Gas control system for a plasma ARC torch

1. A plasma arc torch comprising:

a torch head having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;

a pre-flow gas conduit for directing a pre-flow gas through the plasma arc torch and extending into the proximal end portion of the torch head, the pre-flow gas conduit having a distal end portion;

at least one plasma gas conduit for directing a plasma gas through the plasma arc torch and extending into the proximal end portion of the torch head, the plasma gas conduit having a distal end portion; and

a gas control device disposed proximate the proximal end portion of the torch head and extending between the distal end portion of the pre-flow gas conduit and the distal end portion of the plasma gas conduit, the gas control device being operatively connected to each of the pre-flow gas conduit and the plasma gas conduit, and the gas control device disposed within a cavity arranged perpendicular to the pre-flow gas conduit and the at least one plasma gas conduit,

wherein the gas control device slides perpendicularly within the cavity between the pre-flow gas conduit and the at least one plasma conduit to selectively allow one of the pilot gas and the plasma gas to flow through the plasma arc torch.

2. The plasma arc torch according to claim 1 , wherein the gas control device allows the gas having a higher pressure than the other gas to flow through the plasma arc torch.

3. The plasma arc torch according to claim 1 , wherein the gas control device is a shuttle valve.

4. The plasma arc torch according to claim 3 , wherein the shuttle valve includes a sliding element movable by one of the pilot gas and the plasma gas.

5. The plasma arc torch according to claim 4 , wherein the shuttle valve includes a first inlet in fluid communication with the pre-flow gas conduit and a second inlet in fluid communication with the plasma gas conduit, the sliding element operable to seal one of the first inlet and the second inlet when the sliding element is moved toward the one of the first inlet and the second inlet.

6. The plasma arc torch according to claim 4 , wherein the sliding element includes a brass piston.

7. The plasma arc torch according to claim 1 , further comprising a pre-flow solenoid that controls a flow of the pre-flow gas from a pre-flow gas source to the plasma gas conduit, and a plasma solenoid that controls a flow of the plasma gas from a plasma gas source to the plasma gas conduit, each of the solenoids being positioned proximally from the gas control device.

8. The plasma arc torch according to claim 7 , wherein the pre-flow solenoid and the plasma solenoid are disposed outside the torch head.

9. The plasma arc torch according to claim 1 , wherein the gas control device is a solenoid.

10. The plasma arc torch according to claim 1 , wherein the gas control device is a pressure control valve.

11. The plasma arc torch according to claim 1 further comprising at least two plasma gas conduits, each plasma gas conduit directing a different plasma gas composition.

12. The plasma arc torch according to claim 11 , wherein one plasma gas conduit directs a plasma gas having an Argon composition and the other plasma gas conduit directs a plasma gas having a Nitrogen and Hydrogen composition.

13. A plasma arc torch comprising:

a torch head having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;

a pre-flow gas conduit for directing a pilot gas through the plasma arc torch and extending into the proximal end portion of the torch head, the pre-flow gas conduit having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;

at least one plasma gas conduit for directing a plasma gas through the plasma arc torch and extending into the proximal end portion of the torch head, the plasma gas conduit having a proximal end portion and distal end portion;

a pre-flow solenoid that controls a flow of the pre-flow gas from a pre-flow gas source to the pre-flow gas conduit, the pre-flow solenoid being operatively connected to the proximal end portion of the pre-flow gas conduit;

at least one plasma solenoid that controls a flow of the plasma gas from a plasma gas source to the plasma gas conduit, the plasma solenoid being operatively connected to the proximal end portion of the plasma gas conduit; and

a gas control device disposed proximate the proximal end portion of the torch head and extending between the distal end portion of the pre-flow gas conduit and the distal end portion of the plasma gas conduit, the gas control device being operatively connected to each of the pre-flow gas conduit and the plasma gas conduit, and the gas control device disposed within a cavity arranged perpendicular to the pre-flow gas conduit and the at least one plasma gas conduit,

wherein the gas control device slides perpendicularly within the cavity between the pre-flow gas conduit and the at least one plasma conduit to selectively allow one of the pilot gas and the plasma gas to flow through the plasma arc torch.

14. The plasma arc torch according to claim 13 , wherein the gas control device allows the gas having a higher or lower pressure than the other gas to flow through the plasma arc torch.

15. The plasma arc torch according to claim 13 , wherein the gas control device is a shuttle valve.

16. The plasma arc torch according to claim 13 , wherein the pre-flow solenoid and the plasma solenoid are disposed outside the torch head.

17. A plasma arc torch comprising:

a torch head;

a supplemental gas control device disposed proximate the proximal end portion of the torch head and extending between at least two gas conduits, each gas conduit having its own gas control device disposed proximally from the supplemental gas control device, the supplemental gas control device being operatively connected to each of the gas conduits to selectively allow one gas from one gas conduit to flow through the plasma arc torch, wherein the supplemental gas control is an element within a cavity arranged perpendicular to the at least two gas conduits, and wherein the element slides perpendicularly within the cavity between the at least two gas conduits.

18. The plasma arc torch according to claim 17 , wherein the gas control device allows the gas having a higher pressure to flow through the plasma arc torch.

19. The plasma arc torch according to claim 17 , wherein the gas control device is a shuttle valve.

20. The plasma arc torch according to claim 17 , wherein the gas control device is a solenoid.

21. The plasma arc torch according to claim 17 , wherein the gas control device is a pressure control valve.

22. The plasma arc torch according to claim 17 further comprising at least two plasma gas conduits, each plasma gas conduit directing a different plasma gas composition.

23. The plasma arc torch according to claim 22 , wherein one plasma gas conduit directs a plasma gas having an Argon composition and the other plasma gas conduit directs a plasma gas having a Nitrogen and Hydrogen composition.

24. A plasma arc torch comprising:

a torch head having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;

a pre-flow gas conduit for directing a pre-flow gas through the plasma arc torch and extending into the proximal end portion of the torch head, the pre-flow gas conduit having a distal end portion;

a plasma gas conduit for directing a plasma gas through the plasma arc torch and extending into the proximal end portion of the torch head, the plasma gas conduit having a distal end portion; and

a control valve disposed proximate the proximal end portion of torch head and extending between the distal end portion of the pre-flow gas conduit and the distal end portion of the plasma gas conduit, the control valve being operatively connected to each of the pre-flow gas conduit and the plasma gas conduit, and the control valve disposed within a cavity arranged perpendicular to the pre-flow gas conduit and the plasma gas conduit,

wherein the control valve slides perpendicularly within the cavity between the pre-flow gas conduit and the plasma conduit to selectively allow one of the pilot gas and the plasma gas to flow through the plasma arc torch based on pressures of the pilot gas and the plasma gas.

25. The plasma arc torch according to claim 24 , wherein the control valve is a shuttle valve.

26. A method of controlling a gas flow through a plasma arc torch, the method comprising:

directing a flow of pre-flow gas into a torch head of the plasma arc torch, the flow of pre-flow gas being proximally controlled;

directing at least one flow of plasma gas into the torch head of the plasma arc torch, the flow of plasma gas being proximally controlled; and

further controlling the flow of pre-flow gas and plasma gas through the plasma arc torch by distally blocking one of the pre-flow gas and plasma gas using a gas control device disposed within a cavity arranged perpendicular to a pre-flow gas conduit supplying the pre-flow gas and a plasma gas conduit supplying the plasma gas, wherein the gas control device slides perpendicularly between the pre-flow gas conduit and the plasma conduit.

27. The method according to claim 26 further comprising blocking the flow of pre-flow gas upon detection of a pilot arc.

28. The method according to claim 26 , wherein the flow of pre-flow gas and plasma gas is controlled by a pressure of each of the gases.

29. The method according to claim 26 further comprising blocking the flow of plasma gas during a piloting operation.

30. The method according to claim 26 further comprising blocking the flow of plasma gas upon detection of a decrease in operating current.

31. The method according to claim 26 further comprising directing at least two flows of plasma gas, each flow having a different plasma gas composition.

32. The method according to claim 26 further comprising venting the flow of plasma gas downstream of the blocking at the end of a cutting operation, prior to venting upstream of the blocking.