US 12,325,082 B2
Controlling and delivering gases in a plasma arc torch and related systems and methods
Harshawardhan Jogdand, Lebanon, NH (US); Larry Benson, West Lebanon, NH (US); Liming Chen, Hanover, NH (US); John Peters, Canaan, NH (US); and Ross A. Smith, Hanover, NH (US)
Assigned to Hypertherm, Inc., Hanover, NH (US)
Filed by Hypertherm, Inc., Hanover, NH (US)
Filed on Sep. 17, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/573,631.
Application 16/351,349 is a division of application No. 15/474,683, filed on Mar. 30, 2017, granted, now 10,279,417, issued on May 7, 2019.
Application 16/573,631 is a continuation of application No. 16/351,349, filed on Mar. 12, 2019, granted, now 11,040,412.
Application 15/474,683 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/287,694, filed on Oct. 6, 2016, granted, now 10,562,125.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/315,331, filed on Mar. 30, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/237,780, filed on Oct. 6, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2020/0009677 A1, Jan. 9, 2020
Int. Cl. B23K 10/00 (2006.01); H05H 1/34 (2006.01); H05H 1/36 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 10/006 (2013.01) [H05H 1/34 (2013.01); H05H 1/3405 (2013.01); H05H 1/3423 (2021.05); H05H 1/36 (2013.01); H05H 1/3473 (2021.05); H05H 1/3494 (2021.05)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A plasma arc torch system comprising a plasma arc torch, the torch comprising:
a nozzle having a central exit orifice;
one or more plasma gas supply lines operable to provide plasma gas to the nozzle;
a shield surrounding the nozzle;
one or more shield gas supply lines operable to deliver shield gas between the nozzle and the shield; and
a valve system comprising a multiway valve and disposed within the torch and fluidly connected to the one or more shield gas supply lines to dynamically control a gas flow of the shield gas, wherein at least three gas lines selected from the group consisting of the one or more shield gas supply lines and the one or more plasma gas supply lines are connected to the multiway valve within the torch.