductive material, the electrode body defining a longitudinal axis and including a distal end for receiving an emissive element and a proximal end; and
a resilient element contacting, during a pilot arc operation of the plasma arc torch, the proximal end of the electrode body for passing substantially all of a pilot arc current between the power supply and the electrode body during the pilot arc operation.
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Abstract
An electrode for a contact start plasma arc torch includes an elongated electrode body formed of an electrically conductive material. The electrode body is movable relative to the torch. A resilient element is used for passing substantially all of a pilot arc current between a power supply, a power connection in electrical communication with the power supply, and the electrode body during pilot arc operation of the plasma arc torch. The electrode and torch can include a contact element having a first surface in electrical communication with the power contact and a second surface for physical contact and electrical communication with a corresponding contact surface of the electrode body for passing substantially all of a transferred arc current between the power supply and the electrode body during transferred arc mode.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. An electrode for a contact start plasma arc torch in electrical communication with a power supply, the electrode being movable relative to a nozzle within a plasma chamber of the torch, the electrode comprising:
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an elongated electrode body formed of an electrically conductive material, the electrode body defining a longitudinal axis and including a distal end for receiving an emissive element and a proximal end; and a resilient element contacting, during a pilot arc operation of the plasma arc torch, the proximal end of the electrode body for passing substantially all of a pilot arc current between the power supply and the electrode body during the pilot arc operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electrode for a contact start plasma arc torch in electrical communication with a power supply, the electrode being movable relative to a nozzle within a plasma chamber of the torch, the electrode comprising:
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an elongated electrode body formed of an electrically conductive material defining a longitudinal axis and a distal end including an emissive element, wherein the electrode body is movable relative to the torch; and a contact element, adjacent to a proximal end of the electrode body, including a first surface for facilitating electrical communication with the power supply and a second surface for facilitating electrical communication with a corresponding contact surface of the electrode body when the torch is operated in a transferred arc mode, wherein the second surface of the contact element is characterized by (i) contact with the contact surface of the electrode body during the transferred arc mode and (ii) the absence of contact with the contact surface of the electrode body during initiation of a pilot arc. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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18. The electrode of 15, wherein the resilient element is retained by the electrode body.
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28. An electrode for a contact start plasma arc torch in electrical communication with a power supply, the electrode comprising:
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an elongated electrode body formed of an electrically conductive material and defining a longitudinal axis, the electrode body including; a distal end for receiving an emissive element; a proximal end defining a contact surface for electrical communication with the power supply; and a receptacle disposed within the proximal end of the electrode body for receiving at least a portion of a contact element, which is movable relative to the electrode body such that a first portion of the contact element is physically remote from the electrode body during initiation of a pilot arc, the first portion passing substantially all of a transferred arc current between a power supply and the electrode body when the torch is operated in a transferred arc mode. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification