Consumable assembly with internal heat removal elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019239331-A1
Application number	US-201916378634-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 9, 2019
Priority date	Oct 12, 2016
Publication date	Aug 1, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A consumable assembly for a plasma arc torch is provided, the consumable assembly including an electrode provided within an interior of a nozzle. The electrode may include a sidewall having one or more fluid passageways formed therethrough, an end wall extending from a distal end of the sidewall, and a central cavity defined by an inner surface of the sidewall and the end wall, the central cavity extending between distal and proximal ends of the electrode. The electrode may further include a heat removal element extending into the central cavity from the inner surface of the sidewall. In one embodiment, the consumable assembly includes a current and gas conduit at the proximal end of the electrode, the current and gas conduit including an interior bore radially aligned with the electrode for collectively delivering a plasma gas, a shield gas, and a vent gas into the central cavity of the electrode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A consumable for a plasma arc torch, the consumable comprising:
a nozzle; and an electrode provided within an interior of the nozzle, the electrode including:
a sidewall including one or more fluid passageways formed through the sidewall;
an end wall extending from a distal end of the sidewall;
a central cavity defined by an inner surface of the sidewall and the end wall, the central cavity extending from a proximal end of the electrode to a distal end of the electrode; and
a protrusion extending into the central cavity from the inner surface of the sidewall.

2 . The consumable of claim 1 , the electrode further comprising a coolant conduit within the central cavity for delivering a fluid from the proximal end of the electrode to the end wall.

3 . The consumable of claim 2 , the electrode further comprising a coolant passage formed between the inner surface of the sidewall and an outer surface of the coolant conduit, wherein the protrusion traverses through the coolant passage.

4 . The consumable of claim 2 , the electrode further comprising a deflector extending into the cavity from the inner surface of the end wall, the deflector configured to direct the fluid laterally towards the coolant passage.

5 . The consumable of claim 2 , wherein the one or more fluid passageways of the electrode are positioned between the protrusion and the proximal end of the electrode to allow the fluid to exit the electrode after passing over the protrusion.

6 . The consumable of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is a heat exchange element extending helically along the inner surface of the sidewall.

7 . The consumable of claim 1 , the nozzle including a cutting aperture and one or more nozzle passages.

8 . The consumable of claim 1 , further comprising a post disposed within the central cavity, wherein the post is in contact with the protrusion and the end wall of the electrode.

9 . The consumable of claim 1 , further comprising a current and gas conduit disposed at the proximal end of the electrode, the current and gas conduit including an interior bore aligned with the cavity of the electrode, wherein the current and gas conduit delivers a plasma gas, a shield gas, and a vent gas into the central cavity of the electrode.

10 . A method of cooling a consumable assembly, the method comprising;
providing an electrode within an interior of a nozzle, the electrode having a proximal end and a distal end, and the electrode further comprising:
a sidewall extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the electrode;
an end wall extending from the sidewall;
a central cavity defined by an inner surface of the sidewall and an inner surface of the end wall, the central cavity extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the electrode; and
a protrusion extending into the central cavity from the inner surface of the sidewall, the protrusion and the inner surface of the sidewall defining a coolant passage; and
directing a fluid into the central cavity of the electrode, wherein the fluid includes a plasma gas, a shield gas, and a vent gas.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising disposing a current and gas conduit at the proximal end of the electrode, the current and gas conduit including an interior bore aligned with the central cavity of the electrode for delivering the fluid into the central cavity of the electrode.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
directing the fluid through the cavity towards the end wall; and redirecting the fluid through the coolant passage from the distal end of electrode towards the proximal end of the electrode.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising directing the fluid from the coolant passage through one or more electrode passages formed through the sidewall.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising directing the shield gas from the one or more electrode passages to a shield gas passageway formed between the electrode and the nozzle.

15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising disposing a coolant conduit within the central cavity for directing the flow of gas towards the end wall.

16 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising disposing a post within the central cavity, wherein the post is in contact with the protrusion and the inner surface of the end wall of the electrode.

17 . An electrode for a plasma arc torch, the electrode comprising:
a sidewall including one or more fluid passageways formed through the sidewall; an end wall extending from a distal end of the sidewall, the end wall including an emissive insert formed therein; a central cavity defined by an inner surface of the sidewall and an inner surface of the end wall, the central cavity extending from a proximal end of the electrode to a distal end of the electrode; and a heat exchange element extending radially into the central cavity from the inner surface of the sidewall, the heat exchange element and the inner surface of the sidewall forming a portion of a coolant passage.

18 . The electrode of claim 17 , further comprising a coolant conduit disposed within the central cavity for delivering a fluid to the end wall, wherein the coolant passage is formed between the inner surface of the sidewall and an outer surface of the coolant conduit.

19 . The electrode of claim 18 , wherein the one or more fluid passageways of the electrode are positioned between a protrusion and the proximal end of the electrode to allow the fluid to exit the electrode after passing through the coolant passage.

20 . The electrode of claim 18 , further comprising a deflector extending from the inner surface of the end wall and into the cavity to redirect the fluid towards the coolant passage.

21 . The electrode of claim 17 , the heat exchange element extending around the inner surface of the sidewall in a helical configuration.

22 . The electrode of claim 17 , further comprising a post disposed within the central cavity, wherein the post is in contact with the protrusion and the inner surface of the end wall.

Assignees

• Esab Group Inc

Inventors

• Nowak Joshua

Classifications

• H05H1/28 Primary

  Cooling arrangements · CPC title

• H05H1/34

  Details, e.g. electrodes, nozzles · CPC title

• H05H2001/3436

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H05H1/3442

  Cathodes with inserted tip · CPC title

• H05H1/3436

  Hollow cathodes with internal coolant flow · CPC title