EP2127502B1 - Plasma cutting torch - Google Patents

Plasma cutting torch Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2127502B1
EP2127502B1 EP08702238.0A EP08702238A EP2127502B1 EP 2127502 B1 EP2127502 B1 EP 2127502B1 EP 08702238 A EP08702238 A EP 08702238A EP 2127502 B1 EP2127502 B1 EP 2127502B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
unit
fluid
torch
torch according
channel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP08702238.0A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2127502A2 (en
Inventor
Mauro Vancini
Silvano Dallavalle
Vittorio Colombo
Emanuele Ghedini
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cebora SpA
Original Assignee
Cebora SpA
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Publication date
Application filed by Cebora SpA filed Critical Cebora SpA
Priority to PL08702238T priority Critical patent/PL2127502T3/pl
Publication of EP2127502A2 publication Critical patent/EP2127502A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2127502B1 publication Critical patent/EP2127502B1/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05H—PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
    • H05H1/00—Generating plasma; Handling plasma
    • H05H1/24—Generating plasma
    • H05H1/26—Plasma torches
    • H05H1/32—Plasma torches using an arc
    • H05H1/34—Details, e.g. electrodes, nozzles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05H—PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
    • H05H1/00—Generating plasma; Handling plasma
    • H05H1/24—Generating plasma
    • H05H1/26—Plasma torches
    • H05H1/32—Plasma torches using an arc
    • H05H1/34—Details, e.g. electrodes, nozzles
    • H05H1/3457—Nozzle protection devices

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a plasma cutting torch, in particular a plasma torch with long-life operating elements.
  • Prior art plasma torches e.g. the one of DE4030541A1 ) basically comprise:
  • the covering unit forms with the nozzle holder a feed channel for the flow of a secondary fluid or gas.
  • the nozzle and the protective element enable the plasma to be discharged through respective coaxial holes in their distal portions.
  • the covering unit is normally divided into two separate parts which are fitted together when the torch is assembled:
  • This second member is provided with the above mentioned central hole for the passage of the plasma arc and with a circular internal area shaped to accommodate a secondary gas ring or diffuser interposed between the second member itself and the outside surface of the nozzle holder.
  • this ring is provided with a plurality of openings distributed according to a well known pattern to enable the secondary gas to flow towards the plasma channel.
  • the flow of secondary fluid is used to prevent molten metal from entering the holes, to improve directional accuracy of the plasma arc generated and to protect the arc discharged by the torch from the atmosphere.
  • the covering unit and, more specifically, the second, cup-shaped member is subjected to wear and damage at a higher rate than the first member, not only on account of the high temperatures present in the working area but also because molten material from the part being worked tends to adhere to its surface especially when the part itself is pierced.
  • the Applicant has designed and produced a plasma cutting torch whose technical and structural characteristics are such as to minimize wear on the second member of the covering unit and to reduce damage to it during work. This is done by diversifying the cooling fluids flowing towards and in the vicinity of the covering unit.
  • this aim is achieved by a plasma torch according to claim 1.
  • the torch 1 consists of a torch body 2 which extends mainly in length along an axis X and basically comprises: an electrode 3; a nozzle 4; a nozzle support or holder 7; a first unit 10 for covering the nozzle 4 and the nozzle holder 7; and a second unit 13 for partly covering the first unit 10.
  • the electrode 3 is mounted centrally in the torch body 2 and can be connected to the negative pole of a power generator (not illustrated).
  • proximal end denotes the end portion of each torch component closest to the point O shown in Figures 1 and 5 .
  • distal end denotes the end portion of each torch component furthest from the point O, that is to say, the end opposite the proximal end.
  • the nozzle 4 is mounted on the proximal end of the torch body 2, connectable to the positive pole of the generator to form an anode and surrounding the tip of the electrode 3 to form a chamber 5 where plasma is generated by feeding a first fluid or gas into it (see arrows F1, Figure 1 ), and having a first central through hole 6 for the passage of the plasma.
  • the nozzle holder 7 is associated with the torch body 2 and an inside wall of it faces the outside wall of the nozzle 4 in such a way as to form a cooling chamber 8 through which is fed a second, cooling fluid F2 (which, in this nonlimiting example, is water).
  • F2 which, in this nonlimiting example, is water
  • the above mentioned first unit 10 for covering the nozzle 4 and the nozzle holder 7 comprises:
  • the covering unit 10 also forms a channel 12 through which a third cooling fluid F3 (indicated by the arrows F3) flows between the nozzle holder 7 and the covering unit 10 to reach the second hole 11: this secondary fluid (which may be air - or other fluid/gas - supplied by respective second means 12m illustrated as a block) further cools the area close to the nozzle holder 7 and nozzle 4 and is discharged through the second hole 11.
  • a third cooling fluid F3 (indicated by the arrows F3) flows between the nozzle holder 7 and the covering unit 10 to reach the second hole 11: this secondary fluid (which may be air - or other fluid/gas - supplied by respective second means 12m illustrated as a block) further cools the area close to the nozzle holder 7 and nozzle 4 and is discharged through the second hole 11.
  • the above mentioned second unit 13 for partly covering the first unit 10 may be associated with the torch body 2 or (as described in more detail below) with the first member 10a, and forms, together with the outside surface of the first unit 10 facing the second unit 13, a second channel 14 for the passage of a fourth fluid F4 (for example air or other fluid/gas) leading in the direction of the second hole 11 and designed at least to permit cooling of the outside of the first unit 10 (as indicated by the arrows F4).
  • a fourth fluid F4 for example air or other fluid/gas
  • the second unit 13 has a cylindrical shape, tapering inwards at its proximal end in such a way as to substantially match a part of the first unit 10.
  • the second unit 13 is joined indirectly, in the embodiment illustrated by way of example, to the torch body 2 at its distal end.
  • the distal end of the second unit 13 may be screwed to (or stably associated with) an outside portion of the distal end of the first supporting member 10a, and both can then be locked to the torch body 2 by means of the first supporting member 10a itself.
  • the second cylindrical unit 13 encompasses and covers the first member 10a and is positioned with its proximal end close to the second member 10b in such a way as to enable a fourth fluid F4 to flow in the direction of the second member 10b, thereby creating a protective area around the second member 10b to prevent molten material from adhering to the second member 10b during use.
  • the second member 10b may be thicker than the first member 10a, so as to form a bottom cylindrical wall 10c that protrudes from the cylindrical outside surface of the first member 10a and facing the outlet opening of the second unit 13.
  • the second member 10b may have a plurality of radial notches 15 running uniformly along the circumferential surface of the second member 10b and designed to enable the fourth fluid F4 to flow along the bottom surface of the second member 10b in order to improve cooling by increasing the heat exchange surface area.
  • each notch 15 may have a partly curved shape. along the top of it 15a in such a way as to direct the flow of the fourth fluid F4 out of the notches 15 in a direction D substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the torch body 2.
  • the fourth fluid F4 can be fed into the second channel 14 through a respective conduit 16 passing through the first unit 10, that is, at the proximal end of the first member 10a.
  • spacer elements 17 located between the first member 10a and the second unit 13 which support and position the second unit 13 and which keep the second annular channel 14 at a predetermined size.
  • These spacer elements 17 may be formed from a plurality of openings made on a ring 18 running around the first member 10a.
  • the fourth fluid F4 may, in a first solution, be fed by independent means 19 (illustrated as a block).
  • the fourth fluid F4 may be of the same type as the fluid F3 but fed into the second channel 14 by respective means 19 independent of - the above mentioned means 12m for feeding the third fluid F3 (see dashed line).
  • the fourth fluid F4 is of the same type as the third fluid F3 and is fed into the second channel 14 by the same means 12m that feed the third fluid F3 into the first channel 12 (see dot-dashed line).
  • FIGS 5 , 5a , 6 , 7 , 8 and 9 illustrate a second variant form of the torch according to this invention.
  • the second member 10b is tapered in the direction of the proximal end of the torch.
  • the member 10b comprises, from the top down, a first groove 20, a first vertical, cylindrical wall 21, a supporting surface 22, a second groove 23, a second vertical, cylindrical wall 24, and a truncated cone shaped wall 25 in whose minor base the above mentioned hole 11 is made.
  • the second unit 13 is tapered in the direction of the proximal end of the torch 1.
  • the second unit 13 comprises, at its proximal end (and from the top down with reference to the direction indicated by the arrow F in Figure 5 ), a first vertical, inside cylindrical wall 26, a surface 27 for supporting the member 10b and a second vertical, inside cylindrical wall 28.
  • the cylindrical walls 21, 24, 26 and 28 which, in the embodiment illustrated, are vertical, may, in another embodiment that is not illustrated, be inclined at a predetermined angle.
  • the member 10b is associated with the first member 10a at the first groove 20, with an interposed sealing ring 29 inserted in the first groove 20 itself.
  • the supporting surface 22 of the member 10b rests on the supporting surface 27 of the second unit 13 and the first vertical cylindrical wall 21 of the member 10b is positioned side by side with the first vertical, inside cylindrical wall 26 of the second unit 13: thus, the member 10b is connected to the second unit 13 and is centred with respect to the latter thanks to the vertical wall 26 of the second unit 13.
  • the second unit 13 comprises a plurality of notches 30, uniformly distributed along the entire supporting surface 27.
  • Each notch 30 constitutes an extension 31 of the second channel 14 for the passage of the fluid F4 between the member 10b and the second unit 13 so that the fluid F4 is discharged at the second groove 23.
  • notches 30 there are twelve notches 30 and they are substantially semicircular in shape, without thereby limiting the scope of the invention, meaning that the torch 1 may have a different number of notches and that the notches may be otherwise shaped.
  • the top end 24a of the second vertical wall 24 of the member 10b and the bottom end 28a of the second vertical inside wall 28 of the unit 13 are positioned side by side and define a passage 32 through which the fluid F4 is discharged from the second groove 23 to the outside of the torch 1, in the direction of the above mentioned hole 11.
  • the second channel 14 also comprises the extension 31, the second groove 23 and the passage 32.
  • the passage 32 is a circular crown 33 whose width is equal to the distance between the bottom end 28a of the second wall 28 of the second unit 13 and the top end 24a of the second wall 24 of the member 10b.
  • the member 10b is fixed to the torch 1 through its connection to the second unit 13.
  • this connection is achieved by placing the supporting surface 22 over the supporting surface 27 and placing the wall 21 side by side with the wall 22 so as to centre the member 10b with respect to the second unit 13.
  • the fluid F4 therefore flows through the second channel 14 and along the extension 31 of the second channel 14 formed by the notches 30 in the second unit 13, at the supporting surface 27.
  • the fluid F4 flows through the extension 31 and into the second groove 23 and from there out through the passage 32 in the direction of the hole 11.
  • the fluid F4 externally surrounds all the space around the member 10b.
  • the member 10b does not have the second groove 23 and the fluid F4 flows through the extension 31 of the second channel 14 and out directly through the passage 32.
  • FIG 10 illustrates a third variant form of the torch 1 according to this invention.
  • the second unit 13 of the third variant form comprises a first part 13a and a second part 13b.
  • the first part 13a comprises, at its proximal end, a seat 34 designed to receive a corresponding portion 35 of the second part 13b.
  • the second part 13b comprises a portion 36 designed to be connected to a corresponding portion 37 of the second member 10b.
  • the portion 36 is step-shaped and the portion 37 is a protrusion shaped to match the portion 36 and designed to fit into the portion 36 itself.
  • the second part 13b and the second member 10b are fixed by connecting the portion 36 and the portion 37 by interference.
  • first part 13a and the second part 13b define the second outlet channel 14 for discharging the fluid F4 in the direction of the hole 11.
  • a plasma torch made in this way therefore achieves the above mentioned aims thanks to a second unit adapted to form the second channel for the fourth fluid allowing the second member to be cooled and consequently protecting it against splashes of molten material that would otherwise damage it: this is achieved also thanks to the special structure of the second member which includes notches for directing the flow.
  • the fourth fluid may be a liquid or gas of the same type as the third fluid already used in the first channel of the torch.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
  • Arc Welding In General (AREA)
  • Plasma Technology (AREA)
EP08702238.0A 2007-01-15 2008-01-15 Plasma cutting torch Active EP2127502B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PL08702238T PL2127502T3 (pl) 2007-01-15 2008-01-15 Palnik do cięcia plazmowego

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000019A ITBO20070019A1 (it) 2007-01-15 2007-01-15 Torcia per il taglio al plasma.
PCT/IB2008/000076 WO2008087522A2 (en) 2007-01-15 2008-01-15 Plasma cutting torch

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2127502A2 EP2127502A2 (en) 2009-12-02
EP2127502B1 true EP2127502B1 (en) 2015-10-28

Family

ID=39585657

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08702238.0A Active EP2127502B1 (en) 2007-01-15 2008-01-15 Plasma cutting torch

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2127502B1 (pl)
IT (1) ITBO20070019A1 (pl)
PL (1) PL2127502T3 (pl)
WO (1) WO2008087522A2 (pl)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8772667B2 (en) 2007-02-09 2014-07-08 Hypertherm, Inc. Plasma arch torch cutting component with optimized water cooling
US8829385B2 (en) 2007-02-09 2014-09-09 Hypertherm, Inc. Plasma arc torch cutting component with optimized water cooling
US8212173B2 (en) 2008-03-12 2012-07-03 Hypertherm, Inc. Liquid cooled shield for improved piercing performance
US8389887B2 (en) 2008-03-12 2013-03-05 Hypertherm, Inc. Apparatus and method for a liquid cooled shield for improved piercing performance
AU2012223470B2 (en) * 2011-02-28 2015-06-11 Victor Equipment Company Plasma cutting tip with advanced cooling passageways
CZ309391B6 (cs) * 2021-09-24 2022-11-09 Thermacut, K.S. Směrovací dílec pro plazmový hořák, sestava a plazmový hořák

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5194715A (en) * 1991-11-27 1993-03-16 Esab Welding Products, Inc. Plasma arc torch used in underwater cutting

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3426410A1 (de) * 1984-07-18 1986-01-23 Süddeutsche Kühlerfabrik Julius Fr. Behr GmbH & Co KG, 7000 Stuttgart Schweissbrenner zum plasma-mig-schweissen
US5695662A (en) * 1988-06-07 1997-12-09 Hypertherm, Inc. Plasma arc cutting process and apparatus using an oxygen-rich gas shield
DE4030541C2 (de) * 1990-09-27 1997-10-02 Dilthey Ulrich Prof Dr Ing Brenner zur Beschichtung von Grundwerkstoffen mit pulverförmigen Zusatzwerkstoffen
US6914211B2 (en) * 2003-02-27 2005-07-05 Thermal Dynamics Corporation Vented shield system for a plasma arc torch

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5194715A (en) * 1991-11-27 1993-03-16 Esab Welding Products, Inc. Plasma arc torch used in underwater cutting

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITBO20070019A1 (it) 2008-07-16
PL2127502T3 (pl) 2016-04-29
WO2008087522A2 (en) 2008-07-24
EP2127502A2 (en) 2009-12-02
WO2008087522A3 (en) 2009-01-08

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