Patent · US Expired

Plasma arc torch tip providing a substantially columnar shield flow

US6207923A · kind A · utility

61Cited by
25References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 5, 1998
Grant dateMar 27, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 5, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05H1/3478
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A plasma arc torch which includes a torch body having a nozzle mounted relative to an electrode in the body to define a plasma chamber. The torch body includes a plasma flow path for directing a plasma gas to the plasma chamber in which a plasma arc is formed. The nozzle includes a hollow, body portion and a substantially solid, head portion defining an exit orifice. The torch also includes a shield attached to the torch body. The shield has a head portion and a body portion which defines a shield exit orifice that has an inlet and an outlet. The shield exit orifice is dimensioned such that the head portion of the nozzle extends, at least in part, to a position between the inlet and the outlet of the shield exit orifice. This configuration produces a substantially columnar flow of shield gas that does not substantially interfere with the plasma arc and prevents a substantial portion of splattered molten metal produced during marking or cutting of the workpiece from reaching the nozzle.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.