The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 07, 1995
Filed:
Jul. 29, 1994
Lifeng Luo, Mayfield Heights, OH (US);
Richard W Couch, Jr, Hanover, NH (US);
Hypertherm, Inc., Hanover, NH (US);
Abstract
An insert securely disposed in a bottom end of an electrode has an exposed emission surface shaped to define a recess in the insert, wherein the recess is initially dimensioned as a function of the operating current level of the torch, the diameter of the insert, and the plasma gas flow pattern in the torch. The electrode has an elongated body formed of a high thermal conductivity material such as copper, and a bore disposed in the bottom end of the body along a central axis. The insert is formed of a high thermionic emissivity material, such as hafnium, and securely disposed in the bore with the emission surface exposed. The emission surface may be initially shaped by removing a predetermined amount of the high thermionic emissivity material from the insert to define a generally concave recess, a generally cylindrical recess or other shapes. When used in a torch, the electrode provides for reduced deposition of the high thermionic emissivity material on the nozzle, thereby reducing nozzle wear in the torch.