Plasma arc torch with coaxial wire feed

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2002

OSTI ID:874325

Hooper, Frederick M ^[1]

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1. Albuquerque, NM

A plasma arc welding apparatus having a coaxial wire feed. The apparatus includes a plasma arc welding torch, a wire guide disposed coaxially inside of the plasma arc welding torch, and a hollow non-consumable electrode. The coaxial wire guide feeds non-electrified filler wire through the tip of the hollow non-consumable electrode during plasma arc welding. Non-electrified filler wires as small as 0.010 inches can be used. This invention allows precision control of the positioning and feeding of the filler wire during plasma arc welding. Since the non-electrified filler wire is fed coaxially through the center of the plasma arc torch's electrode and nozzle, the wire is automatically aimed at the optimum point in the weld zone. Therefore, there is no need for additional equipment to position and feed the filler wire from the side before or during welding.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
• Patent Number(s): US 6365867
• OSTI ID: 874325
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

plasma
torch
coaxial
wire
feed
welding
apparatus
guide
disposed
coaxially
inside
hollow
non-consumable
electrode
feeds
non-electrified
filler
tip
wires
0010
inches
allows
precision
control
positioning
feeding
fed
center
torchs
nozzle
automatically
aimed
optimum
weld
zone
additional
equipment
position
welding torch
disposed coaxially
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