Connector for a thermal cutting system or welding system

1. A connector assembly for a thermal cutting system or welding system comprising:

a housing including a locking device;

the locking device causing, upon application of a translational force, engagement of the connector assembly relative to a stationary receiving mechanism;

the locking device causing, upon application of a force on a contact member or a rotational moment on the contact member, disengagement of the locking device relative to the stationary receiving mechanism;

a central conduit disposed in the housing, the central conduit configured to carry a gas and a torch current to the thermal cutting system or welding system; and

a plurality of current carrying members disposed radially relative to the central conduit,

wherein at least one current carrying member is configured to carry a pilot current.

2. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a corresponding connector assembly disposed on a power supply for mating with the connector assembly, the corresponding connector comprising:

the stationary receiving mechanism;

a passage configured to carry the gas from the power supply to the thermal cutting system or welding system; and

a plurality of sockets each configured to carry a current and mate with the plurality of current carrying members.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the connector assembly is disposed on a plasma arc torch.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the connector assembly is disposed on a power supply.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the thermal cutting system or welding system is a plasma system.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of current carrying members is configured to carry a cutting current for a plasma arc torch system.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the locking device is a resilient latch.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , the resilient latch causing, upon application of a translational force, engagement relative to the stationary receiving mechanism.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the contact member is associated with the connector assembly and is in mechanical communication with the resilient latch, the contact member causing, upon application of a force, disengagement of the resilient latch with the stationary receiving mechanism.

10. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a mechanical lockout feature disposed relative to the housing.

11. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising a second mechanical lockout feature configured to mate with the mechanical lockout feature disposed relative to the housing.

12. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a key shaped feature disposed relative to the housing.

13. The assembly of claim 12 further comprising a second key shaped feature disposed relative to a corresponding connector assembly, the second key shaped feature configured to mate with the key shaped feature disposed relative to the housing.

14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the connector assembly is an adaptor for connecting a plasma arc torch to the stationary receiving mechanism, the stationary receiving mechanism disposed relative to a power supply and the housing of the connector assembly comprises:

a first end including the locking device; and

a second end capable of mating with the plasma arc torch.

15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of current carrying members is configured to carry a cutting current or a welding current.

16. A method of connecting a connector to a power supply, the method comprising:

providing the connector assembly of claim 1 ; and

engaging the connector assembly with the stationary receiving mechanism, wherein the stationary receiving mechanism is disposed relative to the power supply.

17. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the locking device causes, upon application of a translational force and absent a rotational force, engagement of the connector assembly relative to the stationary receiving mechanism.

18. The connector assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one hole disposed between and providing electrical clearance between the current carrying members.

19. A plasma torch connector for a plasma arc torch comprising:

a housing wall;

a locking mechanism extending from the housing wall;

a central conduit extending from an end face of the connector and centrally disposed relative to the housing wall, the central conduit configured to carry a gas and a torch current to the plasma arc torch,

a plurality of current carrying members extending from the end face and disposed radially relative to the central conduit, wherein at least one current carrying member is configured to carry a pilot current; and

an alignment feature orienting the connector relative to a corresponding receiving connector.

20. The connector of claim 19 wherein the locking mechanism extends orthogonally from a longitudinal axis of the housing wall.

21. The connector of claim 19 wherein the locking mechanism extends radially from a longitudinal axis of the housing wall.

22. The connector of claim 19 wherein:

the housing wall is substantially circular; and

the alignment feature is a key shaped feature on the housing wall.

23. The connector assembly of claim 19 further comprising a lockout feature.

24. A connector for a torch comprising:

a supportive structure;

a central conduit disposed in the supportive structure and adapted to carry a gas and a current to the torch;

a plurality of current carrying means disposed radially relative to the central conduit and for carrying at least one of a pilot current or a signal current;

a means for slideably locking the supportive structure to a corresponding receiving means; and

a means for disengaging the supportive structure to the corresponding receiving means.

25. A plasma torch connector for a plasma arc torch comprising:

a housing wall;

a locking mechanism extending from an external surface of the housing wall;

a central conduit extending from an end face of the connector and centrally disposed relative to the housing wall, the central conduit configured to carry a gas and a torch current to the plasma arc torch;

a plurality of current carrying members extending from the end face and disposed radially relative to the central conduit, wherein at least one current carrying member is configured to carry a pilot current; and

an alignment feature orienting the connector relative to a corresponding receiving connector.

26. A connector for a torch comprising:

a supportive structure;

a conduit disposed in the supportive structure and adapted to carry a gas to the torch;

a means for carrying a cutting current to the torch;

a means for carrying at least one of a pilot current or a signal current;

a means for slideably locking the supportive structure to a corresponding receiving means;

a means for disengaging the supportive structure to the corresponding receiving means; and

a means for locking out torches having improper power capacities.

27. A connector device for a plasma arc torch system comprising:

a housing comprising a means for locking out differently rated torches;

a conduit disposed in the housing, the conduit carrying at least one of a gas or a current to the plasma arc torch system; and

a pin disposed relative to the conduit, the pin carrying a second current to the plasma arc torch system.

28. The connector device of claim 27 wherein the means for locking out differently rates torches is a molded feature having a length that correlates to a selected current rating.

29. A connector assembly for a thermal cutting system or welding system comprising:

a housing including a locking device, wherein the locking device is a pin or a latch;

the locking device causing, upon application of a translational force, engagement of the connector assembly by engaging the locking device with a notch feature adapted to receive the locking device;

the locking device causing, upon application of a force on a contact member or a rotational moment on the contact member, disengagement of the locking device relative to the notch feature;

a central conduit disposed in the housing, the central conduit configured to carry a gas and a torch current to the thermal cutting system or welding system; and

a plurality of current carrying pins disposed radially relative to the central conduit, wherein the plurality of current carrying pins includes at least one current carrying pin configured to carry a pilot current.