US 12,275,082 B2
Consumable cartridge for a plasma arc cutting system
Nicholas A. Sanders, Enfield, NH (US); Peter J. Twarog, Meriden, NH (US); E. Michael Shipulski, Etna, NH (US); and Yu Zhang, Hanover, NH (US)
Assigned to Hypertherm, Inc., Hanover, NH (US)
Filed by Hypertherm, Inc., Hanover, NH (US)
Filed on May 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/203,981.
Application 18/203,981 is a continuation of application No. 17/164,106, filed on Feb. 1, 2021, granted, now 11,684,994.
Application 17/164,106 is a continuation of application No. 15/971,703, filed on May 4, 2018, granted, now 10,960,485, issued on Mar. 30, 2021.
Application 15/971,703 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/824,946, filed on Aug. 12, 2015, granted, now 10,582,605, issued on Mar. 3, 2020.
Application 15/971,703 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/708,972, filed on May 11, 2015, granted, now 10,456,855, issued on Oct. 29, 2019.
Application 15/971,703 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/708,957, filed on May 11, 2015, granted, now 9,981,335, issued on May 29, 2018.
Application 14/824,946 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2014/056546, filed on Sep. 19, 2014.
Application 14/824,946 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/079,163, filed on Nov. 13, 2013, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/036,393, filed on Aug. 12, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/991,114, filed on May 9, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2024/0109147 A1, Apr. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. B23K 10/00 (2006.01); H05H 1/34 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 10/006 (2013.01) [B23K 10/00 (2013.01); H05H 1/34 (2013.01); H05H 1/3457 (2021.05); H05H 1/3489 (2021.05); H05H 1/3494 (2021.05)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A replaceable sealed cartridge member for a plasma arc torch, the replaceable sealed cartridge member comprising:
a substantially hollow frame including a first substantially hollow portion having a first end and a second substantially hollow portion having a second end, the first and second ends defining a longitudinal axis therethrough, the first end of the substantially hollow frame configured to mate with the plasma arc torch;
an arc emitter slidably positioned and disposed at least partially within the frame, the arc emitter translatable relative to the frame;
a swirl ring extending along at least a portion of a length of the arc emitter in a direction of the longitudinal axis, an unreleasable interface between the hollow frame and the swirl ring, the unreleasable interface joining components as part of the replaceable sealed cartridge; and
an electrically conductive contact element at the first end of the frame, a resilient element located between the arc emitter and the electrically conductive contact element;
wherein the replaceable sealed cartridge member is configured to be replaced as a unit after it reaches the end of the life of any constituent component of the replaceable sealed cartridge member.