Plasma Arc Cutting System, Including Swirl Rings, and Other Consumables, and Related Operational Methods
AssigneeHypertherm, Inc.
InventorJohn Peters
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A plasma gas swirl ring for a liquid cooled plasma arc torch is provided. The swirl ring comprises a substantially hollow body having a distal end, a proximal end, an interior region defined by an interior surface, and an exterior surface. The interior region of the body is configured to receive an electrode of the plasma arc torch. The swirl ring comprises a first opening disposed within a portion of the proximal end of the body, a second opening disposed about a central portion of the body, and a third opening comprising at least one swirling port disposed within a portion of the distal end of the body. The third opening is configured to provide a swirling flow of the plasma gas about the electrode at the distal end of the body.
Claims21
A plasma gas swirl ring for a liquid cooled plasma arc torch, the swirl ring comprising:
- a substantially hollow body having a distal end, a proximal end, an interior region defined by an interior surface, and an exterior surface, the distal and the proximal ends of the body defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, wherein the interior region of the body is configured to receive an electrode of the plasma arc torch;
- a first opening disposed within a portion of the proximal end of the body, the first opening configured to provide fluid communication from the interior region to the exterior surface of the body;
- a second opening disposed about a central portion of the body, the second opening configured to provide fluid communication from the exterior surface to the interior region of the body;
- and
- a third opening comprising at least one swirling port disposed within a portion of the distal end of the body, the third opening fluidly connecting the interior region of the body to an exterior region, the third opening configured to provide a swirling flow of the plasma gas about the electrode at the distal end of the body.
A method for controlling a plasma gas flow through a swirl ring in a plasma arc torch, the swirl ring having a substantially hollow body with a distal end, a proximal end, an interior region defined by an interior surface, and an exterior surface, the distal and the proximal ends of the swirl ring defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, the method comprising:
- supplying the plasma gas flow into the interior region of the swirl ring near the proximal end of the body;
- conducting the plasma gas flow from the interior region to the exterior surface of the swirl ring through a first opening disposed within a portion of the proximal end of the body;
- conducting the plasma gas flow from the exterior surface to a swirl gas chamber in the interior region of the swirl ring through a second opening located in a central portion of the body, wherein the swirl gas chamber is defined by the interior surface of the swirl ring and an exterior surface of an electrode located within the interior region of the swirl ring;
- conducting the plasma gas flow from the swirl gas chamber to an exterior region through a third opening disposed within a portion of the distal end of the body;
- and
- imparting, by the third opening, a swirling motion to the plasma gas flow about the electrode at the distal end of the body.
A method for controlling a plasma gas flow through a swirl ring in a plasma arc torch, the swirl ring having a substantially hollow body with a distal end, a proximal end, an interior region defined by an interior surface, and an exterior surface, the distal and the proximal ends of the swirl ring defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, the method comprising:
- providing the plasma gas flow axially into the interior region of the swirl ring near the proximal end of the body;
- conducting the plasma gas flow radially away from the interior region to the exterior surface of the swirl ring through a first opening disposed within a portion of the proximal end of the body;
- conducting the plasma gas flow radially from the exterior surface to a swirl gas chamber in the interior region of the swirl ring through a second opening located within a central portion of the body, wherein the swirl gas chamber is defined by the interior surface of the swirl ring and an exterior surface of an electrode located within the interior region of the swirl ring;
- metering, by the second opening, the plasma gas flow as it travels radially away from the body;
- conducting the plasma gas flow axially from the swirl gas chamber to an exterior region through a third opening disposed within a portion of the distal end of the body;
- and
- imparting, by the third opening, a swirling motion to the plasma gas flow about the electrode at the distal end of the body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.