| 主权项 |
1. A shield for a plasma arc torch that pierces and cuts a metallic workpiece producing a splattering of molten metal directed toward the torch, the shield configured to protect consumable components of the plasma arc torch from the splattering molten metal, the shield comprising:
a generally conical unitary body defining an interior surface to form a gas flow path with an outer surface of an adjacent nozzle of the plasma arc torch and an exterior surface, the body comprising:
a distal first portion defining an exit orifice and having: i) an exterior surface region exposed to the molten metal and formed along the exterior surface of the body, and ii) an interior surface region to be contacted by a cooling shield gas flow within the gas flow path along the interior surface of the body to cool the nozzle and the shield; anda proximal second portion formed of a flange sharing a common surface with the distal first portion having one or more surface regions to be directly cooled by a liquid coolant flow along the common surface shared with at least one of the exterior surface of the body or the interior surface of the body,the exterior surface region of the distal first portion being conductively cooled by the direct liquid cooling of the flange along a thermally conductive path formed through a continuous conductively cooled region so as to limit the molten metal splatter from bonding to the exterior surface of the distal first portion, at least a portion of the conductively cooled region disposed adjacent the flange; and a seal assembly disposed on the common surface shared between the flange of the proximal second portion and the distal first portion along the unitary body to retain the liquid coolant flow along the proximal second portion, to limit leakage of the liquid coolant flow from the plasma arc torch, and limit the liquid coolant flow from contacting the nozzle. |
