EP1933607A1 - Plasma-cutting torch with cooling circuit with adaptive immersion pipe - Google Patents

Plasma-cutting torch with cooling circuit with adaptive immersion pipe Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1933607A1
EP1933607A1 EP07301591A EP07301591A EP1933607A1 EP 1933607 A1 EP1933607 A1 EP 1933607A1 EP 07301591 A EP07301591 A EP 07301591A EP 07301591 A EP07301591 A EP 07301591A EP 1933607 A1 EP1933607 A1 EP 1933607A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
electrode
tube
torch
support means
dip tube
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Application number
EP07301591A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Michael Desclides
Benoit Barthélemy
Frédéric Richard
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Air Liquide SA
LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Lincoln Electric Co France SA
Original Assignee
Air Liquide SA
LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
Air Liquide Welding France
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Publication date
Application filed by Air Liquide SA, LAir Liquide SA pour lEtude et lExploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, Air Liquide Welding France filed Critical Air Liquide SA
Publication of EP1933607A1 publication Critical patent/EP1933607A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05H—PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
    • H05H1/00—Generating plasma; Handling plasma
    • H05H1/24—Generating plasma
    • H05H1/26—Plasma torches
    • H05H1/28—Cooling arrangements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05H—PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
    • H05H1/00—Generating plasma; Handling plasma
    • H05H1/24—Generating plasma
    • H05H1/26—Plasma torches
    • H05H1/32—Plasma torches using an arc
    • H05H1/34—Details, e.g. electrodes, nozzles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05H—PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
    • H05H1/00—Generating plasma; Handling plasma
    • H05H1/24—Generating plasma
    • H05H1/26—Plasma torches
    • H05H1/32—Plasma torches using an arc
    • H05H1/34—Details, e.g. electrodes, nozzles
    • H05H1/3436—Hollow cathodes with internal coolant flow

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a plasma cutting torch with cooling circuit comprising a dip tube permanently maintained in contact with the electrode bottom, regardless of the length of the electrode used.
  • the plunger tube makes it possible to ensure the circulation and the contact of the cooling fluid, for example distilled water, with the bottom of the electrode carrying the emitting insert so as to ensure the most efficient cooling. possible effective said electrode bottom and especially the emissive insert heated to very high temperature during use of the torch.
  • the cooling fluid for example distilled water
  • the emissive insert of the electrode that clings the plasma arc foot and it is therefore essential to cool it effectively to minimize and / or slow down its erosion due to the vaporization of the material. which constitutes it, such as hafnium, zirconium, tungsten or a metal alloy containing one or more of these metals.
  • a dip tube generally has a tubular shape, that is to say the shape of an elongated tube of cylindrical section, and comprises a downstream end opening at the electrode bottom, when the dip tube is positioned in a torch .
  • the plunger tube makes it possible to ensure the arrival of the cooling fluid in contact with the said bottom of the electrode in order to ensure a thermal exchange allowing the cooling of the insert, and then the return, that is to say the evacuation of the heated cooling fluid in contact with the electrode bottom.
  • the cooling fluid is typically conveyed inside the dip tube and towards the electrode bottom. Then, the evacuation of the heated fluid in contact with the electrode bottom is between the outer wall of the dip tube and in particular the inner wall of the electrode in which it is positioned within the torch body. This is the commonly used direction of circulation, but one could consider circulating the coolant in the other direction.
  • the size, that is to say the length, of the electrodes used in the various plasma cutting processes is variable because the structure of the electrodes varies depending on the cutting conditions, the intensity of the cutting, the process to be implemented ...
  • the document US-2004/200810 discloses a plasma cutting torch in which the dip tube has an end which is held at a substantially constant distance from the blind bottom of the electrode by means of support means which exert on it a force tending to keep it in contact with of the electrode bottom.
  • a problem to be solved is therefore to be able to change the electrode of a plasma torch, in particular during a process change or the conditions of a given process, without having to also replace the tube torch torch and such that the dip tube is kept at a distance approximately constant from the bottom of the electrode regardless of the electrode used.
  • a plasma cutting torch comprising a torch body with a nozzle, a hollow electrode having a blind bottom and an emitting insert, and an internal cooling circuit comprising a dip tube arranged, at least in part, in the hollow electrode, the dip tube having a downstream end which is maintained at a substantially constant distance from the blind bottom of the electrode by means of support means coming to exert on the plunger tube a force tending to push the dip tube towards the bottom of the electrode, characterized in that the support means come to exert an elastic force on the dip tube.
  • the invention also relates to an automatic plasma cutting machine comprising a torch according to the invention, as well as a method of plasma cutting a metal part, in particular a carbon steel part, stainless steel, aluminum or an aluminum alloy, in which is implemented a torch and / or a machine according to the invention.
  • the body 1 of the plasma torch of the invention comprises a nozzle 4, a hollow electrode 2 having a blind bottom 2a and carrying an emitting insert 3, and an internal cooling circuit comprising a dip tube 5 arranged, at least in part, in the hollow electrode 2.
  • plasma cutting torch is understood to mean a torch designed to concentrate the energy in the form of an arc plasma jet at a very high temperature, typically between 15000 and 20000.degree. vs.
  • the pressurized plasma jet melts the metal at its point of impact with the workpiece and ejects the molten metal out of the groove below the workpiece.
  • the plasma jet is generated by an electric arc that is established between the electrode 2 of the torch and the workpiece.
  • the arc combines, in the plasmagene chamber located between the nozzle 4 and the electrode 2 with an emitting insert 3, in hafnium, zirconium or tungsten, with a flow of gas called a "plasma gas" to ensure the generation of the plasma and well said.
  • the plasma jet is constricted by the outlet orifice 8 of the nozzle 4 of the torch, which gives it fineness and rigidity.
  • a cooling fluid for example distilled water
  • This cooling fluid is conveyed in the torch body 1 by fluid passages arranged in said body 1 and also by the plunger tube 5, which partially enters the blind-bottom electrode 2 to convey the cooling water therein to near the insert 3.
  • the plunger tube 5 has a downstream end 5a which is held at a substantially constant distance from the blind bottom 2a of the electrode 2 by means of support means 6 coming to exert on the plunger tube 5 a force elastic tending to push the tube 5 towards the bottom 2a.
  • the downstream end 5a of the plunger tube 5 enters the electrode 2 and is maintained at a substantially constant distance from the bottom 2a of the electrode 2 (cf. Figure 3 ) thanks to a permanent and, preferably, centered contact of the dip tube 5 on the inner surface of the electrode 2 by a device or elastic support means 6, such as a spring for example, preferably pressing axially on the dip tube 2, as shown in Figure 2 .
  • the resilient spring bearing means may in particular come to bear axially on a lateral shoulder 7 arranged on the outer wall of the plunger tube 5 so as to push the plunger tube 5 towards the electrode 2.
  • a spring 6 can bear axially on the peripheral rim of the upstream end 5b of the dip tube 5, or even inside thereof.
  • the resilient spring means 6 press on the upper part of the plunger tube 5, that is to say its upstream portion 5b carrying the downstream orifice of the plunger tube.
  • the upstream orifice corresponds to the inlet for the cooling fluid in the plunger tube 5, while the downstream orifice corresponds to the outlet orifice of the cooling fluid in the plunger tube 5.
  • the elastic axial force is thus applied by the support means 6 to the dip tube 5 in the direction of the electrode 2 so as to maintain the dip tube 5 at an approximately constant distance from the bottom of the electrode 2 regardless of the electrode used.
  • such a configuration makes it possible to change the electrode 2 of the plasma torch, in particular during a process change or a variation of the process conditions, without having to replace the dip tube 5 of the torch since the support means 6 elastically push the plunger tube 6 towards the electrode so as to obtain effective cooling of the insert 3 of the electrode 2 since the flow of the cooling water is always closer to the insert.
  • the plunger tube 5 comes into direct abutment with the bottom of the electrode by being pushed towards said bottom by the elastic bearing means, preferably a spring.
  • resilient support means such as a spring
  • the plasma torch is of the single-flow or double-flow type, that is to say that it can be equipped with a single nozzle 4 or else two coaxial nozzles so as to deliver two streams of gas, namely a flow of plasma gas from the inner nozzle 2 and a peripheral flow from the outer nozzle and for effecting a gas cladding of the plasma gas flow.

Abstract

The torch has an internal cooling circuit with a tubular shaped hollow dip tube (5) arranged in part in a hollow electrode (2) having a blind bottom and an emissive insert (3). The tube has a downstream end which is maintained at a distance constant from the blind bottom of the electrode using an elastic and deformable support unit (6) such as spring, exerting axial elastic force on the tube to reject the tube in the direction of the bottom. The support unit applies the force on the tube in the direction of the electrode to maintain the tube at the distance constant from the bottom. An independent claim is also included for a method for performing plasma cutting for a metallic part.

Description

La présente invention concerne une torche de coupage plasma avec circuit de refroidissement comprenant un tube plongeur maintenu en permanence au contact du fond d'électrode, quelle que soit la longueur de l'électrode utilisée.The present invention relates to a plasma cutting torch with cooling circuit comprising a dip tube permanently maintained in contact with the electrode bottom, regardless of the length of the electrode used.

Pour assurer le refroidissement des électrodes des torches de coupage plasma, on utilise classiquement un tube plongeur venant s'insérer à l'intérieur de l'électrode et permettant le passage de l'eau de refroidissement. A ce titre, on peut se reporter aux brevets US-A-2001/30007320 , WO-A-2004/093502 , WO-A-90/10366 .In order to ensure the cooling of the electrodes of the plasma cutting torches, use is conventionally made of a dip tube that is inserted inside the electrode and allows the cooling water to pass through. As such, one can refer to the patents US-A-2001/30007320 , WO-2004/093502 , WO-A-90/10366 .

Plus précisément, le tube plongeur permet d'assurer la circulation et la mise en contact du fluide de refroidissement, par exemple de l'eau distillée, avec le fond de l'électrode portant l'insert émissif de manière à assurer un refroidissement le plus efficace possible dudit fond d'électrode et surtout de l'insert émissif porté à très haute température durant l'utilisation de la torche.More precisely, the plunger tube makes it possible to ensure the circulation and the contact of the cooling fluid, for example distilled water, with the bottom of the electrode carrying the emitting insert so as to ensure the most efficient cooling. possible effective said electrode bottom and especially the emissive insert heated to very high temperature during use of the torch.

En effet, c'est sur l'insert émissif de l'électrode que vient s'accrocher le pied d'arc plasma et il est dès lors indispensable de le refroidir efficacement pour minimiser et/ou ralentir son érosion due à la vaporisation du matériau qui le constitue, tel que du hafnium, du zirconium, du tungstène ou un alliage métallique contenant un ou plusieurs de ces métaux.Indeed, it is on the emissive insert of the electrode that clings the plasma arc foot and it is therefore essential to cool it effectively to minimize and / or slow down its erosion due to the vaporization of the material. which constitutes it, such as hafnium, zirconium, tungsten or a metal alloy containing one or more of these metals.

Un tube plongeur a généralement une forme tubulaire, c'est-à-dire la forme d'un tube allongé de section cylindrique, et comprend une extrémité aval débouchant au niveau du fond d'électrode, lorsque le tube plongeur est positionné dans une torche.A dip tube generally has a tubular shape, that is to say the shape of an elongated tube of cylindrical section, and comprises a downstream end opening at the electrode bottom, when the dip tube is positioned in a torch .

Le tube plongeur permet d'assurer l'arrivée du fluide de refroidissement au contact dudit fond de l'électrode pour y assurer un échange thermique permettant le refroidissement de l'insert, puis ensuite le retour, c'est-à-dire l'évacuation, du fluide de refroidissement réchauffé au contact du fond d'électrode.The plunger tube makes it possible to ensure the arrival of the cooling fluid in contact with the said bottom of the electrode in order to ensure a thermal exchange allowing the cooling of the insert, and then the return, that is to say the evacuation of the heated cooling fluid in contact with the electrode bottom.

Le fluide de refroidissement est typiquement convoyé à l'intérieur du tube plongeur et en direction du fond d'électrode. Ensuite, l'évacuation du fluide réchauffé au contact du fond d'électrode se fait entre la paroi externe du tube plongeur et notamment la paroi interne de l'électrode dans laquelle il est positionné au sein du corps de torche. C'est le sens de circulation communément employé, mais on pourrait envisager de faire circuler le liquide de refroidissement dans l'autre sens.The cooling fluid is typically conveyed inside the dip tube and towards the electrode bottom. Then, the evacuation of the heated fluid in contact with the electrode bottom is between the outer wall of the dip tube and in particular the inner wall of the electrode in which it is positioned within the torch body. This is the commonly used direction of circulation, but one could consider circulating the coolant in the other direction.

Or, il s'avère que la taille, c'est-à-dire la longueur, des électrodes utilisées dans les différents procédés de coupage plasma est variable car la structure des électrodes varie en fonction des conditions de coupage, de l'intensité de coupe, du procédé à mettre en oeuvre...However, it turns out that the size, that is to say the length, of the electrodes used in the various plasma cutting processes is variable because the structure of the electrodes varies depending on the cutting conditions, the intensity of the cutting, the process to be implemented ...

De là, afin de conserver un refroidissement efficace de l'électrode et, en particulier, de l'insert émissif de l'électrode, lorsqu'on change de procédé ou de conditions de coupage, il faut actuellement changer de tube plongeur afin de remplacer celui utilisé dans un procédé donné par un autre tube plongeur dont la longueur est plus adaptée à celle de l'électrode utilisée pour le procédé suivant.From there, in order to maintain efficient cooling of the electrode and, in particular, of the emitting tip of the electrode, when changing the process or the cutting conditions, it is now necessary to change the dip tube in order to replace that used in a given process by another dip tube whose length is more adapted to that of the electrode used for the following process.

On comprend immédiatement que cette opération n'est pas pratique car elle rend obligatoire un nombre de pièces élevé, c'est-à-dire qu'il est nécessaire de disposer d'autant de tubes plongeurs différents qu'existent d'électrodes différentes.It is immediately understood that this operation is not practical because it requires a high number of parts, that is to say that it is necessary to have as many different dip tubes that exist of different electrodes.

Ainsi, le document US-A-2004/200810 décrit une torche de coupage plasma dans laquelle le tube plongeur a une extrémité qui est maintenue à une distance sensiblement constante du fond borgne de l'électrode au moyen de moyens d'appui venant exercer sur celui-ci une force tendant à le maintenir au contact du fond d'électrode.Thus, the document US-2004/200810 discloses a plasma cutting torch in which the dip tube has an end which is held at a substantially constant distance from the blind bottom of the electrode by means of support means which exert on it a force tending to keep it in contact with of the electrode bottom.

Toutefois, on comprend bien qu'avec un tel agencement, il est nécessaire de remplacer aussi le tube plongeur lors d'un changement d'électrode, c'est-à-dire d'utiliser un tube plongeur de longueur adaptée à une électrode donnée, de manière à ce que l'extrémité du tube plongeur soit toujours positionnée à une distance constante du fond de l'électrode. En d'autres termes, un tube plongeur donné ne peut pas être utilisé avec plusieurs électrodes différentes.However, it is understood that with such an arrangement, it is necessary to also replace the dip tube during an electrode change, that is to say to use a dip tube length adapted to a given electrode , so that the end of the dip tube is always positioned at a constant distance from the bottom of the electrode. In other words, a given dip tube can not be used with several different electrodes.

Un problème à résoudre est dès lors de pouvoir changer l'électrode d'une torche à plasma, notamment lors d'un changement de procédé ou des conditions d'un procédé donné, sans avoir à remplacer également le tube plongeur de la torche et de manière telle que le tube plongeur soit maintenu à une distance approximativement constante du fond de l'électrode quelle que soit l'électrode utilisée.A problem to be solved is therefore to be able to change the electrode of a plasma torch, in particular during a process change or the conditions of a given process, without having to also replace the tube torch torch and such that the dip tube is kept at a distance approximately constant from the bottom of the electrode regardless of the electrode used.

Une solution à ce problème est une torche de coupage plasma comprenant un corps de torche avec une tuyère, une électrode creuse présentant un fond borgne et un insert émissif, et un circuit de refroidissement interne comprenant un tube plongeur agencé, au moins en partie, dans l'électrode creuse, le tube plongeur ayant une extrémité aval qui est maintenue à une distance sensiblement constante du fond borgne de l'électrode au moyen de moyens d'appui venant exercer sur le tube plongeur une force tendant à repousser le tube plongeur en direction du fond de l'électrode, caractérisée en ce que les moyens d'appui viennent exercer une force élastique sur le tube plongeur.One solution to this problem is a plasma cutting torch comprising a torch body with a nozzle, a hollow electrode having a blind bottom and an emitting insert, and an internal cooling circuit comprising a dip tube arranged, at least in part, in the hollow electrode, the dip tube having a downstream end which is maintained at a substantially constant distance from the blind bottom of the electrode by means of support means coming to exert on the plunger tube a force tending to push the dip tube towards the bottom of the electrode, characterized in that the support means come to exert an elastic force on the dip tube.

Selon le cas, la torche de l'invention peut comprendre l'une ou plusieurs des caractéristiques suivantes :

  • les moyens d'appui viennent exercer une force axiale sur le tube plongeur dirigée selon l'axe dudit tube plongeur en direction du fond de l'électrode ;
  • les moyens d'appui sont eux-mêmes élastiques et déformables ;
  • les moyens d'appui viennent exercer une force de contact permanent et de centrage du tube plongeur dans l'électrode ;
  • les moyens d'appui viennent appuyer sur la moitié supérieure du tube plongeur, ladite moitié supérieure du tube plongeur portant l'extrémité amont dudit tube plongeur ;
  • la moitié supérieure du tube plongeur comporte au moins un épaulement sur sa paroi externe sur lequel viennent appuyer les moyens d'appui ;
  • les moyens d'appui sont ou comprennent un ou plusieurs ressorts;
  • le tube plongeur est creux et de forme cylindrique, de préférence il a une forme globalement tubulaire.
Depending on the case, the torch of the invention may comprise one or more of the following features:
  • the support means come to exert an axial force on the dip tube directed along the axis of said dip tube towards the bottom of the electrode;
  • the support means are themselves elastic and deformable;
  • the support means come to exert a force of permanent contact and centering of the plunger tube in the electrode;
  • the support means are supported on the upper half of the plunger tube, said upper half of the plunger tube carrying the upstream end of said plunger tube;
  • the upper half of the plunger tube has at least one shoulder on its outer wall on which support the support means;
  • the support means are or comprise one or more springs;
  • the dip tube is hollow and cylindrical in shape, preferably it has a generally tubular shape.

L'invention concerne aussi une machine automatique de coupage plasma comportant une torche selon l'invention, ainsi qu'un procédé de coupage plasma d'une pièce métallique, en particulier d'une pièce en acier au carbone, en acier inoxydable, en aluminium ou en un alliage d'aluminium, dans lequel on met en oeuvre une torche et/ou une machine selon l'invention.The invention also relates to an automatic plasma cutting machine comprising a torch according to the invention, as well as a method of plasma cutting a metal part, in particular a carbon steel part, stainless steel, aluminum or an aluminum alloy, in which is implemented a torch and / or a machine according to the invention.

L'invention va maintenant être mieux comprise grâce à la description qui va suivre faite en références aux Figures annexées parmi lesquelles :

  • la Figure 1 représente une vue générale en coupe longitudinale du corps d'une torche à plasma selon l'invention,
  • la Figure 2 représente une vue grossie de la partie amont du tube plongeur de la torche de la Figure 1, et
  • la Figure 3 représente une vue grossie de la partie aval du tube plongeur de la torche de la Figure 1.
The invention will now be better understood thanks to the following description given in reference to the appended figures in which:
  • the Figure 1 represents a general view in longitudinal section of the body of a plasma torch according to the invention,
  • the Figure 2 represents an enlarged view of the upstream portion of the dip tube of the torch of the Figure 1 , and
  • the Figure 3 represents an enlarged view of the downstream portion of the dip tube of the torch of the Figure 1 .

Comme schématisé sur les Figures 1 à 3, le corps 1 de la torche à plasma de l'invention comporte une tuyère 4, une électrode creuse 2 présentant un fond borgne 2a et portant un insert émissif 3, et un circuit de refroidissement interne comprenant un tube plongeur 5 agencé, au moins en partie, dans l'électrode creuse 2.As schematized on Figures 1 to 3 , the body 1 of the plasma torch of the invention comprises a nozzle 4, a hollow electrode 2 having a blind bottom 2a and carrying an emitting insert 3, and an internal cooling circuit comprising a dip tube 5 arranged, at least in part, in the hollow electrode 2.

D'une manière générale, par « torche de coupage plasma » selon l'invention, on entend une torche conçue pour concentrer l'énergie sous forme d'un jet de plasma d'arc à très haute température, typiquement entre 15000 à 20000°C.In general, the term "plasma cutting torch" according to the invention is understood to mean a torch designed to concentrate the energy in the form of an arc plasma jet at a very high temperature, typically between 15000 and 20000.degree. vs.

Le jet de plasma sous pression fond le métal à son point d'impact avec la pièce à couper et éjecte le métal fondu hors de la saignée en dessous de la pièce.The pressurized plasma jet melts the metal at its point of impact with the workpiece and ejects the molten metal out of the groove below the workpiece.

Le jet plasma est généré par un arc électrique qui s'établit entre l'électrode 2 de la torche et la pièce.The plasma jet is generated by an electric arc that is established between the electrode 2 of the torch and the workpiece.

L'arc se combine, dans la chambre plasmagène située entre la tuyère 4 et l'électrode 2 à insert émissif 3, en hafnium, zirconium ou tungstène, à un flux de gaz dit « gaz plasmagène » pour assurer la génération du et de plasma proprement dit.The arc combines, in the plasmagene chamber located between the nozzle 4 and the electrode 2 with an emitting insert 3, in hafnium, zirconium or tungsten, with a flow of gas called a "plasma gas" to ensure the generation of the plasma and well said.

Le jet de plasma est constricté par l'orifice de sortie 8 de la tuyère 4 de la torche, ce qui lui confère finesse et rigidité.The plasma jet is constricted by the outlet orifice 8 of the nozzle 4 of the torch, which gives it fineness and rigidity.

Le principe du coupage plasma et le fonctionnement d'une telle torche sont bien connus de l'homme du métier et ne seront donc pas détaillés davantage ici.The principle of plasma cutting and the operation of such a torch are well known to those skilled in the art and therefore will not be detailed further here.

Pendant la découpe plasma d'une pièce, par exemple d'une plaque ou d'une tôle en acier au carbone, en acier inoxydable ou en tout autre métal ou alliage métallique, un fluide de refroidissement, par exemple de l'eau distillée, circulant dans la torche1 est utilisé pour refroidir l'électrode 2 et surtout l'insert 3 par échange thermique avec ces pièces d'usure. Ce fluide de refroidissement est convoyé dans le corps de torche 1 par des passages de fluide aménagés dans ledit corps 1 et par ailleurs par le tube plongeur 5, qui pénètre partiellement dans l'électrode 2 à fond borgne pour y convoyer l'eau de refroidissement jusqu'à proximité de l'insert 3.During the plasma cutting of a workpiece, for example a plate or a sheet of carbon steel, stainless steel or any other metal or metal alloy, a cooling fluid, for example distilled water, circulating in the torch1 is used to cool the electrode 2 and especially the insert 3 by heat exchange with these wear parts. This cooling fluid is conveyed in the torch body 1 by fluid passages arranged in said body 1 and also by the plunger tube 5, which partially enters the blind-bottom electrode 2 to convey the cooling water therein to near the insert 3.

Selon l'invention, le tube plongeur 5 a une extrémité aval 5a qui est maintenue à une distance sensiblement constante du fond borgne 2a de l'électrode 2 par l'intermédiaire de moyens d'appui 6 venant exercer sur le tube plongeur 5 une force élastique tendant à repousser le tube 5 en direction du fond 2a.According to the invention, the plunger tube 5 has a downstream end 5a which is held at a substantially constant distance from the blind bottom 2a of the electrode 2 by means of support means 6 coming to exert on the plunger tube 5 a force elastic tending to push the tube 5 towards the bottom 2a.

Autrement dit, l'extrémité aval 5a du tube plongeur 5 pénètre dans l'électrode 2 et est maintenue à une distance sensiblement constante du fond 2a de l'électrode 2 (cf. Figure 3) grâce à un contact permanent et, de préférence, centré du tube plongeur 5 sur la surface intérieure de l'électrode 2 par un dispositif ou des moyens d'appui 6 élastiques, tel un ressort par exemple, venant appuyer de préférence axialement sur le tube plongeur 2, comme montré en Figure 2.In other words, the downstream end 5a of the plunger tube 5 enters the electrode 2 and is maintained at a substantially constant distance from the bottom 2a of the electrode 2 (cf. Figure 3 ) thanks to a permanent and, preferably, centered contact of the dip tube 5 on the inner surface of the electrode 2 by a device or elastic support means 6, such as a spring for example, preferably pressing axially on the dip tube 2, as shown in Figure 2 .

Comme illustré en Figure 3, les moyens d'appui élastiques à ressort peuvent en particulier venir appuyer axialement sur un épaulement latéral 7 aménagé sur la paroi externe du tube plongeur 5 de manière à repousser le tube plongeur 5 en direction de l'électrode 2.As illustrated in Figure 3 the resilient spring bearing means may in particular come to bear axially on a lateral shoulder 7 arranged on the outer wall of the plunger tube 5 so as to push the plunger tube 5 towards the electrode 2.

On peut également prévoir plusieurs épaulements 7 sur la paroi externe du tube plongeur 5 sur lesquels viendraient appuyer un ou plusieurs ressorts 6 ou tout autre système élastique apte à remplir la même fonction.It is also possible to provide several shoulders 7 on the outer wall of the plunger tube 5 on which one or more springs 6 or any other elastic system would be able to serve to fulfill the same function.

Selon un autre mode de réalisation, un ressort 6 peut venir appuyer axialement sur le rebord périphérique de l'extrémité amont 5b du tube plongeur 5, voire même à l'intérieur de celui-ci.According to another embodiment, a spring 6 can bear axially on the peripheral rim of the upstream end 5b of the dip tube 5, or even inside thereof.

De préférence, les moyens élastiques à ressort 6 viennent appuyer sur la partie haute du tube plongeur 5, c'est-à-dire sa portion amont 5b portant l'orifice aval du tube plongeur. L'orifice amont correspond à l'orifice d'entrée du fluide de refroidissement dans le tube plongeur 5, alors que l'orifice aval correspond à l'orifice de sortie du fluide de refroidissement dans le tube plongeur 5.Preferably, the resilient spring means 6 press on the upper part of the plunger tube 5, that is to say its upstream portion 5b carrying the downstream orifice of the plunger tube. The upstream orifice corresponds to the inlet for the cooling fluid in the plunger tube 5, while the downstream orifice corresponds to the outlet orifice of the cooling fluid in the plunger tube 5.

La force axiale élastique est donc appliquée par les moyens d'appui 6 sur le tube plongeur 5 en direction de l'électrode 2 de manière à maintenir le tube plongeur 5 à une distance approximativement constante du fond de l'électrode 2 quelle que soit l'électrode utilisée.The elastic axial force is thus applied by the support means 6 to the dip tube 5 in the direction of the electrode 2 so as to maintain the dip tube 5 at an approximately constant distance from the bottom of the electrode 2 regardless of the electrode used.

En effet, une telle configuration permet de changer l'électrode 2 de la torche à plasma, notamment lors d'un changement de procédé ou d'une variation des conditions de procédé, sans avoir à remplacer le tube plongeur 5 de la torche puisque les moyens d'appui 6 repousseront élastiquement le tube 6 plongeur vers l'électrode de manière à obtenir un refroidissement efficace de l'insert 3 de l'électrode 2 puisque la circulation de l'eau de refroidissement se fait toujours au plus près de l'insert.Indeed, such a configuration makes it possible to change the electrode 2 of the plasma torch, in particular during a process change or a variation of the process conditions, without having to replace the dip tube 5 of the torch since the support means 6 elastically push the plunger tube 6 towards the electrode so as to obtain effective cooling of the insert 3 of the electrode 2 since the flow of the cooling water is always closer to the insert.

Le tube plongeur 5 vient en appui direct du fond de l'électrode en étant repoussé vers ledit fond par les moyens d'appui élastiques, de préférence un ressort.The plunger tube 5 comes into direct abutment with the bottom of the electrode by being pushed towards said bottom by the elastic bearing means, preferably a spring.

Des créneaux ou autres découpes similaires sont prévus au niveau de l'extrémité ou bordure aval 5a du tube plongeur 5 afin de permettre une circulation du liquide de refroidissement entre l'intérieur et l'extérieur du tube 5 (ou inversement) et au plus près de l'insert émissif 3, c'est-à-dire de la zone la plus chaude de l'électrode.Slots or other similar cuts are provided at the end or downstream edge 5a of the dip tube 5 to allow a circulation of the coolant between the inside and the outside of the tube 5 (or vice versa) and as close as possible of the emissive insert 3, that is to say of the hottest zone of the electrode.

Le fait d'utiliser des moyens d'appui élastiques, tel un ressort, permet de résoudre simplement le problème de changement d'électrode en assurant un positionnement toujours idéal du tube plongeur au niveau du fond d'électrode et ce, quelle que soit le type d'électrode utilisée.The fact of using resilient support means, such as a spring, makes it possible to simply solve the problem of electrode change by ensuring a positioning always ideal for the dip tube at the bottom of the electrode, regardless of the type of electrode used.

Selon l'invention, la torche à plasma est de type mono flux ou double flux, c'est-à-dire qu'elle peut être équipée d'une seule tuyère 4 ou alors de deux tuyères coaxiales de manière à délivrer deux flux de gaz, à savoir un flux de gaz plasma provenant de la tuyère interne 2 et un flux périphérique provenant de la tuyère externe et permettant d'opérer un gainage gazeux du flux de gaz plasma.According to the invention, the plasma torch is of the single-flow or double-flow type, that is to say that it can be equipped with a single nozzle 4 or else two coaxial nozzles so as to deliver two streams of gas, namely a flow of plasma gas from the inner nozzle 2 and a peripheral flow from the outer nozzle and for effecting a gas cladding of the plasma gas flow.

Claims (10)

Torche de coupage plasma comprenant un corps (1) de torche avec une tuyère (4), une électrode (2) creuse présentant un fond borgne (2a) et un insert émissif (3), et un circuit de refroidissement interne comprenant un tube plongeur (5) agencé, au moins en partie, dans l'électrode creuse (2), le tube plongeur (5) ayant une extrémité aval (5a) qui est maintenue à une distance sensiblement constante du fond borgne (2a) de l'électrode (2) au moyen de moyens d'appui (6) venant exercer sur le tube plongeur (5), une force tendant à repousser le tube plongeur (5) en direction du fond (2a) de l'électrode (2), caractérisée en ce que les moyens d'appui (6) viennent exercer une force élastique sur le tube plongeur (5).Plasma cutting torch comprising a torch body (1) with a nozzle (4), a hollow electrode (2) having a blind bottom (2a) and an emitting insert (3), and an internal cooling circuit comprising a dip tube (5) arranged, at least in part, in the hollow electrode (2), the plunger tube (5) having a downstream end (5a) which is held at a substantially constant distance from the blind bottom (2a) of the electrode (2) by means of support means (6) exerting on the plunger tube (5), a force tending to push the plunger tube (5) towards the bottom (2a) of the electrode (2), characterized in that the support means (6) exert an elastic force on the plunger tube (5). Torche selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que les moyens d'appui (6) viennent exercer une force axiale sur le tube plongeur (5) dirigée selon l'axe dudit tube plongeur (5) en direction du fond (2a) de l'électrode.Torch according to claim 1, characterized in that the support means (6) exert an axial force on the dip tube (5) directed along the axis of said dip tube (5) towards the bottom (2a) of the 'electrode. Torche selon l'une des revendications 1 ou 2, caractérisée en ce que les moyens d'appui (6) sont eux-mêmes élastiques et déformables.Torch according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the support means (6) are themselves elastic and deformable. Torche selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisée en ce que les moyens d'appui (6) viennent exercer une force de contact permanent et de centrage du tube plongeur (5) dans l'électrode (2).Torch according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the support means (6) come to exert a permanent contact force and centering of the plunger tube (5) in the electrode (2). Torche selon l'une des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisée en ce que les moyens d'appui (6) viennent appuyer sur la moitié supérieure du tube plongeur (5), ladite moitié supérieure du tube plongeur (5) portant l'extrémité amont (5b) dudit tube plongeur (5).Torch according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support means (6) are supported on the upper half of the plunger tube (5), said upper half of the plunger tube (5) carrying the upstream end (5b) of said dip tube (5). Torche selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisée en ce que la moitié supérieure du tube plongeur (5) comporte au moins un épaulement (7) sur sa paroi externe sur lequel viennent appuyer les moyens d'appui (6).Torch according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the upper half of the plunger tube (5) has at least one shoulder (7) on its outer wall on which support the support means (6). Torche selon l'une des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisée en ce que les moyens d'appui (6) comprennent ou sont un ou plusieurs ressorts.Torch according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the support means (6) comprise or are one or more springs. Torche selon l'une des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisée en ce que le tube plongeur (5) est creux et de forme cylindrique, de préférence il a une forme globalement tubulaire.Torch according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the dip tube (5) is hollow and cylindrical in shape, preferably it has a generally tubular shape. Machine automatique de coupage plasma comportant une torche selon l'une des revendications 1 à 8.Automatic plasma cutting machine comprising a torch according to one of claims 1 to 8. Procédé de coupage plasma d'une pièce, en particulier métallique, dans lequel on met en oeuvre une torche selon l'une des revendications 1 à 8 ou une machine selon la revendication 9.Process for plasma cutting a workpiece, in particular a metal workpiece, in which a torch according to one of Claims 1 to 8 or a machine according to Claim 9 is used.
EP07301591A 2006-12-13 2007-11-27 Plasma-cutting torch with cooling circuit with adaptive immersion pipe Withdrawn EP1933607A1 (en)

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FR0655488A FR2910224A1 (en) 2006-12-13 2006-12-13 PLASMA CUTTING TORCH WITH ADAPTIVE PLUNGER TUBE COOLING CIRCUIT

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EP2640167A1 (en) * 2012-03-15 2013-09-18 Manfred Hollberg Plasma electrode for a plasma cutting device
US9095037B2 (en) 2010-02-04 2015-07-28 Holma Ag Nozzle for a liquid-cooled plasma cutting torch with grooves
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WO2021155874A1 (en) * 2020-02-05 2021-08-12 B&Bartoni, spol. s r.o. Electrode assembly for plasma arc torch with the improved electric current transfer

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WO2021155874A1 (en) * 2020-02-05 2021-08-12 B&Bartoni, spol. s r.o. Electrode assembly for plasma arc torch with the improved electric current transfer

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