Thread Connection for a Torch System
First Claim
1. A connector component configured for assembly into material processing head, the connector component comprising:
- a generally cylindrical body including a proximal end and a distal end defining a longitudinal axis;
at least two thread regions disposed on a surface of the body near the proximal end, wherein each thread region includes at least one thread disposed on the surface of the body wherein two adjacent thread regions of the at least two thread regions are formed along discontinuous helical paths; and
at least two non-threaded regions oriented longitudinally at a radial location on the surface of the body, each non-threaded region disposed between the adjacent thread regions.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector component (102) is provided for assembly into a material processing torch head. The connector component (102) comprises a generally cylindrical body (104) that includes a proximal end (106) and a distal end (108) defining a longitudinal axis. At least two thread regions (112) are disposed at a radial location on a surface of the body near the proximal end. Each thread region includes at least one thread (114) disposed on the surface of the body. In addition, at least two non-thread regions (116) are oriented longitudinally at a radial location on the surface of the body (104).
12 Citations
67 Claims
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1. A connector component configured for assembly into material processing head, the connector component comprising:
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a generally cylindrical body including a proximal end and a distal end defining a longitudinal axis; at least two thread regions disposed on a surface of the body near the proximal end, wherein each thread region includes at least one thread disposed on the surface of the body wherein two adjacent thread regions of the at least two thread regions are formed along discontinuous helical paths; and at least two non-threaded regions oriented longitudinally at a radial location on the surface of the body, each non-threaded region disposed between the adjacent thread regions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A consumable connector component for attaching a consumable to a corresponding component of a material processing head, the consumable connector component comprising:
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a cylindrical body including a proximal end and a distal end disposed along a longitudinal axis; a plurality of longitudinally-oriented smooth regions disposed radially about a surface of the body near the proximal end; and a plurality of longitudinally-oriented segments disposed radially about the body interspersed between the smooth regions, each segment including at least one thread disposed along the surface of the body, each of the at least one thread of one segment is formed along a helical path that is discontinuous from a helical path along which the at least one thread of an opposing segment is formed. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A connector component configured for assembly into a material processing head, the connector component comprising:
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a generally cylindrical body including a proximal end and a distal end defining a longitudinal axis; at least one thread region disposed at a radial location on a surface of the body near the proximal end, wherein each thread region includes at least one thread element disposed on the surface of the body, the at least one thread element having a pitch that is discontinuous from a pitch of an adjacent feature of the cylindrical body; and at least one non-threaded region disposed at a radial location on the surface of the body, wherein each non-threaded region is radially adjacent to a thread region. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A connector component configured for assembly into a torch, the connector component comprising:
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a body including a proximal end and a distal end disposed along a longitudinal axis; at least two thread regions disposed radially about the longitudinal axis on a surface of the body near the proximal end, wherein each thread region includes at least one thread segment disposed on the surface of the body, each of the thread segments having a pitch that is discontinuous from a pitch of an adjacent thread segment; and at least two smooth regions each disposed radially about the longitudinal axis between a pair of thread regions on the surface of the body. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A consumable electrode component configured for attaching to a plasma arc torch, the consumable electrode connector component comprising:
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a cylindrical body including a proximal end and a distal end disposed along a longitudinal axis; two opposing thread segments extending radially from a surface of the body about the proximal end, each of the two thread segments; comprising a segment formed along a helical profile that is discontinuous from a helical profile of the opposing thread segment; being formed on opposite sides of the body with respect to the longitudinal axis; and a plurality of longitudinally-oriented smooth regions disposed radially about the surface of the body about the proximal end, the smooth regions being formed on opposite sides of the bock with respect to the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
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59. A method for engaging a first component and a second component for a material processing head, the first and second components each having i) at least one thread region having at least one thread and ii) at least one slotted region characterized by the absence of threads, the method comprising:
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aligning the at least one thread region of the first component with the at least one slotted region of the second component; sliding the first component relative to the second component longitudinally in the radially aligned position; axially abutting the first component and the second component and rotating the first component in one direction relative to the second component to engage the at least one thread of the thread region of the first component with the at least one thread of the thread region of the second component to secure the first and second components relative to one another. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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Specification