In some aspects, autonomous motion devices configured to operably connect to a plasma torch of a plasma cutting system can include: a body to support a power supply of the plasma cutting system and move relative to a workpiece; a torch holder connected to the body and configured to position a plasma arc torch tip of the plasma torch relative to a region of the workpiece to be processed; a drive system to translate the body supporting the power supply and torch autonomously relative to a surface of the workpiece during a plasma processing operation; and a processor in communication with the drive system and configured to communicate with the power supply, the processor being configured to control the translation of the body relative to the workpiece in accordance with the plasma processing operation.

A gas processing furnace according to the present invention includes: a hollow cylindrical furnace body including a gas processing space therein; a non-transferred plasma jet torch for supplying a plasma jet into the gas processing space; and an electric heater for heating a region of the gas processing space to which the plasma jet is supplied.

A gas processing furnace according to the present invention includes: a hollow cylindrical furnace body including a gas processing space therein; a non-transferred plasma jet torch for supplying a plasma jet into the gas processing space; and an electric heater for heating a region of the gas processing space to which the plasma jet is supplied.

A system for generating a plasma jet of metal ions is provided. This system includes a tube made of electrically insulating material containing a metal that is in the solid phase at room temperature and an anode making contact with this metal, a generator connected to this anode that is capable of producing a positive electrical potential at this anode, a heating element that is capable of heating a portion of the metal to a heating temperature Tc that is high enough to vaporize this portion of the metal, an electron source located on the outside of the tube and out of the longitudinal axis of the tube, and being capable of generating an electron stream that is able to ionize the vapor of the metal so as to form metal ions, such that the metal ions thus produced are capable of being accelerated by this potential and ejected out of the tube via the downstream end of the tube, and a portion of which are neutralized by electrons so as to form a plasma stream, the system operating without magnets and without an acceleration grid.

A system for generating a plasma jet of metal ions is provided. This system includes a tube made of electrically insulating material containing a metal that is in the solid phase at room temperature and an anode making contact with this metal, a generator connected to this anode that is capable of producing a positive electrical potential at this anode, a heating element that is capable of heating a portion of the metal to a heating temperature Tc that is high enough to vaporize this portion of the metal, an electron source located on the outside of the tube and out of the longitudinal axis of the tube, and being capable of generating an electron stream that is able to ionize the vapor of the metal so as to form metal ions, such that the metal ions thus produced are capable of being accelerated by this potential and ejected out of the tube via the downstream end of the tube, and a portion of which are neutralized by electrons so as to form a plasma stream, the system operating without magnets and without an acceleration grid.

A plasma ejection unit (21) of an arc welding device includes a plasma torch (26), a copper plate (27), a container (28), and a gas supplying unit (29). Plasma gas inside the container (28) is pressurized by argon gas supplied from the gas supplying unit (29), and ejected from first to eighth ejection ports. The plasma gas ejected from the first to eighth ejection ports is concentrated in a concentration area (CA) between vehicle body plates (16-17) to form through holes (40) in the vehicle body plates (16-17), and is separated. The air pressures, in eight areas, of the plasma gas reaching a vehicle body plate (18) are approximately one-eighth of the air pressure of the plasma gas in the concentration area (CA). Accordingly, while the through holes (40) are formed in the vehicle body plates (16-17), no through hole is formed in the vehicle body plate (18).

A plasma ejection unit (21) of an arc welding device includes a plasma torch (26), a copper plate (27), a container (28), and a gas supplying unit (29). Plasma gas inside the container (28) is pressurized by argon gas supplied from the gas supplying unit (29), and ejected from first to eighth ejection ports. The plasma gas ejected from the first to eighth ejection ports is concentrated in a concentration area (CA) between vehicle body plates (16-17) to form through holes (40) in the vehicle body plates (16-17), and is separated. The air pressures, in eight areas, of the plasma gas reaching a vehicle body plate (18) are approximately one-eighth of the air pressure of the plasma gas in the concentration area (CA). Accordingly, while the through holes (40) are formed in the vehicle body plates (16-17), no through hole is formed in the vehicle body plate (18).

The design and implementation of a thermally optimized neutrode stack for cascaded plasma guns is provided that reduces the thermal loss to the water while minimizing peak stack temperatures. Optimizing the cooling will permit longer stacks to be used without the penalty of high thermal losses.

Approaches herein provide a plasma arc torch including a tip surrounding an electrode, the electrode having a proximal end and a distal end, and a shield surrounding the tip, the shield including an exit orifice proximate the distal end of the electrode. The torch may further include a linear actuating device coupled to the electrode for actuating the electrode such that the distal end of the electrode moves axially relative to the tip and the exit orifice of the shield. In some approaches, the linear actuating device is operable to actuate the electrode along a central longitudinal axis extending through the tip. In some approaches, the linear actuating device may include one of: a micro linear drive motor, a micro linear stepper motor, a voice coil, a solenoid coil, and a magnetostrictive actuator. In some approaches, the electrode is actuated during a welding or cutting cycle of the torch.

Approaches herein provide a plasma arc torch including a tip surrounding an electrode, the electrode having a proximal end and a distal end, and a shield surrounding the tip, the shield including an exit orifice proximate the distal end of the electrode. The torch may further include a linear actuating device coupled to the electrode for actuating the electrode such that the distal end of the electrode moves axially relative to the tip and the exit orifice of the shield. In some approaches, the linear actuating device is operable to actuate the electrode along a central longitudinal axis extending through the tip. In some approaches, the linear actuating device may include one of: a micro linear drive motor, a micro linear stepper motor, a voice coil, a solenoid coil, and a magnetostrictive actuator. In some approaches, the electrode is actuated during a welding or cutting cycle of the torch.