US 11,865,651 B2
Electrodes for gas- and liquid-cooled plasma torches
Volker Krink, Finsterwalde (DE); Frank Laurisch, Finsterwalde (DE); and Ralf-Peter Reinke, Finsterwalde (DE)
Assigned to KJELLBERG-STIFTUNG, Finsterwalde (DE)
Filed by KJELLBERG-STIFTUNG, Finsterwalde (DE)
Filed on Nov. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/058,049.
Application 18/058,049 is a division of application No. 16/622,267, previously published as PCT/EP2018/068942, filed on Jul. 12, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 102017112821.2 (DE), filed on Jun. 12, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0086150 A1, Mar. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. H05H 1/34 (2006.01); B23K 9/32 (2006.01); B23K 10/00 (2006.01); B23K 35/02 (2006.01); B23K 37/00 (2006.01); H05H 1/28 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 9/322 (2013.01) [B23K 10/00 (2013.01); B23K 35/0216 (2013.01); B23K 37/003 (2013.01); H05H 1/28 (2013.01); H05H 1/34 (2013.01); H05H 1/3436 (2021.05); H05H 1/3457 (2021.05)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for conducting gas in a gas-cooled plasma torch, wherein the plasma torch has a plasma torch body which holds an electrode with an open end and a closed end, wherein a cavity extends from the open end in the direction of the closed end, and which, with a spacing in an axial direction, holds a nozzle by means of a nozzle holder, wherein the nozzle has a central opening with an upstream inlet end, into which the electrode projects, and with an outlet end with a nozzle bore and is surrounded by a nozzle cap and/or a nozzle protection cap, wherein the plasma torch body has an opening for a gas feeder, which opening is fluidically connected to a cooling tube which projects into the open end of the electrode, wherein the method comprises:
conducting a total gas stream through the opening of the gas feeder;
conducting the total gas stream through the cooling tube into the electrode in the direction of the closed end of the electrode;
conducting the total gas stream out of the electrode via an annular gap between the cooling tube and the electrode either only via a gas channel in the plasma torch body, which gas channel is fluidically connected to the annular gap via the open end of the electrode, or additionally via at least one opening in the wall of the electrode; and
conducting the first partial gas stream of the total gas stream through the first space formed between the electrode and the nozzle and through the nozzle bore, conducting a second partial gas stream of the total gas stream through a second space formed by the nozzle and the nozzle cap and/or through a space formed by the nozzle cap and the nozzle protection cap or through a second space formed by the nozzle and the nozzle protection cap and possibly also outward through one or more openings in the nozzle protection cap, and conducting a third partial gas stream of the total gas stream through a third space formed between the electrode and a gas-conducting unit and through one or more openings in the gas-conducting unit to the outer side of the plasma torch.
 
17. A method for conducting gas in a gas-cooled plasma torch, wherein the plasma torch has a plasma torch body which holds an electrode with an open end and a closed end, wherein a cavity extends from the open end in the direction of the closed end, and which, with a spacing in an axial direction, holds a nozzle by means of a nozzle holder, wherein the nozzle has a central opening with an upstream inlet end, into which the electrode projects, and with an outlet end with a nozzle bore and is surrounded by a nozzle cap and/or a nozzle protection cap, wherein the plasma torch body has an opening for the gas feeder, wherein the method comprises:
conducting a total gas stream through the opening for the gas feeder;
branching off either i) a second partial gas stream or ii) a first and a second partial gas stream or iii) a second and a third partial gas stream from the total gas stream upstream of the electrode via a channel in the plasma torch body;
conducting the remaining gas stream through the open end of the electrode into the cavity in the direction of the closed end of the electrode;
conducting the remaining gas stream out of the electrode via at least one opening in the wall of the electrode; and
conducting the first partial gas stream of the total gas stream through the first space formed between the electrode and the nozzle and through the nozzle bore, conducting the second partial gas stream of the total gas stream through a second space formed by the nozzle and the nozzle cap and/or through a second space formed by the nozzle and the nozzle protection cap and possibly also outward through one or more openings in the nozzle protection cap, and conducting the third partial gas stream of the total gas stream through a third space formed between the electrode and a gas-conducting unit and through one or more openings in the gas-conducting unit to the outer side of the plasma torch.