Plasma arc torch with vented flow nozzle retainer
AssigneeHypertherm, Inc.
InventorsJon Lindsay, Stephen T. Eickhoff, Michael W. Vandiver
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flow of ionizable gas is provided to a shielded plasma arc torch which includes an electrode, a translatable nozzle, a nozzle retainer, and a shield. After passing through a heat exchanger to cool the electrode, the gas flow enters an annular chamber where the flow is divided into three subflows. A first subflow enters a plasma chamber formed by the electrode, the nozzle, and a swirl ring to pressurize the plasma chamber and support a plasma arc. The second subflow passes serially through apertures in the nozzle retainer and the shield to shield the plasma arc. The remaining flow is vented to ambient. Accordingly, a single gas flow may be employed to independently support multiple torch operating requirements.
Claims20
A method of operating a shielded plasma arc torch comprising the steps of:
- providing a flow of an ionizable gas to a torch body;
- passing the flow through a heat exchanger in thermal communication with an electrode disposed in the torch body;
- dividing the flow thereafter into:
- a first subflow for passage through a plasma chamber formed between the electrode and a nozzle to sustain a plasma arc;
- a second subflow for passage through a shield to shield the plasma arc;
- and
- a remaining flow;
- and
- venting the remaining flow to ambient remote from the plasma arc through at least one aperture formed in a nozzle retainer side wall.
A method of operating a shielded plasma arc torch comprising the steps of:
- providing a first flow of a gas to a torch body;
- passing the first flow through a heat exchanger in thermal communication with an electrode disposed in the torch body;
- dividing the flow thereafter into:
- a first subflow for passage through a shield to shield a plasma arc;
- and
- a remaining flow;
- and
- venting the remaining flow to ambient remote from the plasma arc through at least one aperture formed in a nozzle retainer side wall.
A plasma arc torch nozzle retainer comprising:
- a retaining cap comprising:
- a generally cylindrical wall having a first end and a second end defining a longitudinal cap axis;
- and
- a radially inwardly directed flange extending from the wall, the flange forming:
- a first aperture generally centered along the cap axis for permitting passage therethrough of a nozzle;
- and
- a second aperture radially offset from the first aperture for passage therethrough of a shield gas flow;
- wherein the wall forms a third aperture spaced from the second aperture for passage therethrough of a vent gas flow to ambient remote from a plasma arc.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.