Electric arc torch with cooling conduit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9833859-B2
Application number	US-201414486106-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2014
Priority date	Sep 15, 2014
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

An electric arc torch includes a torch base, and a cooling conduit having a conduit wall forming a central axial bore and having a plurality of longitudinal cooling channels spaced circumferentially around the bore. The cooling channels extend through the conduit wall from a first end portion to a second end portion of the conduit. The cooling channels include both a plurality of cooling liquid distribution channels and a plurality of cooling liquid return channels alternately arranged within the conduit wall. The conduit includes a circumferential cooling liquid manifold in fluid communication with each of the cooling liquid distribution channels, a circumferential return manifold in fluid communication with each of the cooling liquid return channels, and a circumferential recirculation manifold in fluid communication with each of the cooling liquid distribution and return channels such that the cooling liquid distribution and return channels are in fluid communication through the circumferential recirculation manifold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electric arc torch, comprising:
a torch base;
a cooling conduit removably connected to the torch base, the cooling conduit comprising a conduit wall forming a central axial bore for conveying shielding gas through the cooling conduit,
wherein:
the cooling conduit includes a plurality of longitudinal cooling channels formed within the conduit wall between a common inner wall surface and a common outer wall surface of the conduit wall, and spaced circumferentially around the central axial bore, the longitudinal cooling channels extending longitudinally through the conduit wall from a first end portion of the cooling conduit adjacent the torch base to a second end portion of the cooling conduit distal from the torch base,
the longitudinal cooling channels include both a plurality of cooling liquid distribution channels and a plurality of cooling liquid return channels alternately arranged within the conduit wall,
the cooling conduit includes a circumferential cooling liquid manifold located at the first end portion of the cooling conduit and in fluid communication with each of the cooling liquid distribution channels,
the cooling conduit includes a circumferential return manifold located at the first end portion of the cooling conduit and in fluid communication with each of the cooling liquid return channels, and
the cooling conduit includes a circumferential recirculation manifold located at the second end portion of the cooling conduit and in fluid communication with each of the cooling liquid distribution channels and each of the cooling liquid return channels such that the cooling liquid distribution channels are in fluid communication with the cooling liquid return channels through the circumferential recirculation manifold, and

an electrical conductor, located within the central axial bore of the cooling conduit, that conducts welding current through the welding torch.

2. The electric arc torch of claim 1 , wherein the circumferential cooling liquid manifold and the circumferential return manifold are both formed in part by a manifold cap located at the first end portion of the cooling conduit.

3. The electric arc torch of claim 2 , wherein:
the circumferential cooling liquid manifold comprises a circumferential channel formed in the common outer wall surface of the conduit wall,
the circumferential channel is in fluid communication with each of the cooling liquid distribution channels, and
the circumferential channel is surrounded by the manifold cap.

4. The electric arc torch of claim 2 , wherein:
the circumferential return manifold comprises a circumferential channel formed in the common outer wall surface of the conduit wall,
the circumferential channel is in fluid communication with each of the cooling liquid return channels, and
the circumferential channel is surrounded by the manifold cap.

5. The electric arc torch of claim 2 , wherein the manifold cap comprises a cooling liquid inlet and a cooling liquid discharge port in fluid communication with the circumferential cooling liquid manifold, and a shielding gas inlet and a shielding gas outlet in fluid communication with the central axial bore of the cooling conduit.

6. The electric arc torch of claim 2 , wherein the manifold cap comprises a return intake port and a return outlet in fluid communication with the circumferential return manifold, and a shielding gas inlet and a shielding gas outlet in fluid communication with the central axial bore of the cooling conduit.

7. The electric arc torch of claim 1 , wherein the circumferential recirculation manifold is formed in part by a nozzle seat cap located at the second end portion of the cooling conduit, wherein the nozzle seat cap is configured for receiving a nozzle of the electric arc torch for directing a discharge flow of the shielding gas.

8. The electric arc torch of claim 7 , wherein the circumferential recirculation manifold comprises at least one circumferential channel formed in the common outer wall surface of the conduit wall and in fluid communication with each of the cooling liquid distribution channels and each of the cooling liquid return channels, wherein the at least one circumferential channel is surrounded by the nozzle seat cap, and cooling liquid is discharged from the cooling liquid distribution channels and supplied to the cooling liquid return channels within the at least one circumferential channel.

9. The electric arc torch of claim 8 , wherein the at least one circumferential channel formed in the common outer wall surface of the conduit wall comprises:
a cooling liquid channel, formed in the common outer wall surface of the conduit wall, to which the cooling liquid distribution channels discharge cooling liquid, and
a return channel, formed in the common outer wall surface of the conduit wall parallel to the cooling liquid channel, from which the cooling liquid return channels receive cooling liquid,
wherein the cooling liquid channel and the return channel are separated by a plurality of baffle wall segments spaced apart from each other.

10. The electric arc torch of claim 1 , further comprising a shielding gas diffuser located adjacent the second end portion of the cooling conduit.

11. The electric arc torch of claim 10 , wherein the shielding gas diffuser includes a first array of annular gas apertures and a second array of annular gas apertures, wherein the second array of annular gas apertures is both axially and circumferentially offset from the first array of annular gas apertures.

12. A electric arc torch, comprising:
a cooling conduit comprising a conduit wall forming a central axial bore for conveying shielding gas through the cooling conduit,
wherein:
the cooling conduit includes a plurality of longitudinal cooling channels formed within the conduit wall between a common inner wall surface and a common outer wall surface of the conduit wall, and spaced circumferentially around the central axial bore, the longitudinal cooling channels extending longitudinally through the conduit wall from a first end portion of the cooling conduit to a second end portion of the cooling conduit opposite the first end portion,
the longitudinal cooling channels include both a plurality of cooling liquid distribution channels and a plurality of cooling liquid return channels alternately arranged within the conduit wall,
the cooling conduit includes a return manifold located at the first end portion of the cooling conduit and in fluid communication with each of the cooling liquid return channels, the return manifold comprising a first manifold cap and a first circumferential channel formed in at least one of the conduit wall and the first manifold cap;
the cooling conduit includes a cooling liquid manifold located at the first end portion of the cooling conduit and in fluid communication with each of the cooling liquid distribution channels, the cooling liquid manifold comprising the first manifold cap and a second circumferential channel formed in at least one of the conduit wall and the first manifold cap, wherein the second circumferential channel is axially offset from the first circumferential channel in an axial direction of the cooling conduit;
the cooling conduit includes a recirculation manifold located at the second end portion of the cooling conduit and in fluid communication with each of the cooling liquid distribution channels and each of the cooling liquid return channels, the recirculation manifold comprising a second manifold cap and a third circumferential channel formed in at least one of the conduit wall and the second manifold cap; and

an electrical conductor, located within the cen

Assignees

• Lincoln Global Inc

Inventors

• Kachline Jeffrey L
• Dingeldein Matthew

Classifications

• B23K37/003

  Cooling means for welding or cutting · CPC title

• B23K9/285

  Cooled electrode holders · CPC title

• B23K9/323 Primary

  Combined coupling means, e.g. gas, electricity, water or the like · CPC title

• B23K9/164

  making use of a moving fluid · CPC title

• B23K9/173

  and of a consumable electrode · CPC title