Plasma arc torch with focus hole alignment
A consumables holder assembly for a plasma arc torch having a torch head, the consumables holder assembly comprising a main body, a shielding cup which engages to the main body, a connection means which engages the main body to the torch head, wherein the consumable components including an electrode, a nozzle, a plasma gas distributor, a shielding gas distributor which are all positioned inside the shielding cup, wherein the consumable holder assembly can be detached from the torch head together with the consumable components and the shielding cup as one unit, wherein the nozzle comprises two focus gas passageways which lead a focus gas out of the nozzle through at least two focus holes, wherein external visual features are provided on both connection means and the torch head which are aligned to each other showing the location of the focus holes.
1 . A consumables holder assembly for a plasma arc torch having a torch head, the consumables holder assembly comprising,
a main body,
a shielding cup which engages the main body,
a connection means which engages the main body to the torch head, and
consumable components comprising an electrode, a nozzle, a plasma gas distributor, and a shielding gas distributor, which are all positioned inside the shielding cup,
wherein the consumable holder assembly is detachable from the torch head together with the consumable components and the shielding cup as one unit, and
wherein the nozzle comprises two focus gas passageways which lead a focus gas out of the nozzle through at least two focus holes, and
the consumables holder assembly further comprising a rotational lock between the main body and the connection means, and orientation means for providing angular localization of the consumable holder assembly and the torch head,
wherein the connection means comprises a mechanical attachment mechanism which engages the connection means to the torch head and wherein a compression member is provided between the connection means and the main body which allows the connection means to keep moving proximally via the mechanical attachment mechanism and activates a force on the electrode when the electrode engages the torch head and the remainder of the consumables holder assembly stay axially in place.
2 . The consumables holder assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the orientation means is a bayonet mount in the connection means which is engageable with the torch head and ensures the focus holes are correctly orientated angularly to the torch head.
3 . The consumables holder assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the consumables holder assembly comprises a compression member between the main body and the connection means, wherein the rotational lock is axially translatable with the compression member.
4 . The consumables holder assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the compression member is a spring and the rotational lock comprises at least one locking pin in the connection means which prevent a rotational movement by inserting them in grooves of the main body.
5 . The consumables holder assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the rotational lock comprises multiple locking pins.
6 . The consumables holder assembly according to claim 1 , wherein one or more main body pins are provided at the distal end of the main body and are engageable with the nozzle.
7 . The consumables holder assembly according to claim 6 , wherein a plurality of the main body pins are provided and are positioned equally spaced from one another.
8 . The consumables holder assembly according to claim 6 , wherein a plurality of the main body pins are provided.
9 . The consumables holder assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the two focus holes are situated in the nozzle perpendicular to a welding direction.
10 . The consumables holder assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the main body is made of metallic and insulative material.
11 . The consumables holder assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the metallic material is positioned in the 10% to 30% of an axial length of the main body and the remainder of the main body is made of insulative material.
12 . The consumables holder assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the main body has a middle section comprising at least two circumferential grooves having the same axis in the main body, wherein a first groove comprises a first radial passageway and a second groove comprises a second radial passageway, wherein the first radial passageway and the second radial passageway each extend through the main body and allow fluid communication between an exterior and an interior of the main body, and wherein an axial passageway is provided between the first groove to the second groove which allows an axial fluid communication from the first groove to the second groove.
13 . The consumables holder assembly according to the claim 12 , wherein the first radial passageway and the second radial passageway are aligned axially and the axial passageway is positioned in the opposite of both said first and second radial passageways.
14 . The consumables holder assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the main body further comprises multiple axial passageways for passing a shielding gas from the interior to the exterior of the main body.
15 . A plasma arc torch comprising an arc main body having a torch head and a consumables holder assembly according to claim 1 .
16 . A method of welding comprising welding using a plasma arc torch according to claim 15 .
17 . The consumables holder assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the orientation means is a bayonet mount in the connection means which is engageable with the torch head and ensures the focus holes are correctly orientated angularly to the torch head, wherein the bayonet mount includes the pins that are fully engaged to an end of a groove in the torch head.
18 . The consumables holder assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the main body is made of brass and polyether ether ketone.