Consumables for plasma cutting torch
AssigneeThe ESAB Group, Inc.
InventorGeoffrey Hamilton Putnam
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to techniques for absorbing and dissipating heat from a cutting torch during a plasma cutting process/operation, including a piercing stage. In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, an outer shield club with a deflector ring absorbs and dissipates heat from a cutting torch including consumable components disposed therein. The shield club surrounds and protects the outermost consumable (e.g., nozzle/tip, shield, etc.) and dissipates heat from the plasma cutting operation. In some implementations, a flow of cooling water flows between and cools the outermost consumable and the shield club.
Claims20
A consumable stack for a torch comprising:
- an electrode;
- a nozzle surrounding a distal end the electrode;
- a shield concentric with a distal end of the nozzle;
- an outer shield assembly concentric with a distal end of the shield, the outer shield assembly configured to absorb and dissipate heat from an arc process operation;
- and
- a deflector ring disposed at a proximal end of the outer shield assembly, the deflector ring configured to deflect spatter ejected during the arc process operation away from a torch head of the torch.
A method comprising:
- guiding a flow of cooling fluid to an interior of an electrode of a torch;
- guiding the flow cooling fluid from the electrode to a nozzle;
- guiding the flow cooling fluid from the nozzle to a shield and/or a shield cup;
- guiding the flow cooling fluid from the shield and/or the shield cup to an outer shield assembly;
- and
- guiding the flow of cooling fluid from the outer shield assembly to a torch head of the torch for return to a cooling fluid supply.
A shield assembly for an arc processing torch, the shield assembly comprising:
- a shield club with a sidewall extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the sidewall defining a proximal opening at the proximal end, a distal opening at the distal end, and a cavity for receiving one or more consumables, wherein a radial thickness of the sidewall is based on a desired thermal mass;
- and
- a deflector ring coupled to the proximal end of the sidewall, wherein the deflector ring is configured to deflect spatter from an arc processing operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.