The Esab Group Inc.

Michael Nadler

Kevin D Horner-Richardson

Andrew J Raymond

Ryan T Lynaugh

Maximilian Dougherty

Auston Maynard

Frederic Ewing

James Tantillo

Douglas Smith

Nicholas Courtney

Consumables for cutting torches include a distributor, an electrode, and a nozzle. The distributor defines a plurality of ports that extend from an internal cavity of the distributor to an exterior surface of the distributor. The electrode is disposed within and irremovably, fixedly coupled to the distributor. The nozzle defines at least one set of passageways that direct gas into a gap defined between the electrode and the nozzle, the nozzle being irremovably, fixedly coupled to the distributor.

Consumables for processing torches

A torch having an adjustable length. The torch may include a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The second housing portion may be slidably coupled to the first housing portion. The second housing portion may be configured to slide along a longitudinal direction of the torch to adjust a length of the torch.

Telescoping torch

A torch having first and second housing portions may contain multiple adjustment features such as an adjustable length, an adjustable pivot angle of the second housing portion, and an adjustable rotational angle of the second housing portion. The second housing portion may be both slidably and rotationally coupled to the first housing portion. The second housing portion may be configured to slide along a longitudinal axis of the torch to adjust a length of the torch. The second housing portion may be further configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the torch to adjust the rotational orientation of the second housing portion with respect to the first housing portion. At least a section of the second housing portion may be configured to pivot about a transverse axis with respect to the first housing portion, the transverse axis being transverse to the longitudinal axis of the torch.

Torch with adjustable features

Recognizing interchangeable torch components, such as consumables, for welding and cutting torches includes determining that one or more interchangeable torch components installed in an operative end of a torch are genuine. Operational parameters for the one or more interchangeable torch components can also be determined. When the one or more interchangeable torch components are determined to be genuine, an indicator assembly can be activated to provide a first indication. When the operational parameters are implemented at a power supply connected to the torch, the indicator assembly can be activated to provide a second indication.

Recognition of components for welding and cutting torches

Apparatus and methods associated with the authentication of a welding or cutting torch with a power supply are provided. According to some implementations, the authentication includes encryption/decryption techniques initiated by the physical or virtual closure of one or more of a trigger switch and a parts-in-place switch. The delivery of high voltage welding or cutting power from the power supply to the torch being enabled only upon a successful authentication of the torch with the power supply.

Encrypted communication between components of welding and cutting systems

A cable hose suitable for welding or cutting systems includes one or more conductors and monolithic tubing that extends around and between the one or more conductors. The monolithic tubing defines one or more discrete passageways for the one or more conductors that provide a closed path from a first end of the cable hose to a second end of the cable hose for the one or more conductors. The monolithic tubing also defines an inner conduit configured to allow a gas to flow from the first end of the cable hose to the second end of the cable hose. The cable hose may be formed by arranging the one or more conductors in a specific configuration and overmolding an insulator onto the one or more conductors to secure the one or more conductors in a specific configuration.

Cable hose with embedded features

A method of making and assembling together components of a plasma torch electrode inside an oxygen-free environment. According to one implementation the method includes machining an outer surface of an emitter to produce an oxide free outer surface and machining an opening in a distal end of a main body of the electrode, the opening being bound by an oxide-free inner surface of the main body after the machining. In the oxygen-free environment, the emitter is then secured inside the opening of the main body such that the oxide-free outer surface of the emitter is secured to the oxide-free inner surface of the main body.

Methods of making and assembling together components of plasma torch electrode

Methods for forming pierce holes in a metal workpiece are disclosed. According to one implementation, upon a plasma torch be energized, the cutting axis of the torch is rotated repeatedly between first and second angular positions to produce successively deeper pierces in a workpiece until a pierce hole is produced through a thickness of the workpiece. According to other implementations pierce holes are produced by rotating the cutting axis of the plasma torch tip around a designated central axis of the pierce hole in a diametrically reducing manner so that the produced pierce hole has a tapered profile with a cross-sectional area of the pierce hole at a top surface of the workpiece being greater than a cross-sectional area of the pierced hole at a bottom surface of the workpiece.

Methods and apparatus for forming a pierce hole in a workpiece

According to one embodiment, a welding or plasma cutting system is provided that includes a torch having a torch body. Located on or in the torch body are one or more status indicators that provide, for example, a status of a process parameter (e.g. current data, pressure data, etc.) and/or of an operating mode of the torches. Control circuitry coupled to the one or more status indicators is configured to activate the one or more status indicators prior to a carrying out of a welding or plasma cutting operation through use of the torch and to deactivate the one or more status indicators during a time when the welding or plasma cutting operation is being carried out by the torch. An associated method of operating the torch includes activating the one or more status indicators prior to a carrying out of a welding or plasma cutting operation by use of the torch, and during a time when the welding or plasma cutting operation is being carried out by use of the torch, deactivating the one or more status indicators.

Torch indicator apparatus and methods

A cable hose suitable for welding or cutting systems includes tubing, one or more conductors, and an annular electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield. The EMI shield is disposed radially interiorly of at least a portion of the tubing and radially exteriorly of the one or more conductors. Thus, the EMI shield: (1) prevents EMI emanating from the one or more conductors from exiting the cable hose radially; and (2) conducts current between components of a welding or cutting system.

Cable hose with conductive electromagnetic interference shield

Automatically identifying interchangeable torch components, such as consumables, for welding and cutting torches includes adding one or more passive markings to a surface of an interchangeable torch component. Then, automatic identification can be effectuated by a torch assembly including a torch body and one or more imaging devices or a system including the torch assembly and a power supply. The torch body has an operative end configured to removably receive one or more interchangeable torch components including one or more passive markings. The one or more imaging devices are positioned to optically acquire an image of or image data representative of the one or more passive markings included on the one or more interchangeable torch components so that the one or more interchangeable torch components can be automatically identified based on the one or more passive markings. Consequently, various components can be reliably and consistently identified.

Growing community of inventors

Wilmot, NH, United States of America

Michael Nadler