Plasma arc torch providing angular shield flow injection

• US 8,395,077 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2010
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hypertherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hypertherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Duan, Zheng, Liebold, Stephen M., Brandt, Aaron D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCHALL, MARK H
• Application Number:
  US12/940,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20110062124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121.36, 219/121.48, 219/121.5, 219/121.51, 219/121.52, 219/121.39, 219/74, 219/75
• US Class Current: 219/121.5
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/34 Details, e.g. electrodes, nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/3457 Nozzle protection devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/3478 Geometrical details
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/3484 Convergent-divergent nozzles

Abstract

Plasma arc torches described herein include a torch tip with an improved nozzle that provides angular shield flow injection. In particular, the nozzle provides angular/conical impingement of a fluid (e.g., a shield gas) on an ionized plasma gas flowing through a plasma arc torch. Some of the torch tips described herein include a nozzle with a conical external shape combined with a shield with complementing internal geometry to form the angular fluid flow. As a result, a plasma arc torch including the improved nozzle have the benefits of a stabilized ionized plasma gas flow together with enhanced nozzle cooling and protection from reflecting slag during torch use.

Claims

1. A torch tip for a plasma arc torch, the torch tip having a longitudinal axis and comprising:

a nozzle comprising a nozzle body including a substantially hollow interior and a substantially conical exterior portion, the substantially conical exterior portion having a nozzle half-cone angle selected from a first range of about 20 degrees to about 60 degrees, the nozzle body defining an exit orifice disposed on an end face of the nozzle, the exit orifice being defined by an orifice diameter (D), an orifice length (L), and a nozzle end face diameter (φ

1), wherein a φ

1 to D ratio is greater than or equal to 1.9; and

a shield comprising a shield body defining a shield exit orifice having a shield exit orifice diameter (φ

2), the shield body including a substantially conical interior portion having a shield half-cone angle, the shield half-cone angle being substantially equal to the nozzle half-cone angle, the shield being mounted in a spaced relation to the nozzle relative to the longitudinal axis of the torch tip such that a fluid passageway is formed in a space between the substantially conical interior portion of the shield and the substantially conical exterior portion of the nozzle.

2. The torch tip according to claim 1, wherein the shield is spaced along the longitudinal axis from the nozzle at a distance (s) and the passageway has a thickness defined by s multiplied by sine of the nozzle half-cone angle.

3. The torch tip according to claim 2, wherein a value of s is selected to provide a thickness that results in a shield exit fluid velocity of about 2000 inches per second to about 6000 inches per second.

4. The torch tip according to claim 2, wherein a value of s is selected to provide a thickness of about 0.022 inches.

5. The torch tip according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle has a L to D ratio greater than or equal to 2.4.

6. The torch tip according to claim 5, wherein the L to D ratio is between about 2.5 and about 3.0.

7. The torch tip according to claim 5, wherein the L to D ratio is about 2.8.

8. The torch tip according to claim 1, wherein the φ

1 to D ratio is between about 1.9 and about 2.5.

9. The torch tip according to claim 1, wherein the φ

1 to D ratio is about 2.1.

10. The torch tip according to claim 1, wherein the torch tip further comprises a φ

2 to φ

1 ratio between about 0.8 and about 1.2.

11. The torch tip according to claim 10, wherein the φ

2 to φ

1 ratio is greater than 1.

12. The torch tip according to claim 1, wherein the shield body further includes one or more vent holes.

13. The torch tip according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle body further includes a securing mechanism for securing the nozzle body to a plasma torch body.

14. The torch tip according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle body is formed from an electrically conductive material.

15. The torch tip according to claim 1, wherein the shield body is formed from an electrically conductive material.

16. A nozzle for a plasma arc torch, the nozzle comprising:

a nozzle body including a substantially hollow interior and a substantially conical exterior portion, the substantially conical exterior portion having a nozzle half-cone angle selected from a first range of about 20 degrees to about 60 degrees, the nozzle body defining an exit orifice disposed on an end face of the nozzle, the exit orifice being defined by an orifice diameter (D), an orifice length (L), and a nozzle end face diameter (φ

1), wherein a φ

1 to D ratio is greater than or equal to 1.9.

17. The nozzle according to claim 16, wherein the nozzle body further includes a securing mechanism for securing the nozzle body to a plasma torch body.

18. The nozzle according to claim 16, wherein the nozzle body is formed from an electrically conductive material.

19. The nozzle according to claim 16, wherein the first range is between about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees.

20. The nozzle according to claim 16, wherein the first range is between about 34 degrees to about 44 degrees.

21. The nozzle according to claim 16, wherein the nozzle half-cone angle is about 42.5 degrees.

22. The nozzle according to claim 16, wherein a L to D ratio is greater than or equal to 2.4.

23. The nozzle according to claim 22, wherein the L to D ratio is between about 2.5 and about 3.0.

24. The nozzle according to claim 22, wherein the L to D ratio is about 2.8.

25. The nozzle according to claim 16, wherein the φ

1 to D ratio is between about 1.9 and about 2.5.

26. The nozzle according to claim 16, wherein the φ

1 to D ratio is about 2.1.

27. A plasma arc torch having a longitudinal axis, the plasma arc torch comprising:

a plasma arc torch body including a plasma flow path for directing a plasma gas to a plasma chamber in which a plasma arc is formed;

a nozzle mounted relative to an electrode in the plasma torch body to define the plasma chamber, the nozzle comprising a nozzle body including a substantially hollow interior and a substantially conical exterior portion, the substantially conical exterior portion having a nozzle half-cone angle selected from a first range of about 20 degrees to about 60 degrees, the nozzle body defining an exit orifice disposed on an end face of the nozzle, the exit orifice being defined by an orifice diameter (D), an orifice length (L), and a nozzle end face diameter (φ

1), wherein a φ

1 to D ratio is greater than or equal to 1.9; and

a shield comprising a shield body defining a shield exit orifice having a shield exit orifice diameter (φ

2), the shield body including a substantially conical interior portion having a shield half-cone angle, the shield cone half-angle being substantially equal to the nozzle half-cone angle, the shield being mounted in a spaced relation to the nozzle relative to the longitudinal axis of the plasma arc torch such that a fluid passageway is formed in a space between the substantially conical interior portion of the shield and the substantially conical exterior portion of the nozzle.