Cryo cooling of gas cooled plasma arc torches

• Main Author: Nakhleh A. Hussary
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 04.03.2020
• Subjects: CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OFNEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMICBEAMS; SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; TRANSPORTING; WELDING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM

Apparatus and method for plasma cutting a workpiece, comprising a cutting torch 100 configured to generate a plasma arc between the cutting torch and the workpiece, wherein the cutting torch comprises an electrode 120, which is co-axially surrounded by a nozzle 110, thereby defining a first passage 112 for passing of a plasma gas between the electrode and nozzle, wherein the nozzle is co-axially surrounded by a shielding cap 122, thereby defining a second passage 114 for passing of a shielding flow between nozzle and shielding cap, wherein; the electrode forms at least one channel 121 for receiving cryogenic CO2 so that the CO2 can cool the electrode. Alternatively, the cutting torch comprises at least one channel arranged adjacent to the electrode, with the channel in thermal contact with the electrode so as to cool the electrode. Furthermore, the channel may be in flow connection with a member 200, arranged on the outside of the shielding cap that is configured to generate a curtain flow comprising the CO2 used to cool the electrode - this may be via a duct 300 which extends through the first and second passages.