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US 11,533,802 B1Granted
Direct-current plasma torch apparatus
AssigneesJanak H. Handa, Hossam Gaber
InventorsHossam Gaber, Mustafa Abdalmejeed Mansour Aldeeb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an aspect, a direct-current plasma torch apparatus is provided. The plasma torch apparatus includes first and second electrodes and an insulating body, where the electrodes are electrically connected to an external power source to generate an arc discharge between the first and second electrodes. The plasma torch apparatus can be configured as a modular torch apparatus for simple removal and replacement of elements of the plasma torch apparatus. The plasma torch apparatus can also be configured as a cooled plasma torch apparatus to prolong the working life of elements of the plasma torch apparatus.
Claims25
A direct-current plasma torch apparatus, comprising:
- a torch housing defining a torch chamber therewithin and including an inlet end, an outlet end, and at least one gas inlet positioned to inject at least one plasma forming gas into the torch chamber, along a wall of the torch housing, to produce a vortex flow of the at least one plasma forming gas, the torch chamber including a top chamber section and a lower, conical chamber section that is shaped to accelerate the at least one plasma forming gas along the torch chamber towards the outlet end of the torch housing;
- a first electrode being positioned at a tapered end of the lower, conical chamber section;
- an insulating body;
- and
- a second electrode being mounted within the insulating body and extending along at least a portion of the torch chamber to define an arc gap between the first electrode and the second electrode, at least one of the first and second electrodes being connected to a power source for generation of an arc discharge
- therebetween, across the arc gap,
- wherein the torch housing further defines at least one cooling chamber, the cooling chamber including a cooling inlet and a cooling outlet for the circulation of at least one cooling fluid through the cooling chamber, wherein the first electrode is positioned in an opening of the outlet end of the torch housing that is defined by an inner wall of the torch housing, and wherein the cooling chamber surrounds the inner wall of the torch housing so as to cool the first electrode through the inner wall.
4 more elements
A direct-current plasma torch apparatus, comprising:
- a torch housing defining a torch chamber therewithin, the torch housing including an inlet end, an outlet end, and at least one gas inlet for injecting at least one plasma forming gas into the torch chamber;
- a first electrode being positioned at the outlet end of the torch housing and including a through-aperture that defines an outlet for the at least one plasma forming gas;
- an insulating body including a through-aperture and being mounted through the inlet end of the torch housing;
- and
- a removable second electrode being removably securable within the through-aperture of the insulating body, where a portion of the second electrode extends beyond the inlet end of the torch housing to permit removal of the second electrode from the insulating body, through the inlet end of the torch housing, when removably secured within the through-aperture, the removable second electrode extending along at least a portion of the reaction chamber towards the first electrode to define an arc gap therebetween, at least one of the first and removable second electrodes being connected to a power source for generation of an arc discharge therebetween, across the arc gap;
- and.
3 more elements
A direct-current plasma torch apparatus, comprising:
- a torch housing defining a torch chamber therewithin, the torch housing including an inlet end, an outlet end having an opening, and at least one gas inlet for injecting at least one plasma forming gas into the torch chamber;
- a first electrode being removably connected in the opening of the outlet end of the torch housing and including a through-aperture that defines an outlet for the at least one plasma forming gas;
- an insulating body being mounted to the inlet end of the torch housing;
- and
- a modular second electrode being disposed within the insulating body and extending along at least a portion of the reaction chamber towards the first electrode, the modular second electrode including an electrode tip that is releasably secured on a distal end thereof such that the electrode tip is detachable through the opening of the outlet end once the first electrode is removed from the opening, an arc gap being defined between the electrode tip and the first electrode, at least one of the first and modular second electrodes being connected to a power source for generation of an arc discharge between the first and second electrodes, across the arc gap.
2 more elements
A direct-current plasma torch apparatus, comprising:
- a cooled torch housing defining a torch chamber and at least partially defining at least one cooling chamber, the cooled torch housing including an inlet end, an outlet end, at least one gas inlet for injecting at least one plasma forming gas into the torch chamber, at least one cooling inlet, and at least one cooling outlet, the torch chamber including a conical chamber section, the cooling inlet and the cooling outlet being in fluid communication with the at least one cooling chamber for circulation therethrough of at least one cooling fluid, where the at least one cooling chamber is defined between an outer wall of the cooled torch housing and an inner wall that defines the conical chamber section such that a transverse dimension of the at least one cooling chamber increases towards the outlet end, along a length of the cooled torch housing;
- a first electrode being positioned at a tapered end of the lower, conical chamber section and including a through-aperture that defines an outlet for the at least one plasma forming gas;
- an insulating body;
- and
- a second electrode being mounted within the insulating body and extending along at least a portion of the torch chamber towards the first electrode to define an arc gap between therebetween, at least one of the first and second electrodes being connected to a power source for generation of an arc discharge therebetween, across the arc gap.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.