The Esab Group Inc.

Tommie Zack Turner

Rue Allen Lynch

Wayne Stanley Severance, Jr

Valerian Nemchinsky

Larry Wade Stokes

Alfred William Marner

Michael C McBennett

Ding Qian

Michael C Mcbennett

Ding Quian

An electrode for a plasma arc torch and method of fabricating the same are disclosed, and wherein the electrode comprises a copper holder defining a cavity in a forward end. An emissive element and separator assembly is positioned in the cavity, and no brazing materials are used to secure the components of the electrode. The emissive element, separator, and metallic holder are heated to accelerate diffusion bonding between the emissive element and separator, and between the separator and metallic holder. A crimping process is also disclosed for further strengthening the electrode and increasing the operational life span thereof.

Electrode diffusion bonding

An electrode for a plasma arc torch and method of fabricating the same are disclosed, and wherein the electrode comprises a copper holder defining two coaxial cavities. An emissive element is secured to one of the cavities and serves as the cathode terminal for the arc during operation. A relatively non-emissive separator is disposed about the emissive element within the other cavity, and acts to separate the copper holder and the emissive element, as well as resisting detachment of the arc from the emissive element and attachment to the copper holder.

Electrode with brazed separator and method of making same

An electrode for a plasma arc torch comprises a copper holder having a lower end which mounts an emissive element serving as the cathode terminal for the arc during operation. A relatively non-emissive separator formed of silver alloyed with 0.5 to 4 percent of copper or other metals surrounds the emissive element and separates the emissive element from the copper holder at the exposed end face of the electrode. The separator serves to prevent the arc from detaching from the emissive element and attaching to the copper holder.

Electrode for plasma arc torch and method of making same

Electrode for a plasma arc torch

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Darlington, SC, United States of America

Tommie Zack Turner