Patent · US Expired

Plasma gas distributor with integral metering and flow passageways

US7126080B1 · kind B1 · utility

12Cited by
10References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 7, 2005
Grant dateOct 24, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 7, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05H1/3468
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A gas distributor for use in a plasma arc torch is provided that has at least one plasma gas passageway formed conjointly with a metering passageway, and at least one helical gas passageway formed along an interior portion of the gas distributor, wherein the helical gas passageway is in fluid communication with the plasma gas passageway and the metering passageway. The combination of the metering passageway and the helical gas passageway provides for a metered flow rate and a controlled swirling flow of plasma gas within the plasma arc chamber, respectively, which functions to reduce the amount of molten emissive insert that is ejected from within an electrode at arc shut off, thereby resulting in an increased life of the consumable electrode.

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