Retractable electrode coolant tube
AssigneeThermal Dynamics Corporation
InventorsDarrin H. MacKenzie, Christopher J. Conway, Mark Gugliotta, Kevin J. Kinerson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Plasma arc torches are provided that include a mounting for an electrode and a coolant tube telescopingly mounted on the plasma arc torch to engage and deliver coolant to electrodes of different sizes mounted in the mounting. The telescopingly mounted coolant tube may extend to a closed position in which coolant does not flow when no electrode is mounted in the mounting. The telescopingly mounted coolant tube may further be used to electrically connect a cathodic member with the electrode mounted in the mounting.
Claims46
A plasma arc torch comprising:
- a mounting for an electrode;
- and
- a coolant tube telescopingly mounted on the plasma arc torch to deliver coolant to an electrode mounted in the mounting.
A plasma arc torch comprising:
- a mounting for an electrode;
- and
- a coolant tube telescopingly mounted in the plasma arc torch to engage electrodes of different sizes mounted in the mounting for delivering coolant thereto, and to extend to a closed position in which coolant does not flow when no electrode is mounted in the mounting.
A plasma arc torch for use with a removable electrode, the plasma arc torch including a telescoping coolant tube biased to telescope to engage an electrode installed on the plasma arc torch, to deliver coolant through the tube to the electrode installed on the plasma arc torch, and to telescope to a closed position preventing coolant from being delivered through the tube when no electrode is installed on the plasma arc torch.
A plasma arc torch comprising:
- an electrode removably mounted on the plasma arc torch;
- and
- a telescopingly mounted coolant tube resiliently biased to extend to engage an electrode mounted on the plasma arc torch to deliver coolant thereto, and to extend to a no flow position when no electrode is mounted on the plasma arc torch to block coolant flow through the tube.
A plasma arc torch comprising:
- a telescopingly mounted coolant tube that is resiliently biased to a closed position in which coolant flow through the tube is blocked;
- and
- means for mounting an electrode in a position so that the electrode retains the tube from its closed position so that coolant flows through the tube when the electrode is mounted on the plasma arc torch.
A plasma arc torch comprising:
- a mounting for an electrode;
- a cooling passage for the delivery of coolant to an electrode mounted in the mounting;
- and
- a member telescopingly mounted to contact an electrode mounted in the mounting to cause coolant to be delivered to the electrode through the cooling passage and to prevent coolant from being delivered through the passage when the member does not contact an electrode.
A plasma arc torch comprising:
- a cathodic member within the plasma arc torch;
- an electrode removably mounted on the plasma arc torch;
- and
- a telescopingly mounted member resiliently biased to extend to contact the electrode to electrically connect the electrode with the cathodic member.
A plasma arc torch comprising:
- a cathodic member within the plasma arc torch;
- a mounting for an electrode;
- and
- a member telescopingly mounted in the plasma arc torch to electrically connect electrodes of different sizes mounted in the mounting with the cathodic member.
A coolant tube for delivering coolant to an electrode in a plasma arc torch, the coolant tube comprising:
- at least one radial passage for receiving a coolant into the coolant tube;
- a crenulated distal end portion for discharging coolant from the coolant tube;
- a fluid passage extending from the radial passage to the crenulated distal end portion;
- and
- an outer surface defining a proximal shoulder and a distal shoulder.
A coolant tube for delivering coolant to an electrode in a plasma arc torch, the coolant tube comprising:
- a crenulated proximal end portion for receiving coolant into the tube;
- a crenulated distal end portion for discharging coolant from the tube;
- and
- a fluid passage extending from the crenulated proximal end portion to the crenulated distal end portion.
A plasma arc torch comprising:
- a mounting for a torch component;
- and
- a coolant tube telescopingly mounted to contact the torch component mounted in the mounting.
A plasma arc torch comprising:
- a telescoping coolant tube;
- at least one other torch component;
- and
- the coolant tube being biased to telescope to contact the other torch component when the other torch component is installed on the plasma arc torch.
A plasma arc torch comprising:
- means for mounting an electrode;
- means for delivering a coolant to an electrode mounted in the means for mounting;
- and
- means for preventing coolant from being delivered by the means for delivering when no electrode is mounted in the means for mounting.
A method of electrically connecting a cathodic member and an electrode in a plasma arc torch, the method comprising telescopingly mounting a member on the plasma arc torch to extend to contact an electrode mounted on the plasma arc torch, the telescopingly mounted member being in electrical communication with the cathodic member.
A method of accommodating electrodes of different sizes in a plasma arc torch, the method comprising telescopingly mounting a coolant tube on the plasma arc torch to engage and deliver coolant through the tube to any one of the electrodes mounted on the plasma arc torch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.