A consumable cartridge frame for a liquid-cooled plasma arc torch is provided. The consumable cartridge frame includes an insulator body configured to be disposed between a torch head and a cartridge tip. The consumable cartridge also includes a first cooling channel, disposed in the body, configured to conduct a first fluid flow received from the torch head to contact a component of the cartridge tip connected to the cartridge frame. The consumable cartridge further includes a first return channel, disposed in the body, configured to conduct at least a portion of the first fluid flow from the component to the torch head. The first cooling channel and the first return channel are non-concentric in relation to a central longitudinal axis of the body.

A plasma torch having an open end from which a plasma plume is emitted in use is disclosed. The plasma torch comprises a central cathode rod and a grounded conductive tube. The grounded conductive tube has an open end and is arranged around the cathode and spaced therefrom to form a first cylindrical cavity open at one end. In use, an arc discharge between the cathode and grounded conductive tube ionizes a feed gas to produce a central thermal plasma emitted from the open end of the first cavity. The central cathode rod also comprises a tapered end which causes the location of the arc discharge on the central cathode rod to be, in use, fixed at the tapered end of the cathode. The grounded conductive tube also comprises a lip which helps to control the energy distribution of the plasma plume emitted. Advantages of the present invention may be that the grounded conductive tube is interchangeable, thus a variety of lip geometries, and hence a variety of energy distributions, may be implemented, which may allow the plasma torch to be used in a much wider range of treatments.

A plasma torch having an open end from which a plume of plasma or plasma effluent, for use in therapeutic treatment of tissue in vivo, preferably skin and/or wounds, is emitted in use. The plasma torch comprising: a cathode rod; and a grounded conductive tube having at least one opening and being arranged around the cathode and spaced therefrom to form a cavity in which, in use, an arc discharge between the cathode and grounded conductor ionizes a feed gas to produce a thermal plasma, the plasma or effluent being emitted in a plume from the opening of the grounded conductor. The opening of the grounded conductor tube comprises a lip, the inwardly facing surface of which defining an orifice, the orifice having a length to an opening width ratio of at least 2.5:1.

A center pipe is used in a plasma torch for plasma cutting including a base portion and an electrode. The center pipe is inserted into the electrode and supplies cooling water into the electrode. The center pipe includes a pipe body and a contact piece. The pipe body is electrically connected to an electrical power source outside of the plasma torch via the base portion. The pipe body includes a cooling water channel therein. The pipe body is formed with an electrically conductive body. The contact piece is provided on the external circumferential surface of the pipe body and energizes the electrode through contact with the internal circumferential surface of the electrode. The contact piece has elasticity to produce a counterforce when pressed in the radial direction of the pipe body. The contact piece is formed with an electrically conductive body.

An electrode for a liquid-cooled plasma arc torch is provided that includes a torch body and a cathodic element. The electrode includes an electrode body having a proximal end and a distal end extending along a central longitudinal axis. The electrode also includes a retention region located at the proximal end of the electrode body. The retention region is shaped to engage a first portion of the torch body for retaining the electrode within the torch body. The electrode additionally includes a current interface region located axially proximal to the retention region on the electrode body. The current interface region configured to slidably engage a second portion of the torch body while electrically communicating with the cathodic element of the plasma arc torch. The electrode further includes a sealing member circumferentially disposed about the electrode body. The sealing member is located axially distal to the current interface region and the retention region.

A link device (1) for a plasma torch and/or welding system has a connector (2) for engaging into a housing (3) of a feeder. The device (1) includes a safety key (4) that, in a link condition of the device in which the connector (2) is engaged in the housing (3), assigned to be housed at least partially in a respective space between the external wall of the connector (2) and the internal wall of housing (3); such key (4) is equipped with first stop means (5) which, in the link condition, matches with second stop means (6) of housing (3) avoiding the disengagement of the key (4) from housing (3); key (4) and connector (2) are respectively provided with first connection means (7) and with second connection means (9) for a removable blocking means (8) to block the connector (2) to key (4) and then to housing (3).

A non-transferred plasma arc system, which is provided with a non-transferred plasma torch (1) that is provided with a non-consumable electrode (101) as a negative electrode and an insert chip as a positive electrode, the insert chip being cooled by a circulated coolant (W) and the insert chip releasing a plasma arc onto a workpiece. The plasma arc torch (1) comprises a TIG welding torch (100) that is provided with the non-consumable electrode (101), whereby an arc is generated between the workpiece and said electrode (101), and a torch nozzle (105), which releases a shield gas toward an arc-generated weld pool of the workpiece. The plasma arc torch (1) is provided with an attachment (51) that is detachably attached to the TIG welding torch (100) while surrounding the periphery of the torch nozzle (105) and that functions as the insert chip, whereby a non-transferred plasma arc is inexpensively and easily used.

A lead connector is provided for connecting a plasma torch lead of a plasma arc torch to a power supply of a plasma cutting system. The lead connector includes a base portion, a central conduit disposed in the base portion, where the central conduit is configured to carry a gas and a torch current to the plasma arc torch, and multiple pins disposed radially about a center of the central conduit. The pins are located at a radius of between about 0.4 inches and about 0.65 inches from the center of the central conduit on a radial plane of the base portion. The pins include one or more pilot carrying pins and one or more control signal pins located from about 27 degrees to about 64 degrees and from about 120 degrees to about 170 degrees, respectively, about the center of the central conduit on the radial plane.

In some aspects, a plasma torch head for a plasma arc torch can include ports disposed within a base portion that are configured to receive fluids and electrical signals from a plasma torch lead via a plasma torch receptacle, the ports being shaped to align the torch head and the plasma torch receptacle during connection and including: a central coolant supply port to convey a liquid coolant to the torch head, the central coolant supply port extending a length to primarily align the plasma torch head with the torch receptacle, the central coolant supply port further including a flat surface shaped to secondarily align the torch head with the torch receptacle upon mating engagement, and an ohmic contact connector defining a tertiary alignment feature; and a connector disposed about the base portion shaped to engage with and couple to the torch receptacle.

In some aspects, a plasma torch head for a plasma arc torch can include ports disposed within a base portion that are configured to receive fluids and electrical signals from a plasma torch lead via a plasma torch receptacle, the ports being shaped to align the torch head and the plasma torch receptacle during connection and including: a central coolant supply port to convey a liquid coolant to the torch head, the central coolant supply port extending a length to primarily align the plasma torch head with the torch receptacle, the central coolant supply port further including a flat surface shaped to secondarily align the torch head with the torch receptacle upon mating engagement, and an ohmic contact connector defining a tertiary alignment feature; and a connector disposed about the base portion shaped to engage with and couple to the torch receptacle.