EP4223083A1 - Cost effective cartridge for a plasma arc torch - Google Patents

Cost effective cartridge for a plasma arc torch

Info

Publication number
EP4223083A1
EP4223083A1 EP21794691.2A EP21794691A EP4223083A1 EP 4223083 A1 EP4223083 A1 EP 4223083A1 EP 21794691 A EP21794691 A EP 21794691A EP 4223083 A1 EP4223083 A1 EP 4223083A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
adapter
consumable
torch
component
electrode
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP21794691.2A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Yu Zhang
Zheng Duan
Stephen T. Eickhoff
Garrett K. QUILLIA
Brett Hansen
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.)
Hypertherm Inc
Original Assignee
Hypertherm Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US17/036,921 external-priority patent/US11684995B2/en
Application filed by Hypertherm Inc filed Critical Hypertherm Inc
Publication of EP4223083A1 publication Critical patent/EP4223083A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • H05H1/3468—Vortex generators
    • 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
    • H05H1/3447—Rod-like cathodes
    • 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
    • H05H1/38—Guiding or centering of electrodes

Definitions

  • the nozzle retention surface includes a nozzle retention feature located on an external surface of the extensions.
  • the nozzle retention feature can comprise a groove configured to receive a portion of the nozzle via crimping.
  • the nozzle retention surface comprises a sloped surface configured to receive a portion of the nozzle via crimping.
  • the elongated body is molded from a thermoplastic material comprising a polymer formed of ether and ketone molecules.
  • the thermoplastic material can further comprise one or more additives.
  • a crown for a contact start plasma arc torch configured for electrical communication with an electrode.
  • the crown comprises a substantially hollow body, formed from an electrically conductive material, configured to receive a resilient element.
  • the hollow body has a substantially uniform thickness.
  • the crown also includes a biasing surface at a proximal end of the crown for physically contacting the resilient element.
  • the crown further includes an interior contact surface at the distal end for physically contacting, during a transferred arc mode of the plasma arc torch, a corresponding surface at the proximal end of the electrode.
  • the contact surface is characterized by an absence of contact with the corresponding surface of the electrode during a pilot arc mode of the plasma arc torch.
  • the method further includes radially aligning the inner component with respect to the outer component by one or more fins disposed on a surface of at least one of the inner or outer component.
  • the present invention features an adapter for a plasma arc torch that includes a consumable component and a torch body.
  • the adapter includes a body defining a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end.
  • the body comprises an inner portion and an outer portion.
  • the adapter includes a set of torch mount threads located on the proximal end of the body on an interior surface of the outer portion.
  • the set of torch mount threads are configured to engage the torch body.
  • the adapter also includes a set of consumable mount threads located on the distal end of the body on an exterior surface of the outer portion.
  • the set of consumable mount threads configured to engage the consumable component.
  • the adapter is constructed from an electrically conductive material. In some embodiments, the adapter is detached from the consumable. In some embodiments, the adapter is integrated with the consumable.
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the swirl ring of the cartridge of FIG. 1 with the electrode aligned within the swirl ring and illustrating an exemplary gas flow opening.
  • thermoplastics to manufacture swirl rings reduces cartridge cost in comparison to, for example, VespelTM, Torlon, Celazole or Phenolic compounds or other thermal-set plastics, which are materials currently used to manufacture swirl rings, but are comparatively more expensive to obtain and difficult to use.
  • thermoplastics have operating temperatures that are lower than thermos-set VespelTM, which can potentially impact the integrity of swirl rings and electrode life in general.
  • the swirl ring 102 or 702 can be made from thermoplastic resins having one or more fortifying additives to provide the desired thermal resistance and/or thermal conductivity, thus enabling effective use of thermoplastic material(s) in cartridges and/or swirl rings.
  • the rotatable engagement and axial securement between the outer and inner components can be indirectly accomplished by rotatable engagement and axial securement between the crown 1006 and the swirl ring 1007 of the inner component 1004 at the interface 1023, where the swirl ring 1007 is fixedly secured to the outer component 1002 via its connection to the nozzle 1010.
  • Such snap fit connection can fixedly join the insulator component 1028 with the cap sleeve 1016 (and also to the retain cap 1014 through the overmolded cap sleeve 1016). Because the cross-sectional dimension of each raised region 1210 is less than that of each slot 1306, each raised region 1210 is adapted to leave at least a portion of each slot 1306 unobstructed, thus permitting gas flow therethrough. As shown in FIG. 14c, the cap sleeve 1016 and the insulator component 1028 can engage at four locations radially disposed around the longitudinal axis A. In other embodiments, fewer or more engagement locations are constructed.
  • FIG. 15 is an exemplary configuration of the shield 1012, which can be a part of the outer component 1002 of the cartridge 1000 of FIG. 10 or a stand-alone piece.
  • the shield 1012 of FIG. 15 can be used in a hand-cutting plasma arc torch.
  • the shield 1012 comprises a substantially hollow body.
  • a section in a proximal portion 1502 of the hollow body can be crimped against one or more grooves 1212 on the distal end 1208 of the cap sleeve 1014 to securely connect the shield 1012 to the cap sleeve 1016.
  • Another section of the proximal portion 1502 can be crimped against the grooves 1311 of the insulator component 1028 to securely connect the shield 1012 to the insulator component 1028.
  • the shield 1012 can also include a shield exit orifice 1506 and one or more gas vent holes 1504 disposed on a body of the shield 1012 extending from an interior surface to an exterior surface of the shield 1012.
  • the swirl ring 1002 can be defined by a substantially hollow, elongated body having a distal end 1910 and the proximal end 1912 along the longitudinal axis A.
  • the hollow body of the swirl ring 1007 is dimensioned to receive the electrode 1008 and substantially extend over the length of the electrode 1008 along the longitudinal axis A.
  • the inner wall of the swirl ring 1007 can thus radially align the electrode 1008 by limiting a radial movement of the electrode 1008.
  • the fins of the electrode 1008 are wider than the opening of swirl ring 1007 at the proximal end 1912 such that the electrode 1008 is hindered from exiting the swirl ring 1007 from the proximal end 1912.
  • the circular opening 2152 has a plurality of gas passageways 2154 (e.g., in the form of rectangular slots, half circles, irregular shapes, letters, etc) connected thereto.
  • the gas passageways 2154 can be radially dispersed around the circular opening 2152 at regular or irregular intervals.
  • the size, number and/or shape of the gas passageways 2154 are adjustable for different processes to permit different amount and/or pattern of gas therethrough.
  • the spacer 2150 can be made from an electrically conductive material, such as brass, copper or aluminum.
  • the distal end 3306 represents the end that is closest to a workpiece when the adapter 3300 is installed inside of a plasma arc torch to process the workpiece, and the proximal end 3304 is the end that is opposite of the distal end 3306 along the longitudinal axis A.
  • the adapter 3300 has at least one protruding portion 3308 extending from the proximal end 3304 of its body 3302.
  • the at least one protruding portion 3308 includes a set of two protruding portions disposed along a circumference at the proximal end 3304 of the adapter body 3302, where each protruding portion extends proximally substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A.
  • the at least one protruding portion 3308 can have other shapes, orientations, number of protrusions, etc. as described in detail below.
  • the adapter 3300 is made of an electrically conductive material, such as copper.
  • FIG. 23 shows an exemplary configuration of a distal end 2202 of the torch body 2102 that is configured to engage the at least one protruding portion 3308 of the adapter 3300 for the purpose of consumable detection.
  • component 2102 is referred to above as the “torch head,” this component is hereinafter referred to as the “torch body.”
  • “torch head” and “torch body” are used interchangeably.
  • the distal end 2202 of the torch body 2102 defines the outer circular portion 2206, the inner cavity portion 2208, and the central cathode 2210.
  • the consumable sensor 2104 is disposed in the cavity 2208 substantially parallel to the cathode 2210.
  • the protruding portion(s) 3712 of the adapter 3700 activates the switch of the torch body that signals to the plasma arc torch the presence of the consumable component in the torch.
  • the torch can initiate conveyance of an electrical current from the cathode of torch body to the consumable component via the cathodic element 3710 of the adapter 3700.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
  • Plasma Technology (AREA)
  • Arc Welding In General (AREA)
EP21794691.2A 2020-09-29 2021-09-24 Cost effective cartridge for a plasma arc torch Pending EP4223083A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US17/036,921 US11684995B2 (en) 2013-11-13 2020-09-29 Cost effective cartridge for a plasma arc torch
PCT/US2021/051944 WO2022072235A1 (en) 2020-09-29 2021-09-24 Cost effective cartridge for a plasma arc torch

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4223083A1 true EP4223083A1 (en) 2023-08-09

Family

ID=78294072

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21794691.2A Pending EP4223083A1 (en) 2020-09-29 2021-09-24 Cost effective cartridge for a plasma arc torch

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4223083A1 (zh)
CN (1) CN116235638A (zh)
WO (1) WO2022072235A1 (zh)

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2803978A1 (fr) * 2000-01-17 2001-07-20 Air Liquide Torche a plasma avec systeme d'identification de la tete, de l'electrode ou de la tuyere
RU2693233C2 (ru) * 2014-08-12 2019-07-01 Гипертерм, Инк. Затратоэффективная головка для плазменно-дуговой горелки
US10335888B2 (en) * 2016-02-12 2019-07-02 Hypertherm, Inc. Swirl ring and contact element for a plasma arc torch cartridge

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN116235638A (zh) 2023-06-06
WO2022072235A1 (en) 2022-04-07

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