Metal treatment – Process of modifying or maintaining internal physical... – Chemical-heat removing or burning of metal
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-06
2004-07-13
Kastler, Scott (Department: 1742)
Metal treatment
Process of modifying or maintaining internal physical...
Chemical-heat removing or burning of metal
C266S049000, C266S067000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06761776
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an exhaust system for torch cutters, and more particularly to an exhaust system for torch cutters having an exhaust shroud that moves with a discharge tip of the torch and an exhaust hose that moves in unison with a gantry to efficiently remove smoke and fumes without adversely affecting the cutting jet of the torch cutter.
2. Description of Prior Art
A wide variety of exhaust systems are currently used to exhaust the fluid debris and gas by-products produced by a torch while cutting stock material. Because of the intense heat produced by the heat jet, much of what comes in contact with the heat jet oxidizes/vaporizes and becomes undesirable fumes or smoke. This is particularly true for plasma torch cutters. While the present invention is not limited to plasma torch cutters, our description will be limited to those for ease of discussion.
In a typical plasma torch cutter application, a piece of stock material is placed on a table having a shallow reservoir whereby the stock material is submerged in water. A torch is usually suspended from a support structure above the table some desired height above the stock material. The torch is then maneuvered two-dimensionally to produce the desired cut.
To remove the potentially hazardous fumes, many approaches have been tried. Increased general ventilation has been tried, but proved inefficient. Such an approach produces drafts and uncomfortable noise levels. Better results are obtained using local ventilation. Certain prior art inventions use stationary ventilators to remove the fumes from a specific region as the torch passes through that region. Those apparatus do a better job than general ventilators, but tend to remove more air than is necessary and can affect the precision of the cut. Local stationary ventilators can also pose an obstacle that must be accounted for in designing the mechanism to move the torch.
Another prior art apparatus associates a suction hood with each torch such that the suction hood moves in concert with the torch and a juxtaposed moveable suction box. While this apparatus offers effective isolation of the region to be evacuated, the coordinated tracking of the torch and hood with the entire suction box is cumbersome. Similarly, a device that allows a moveable hood connected to a vacuum duct that is in sliding connection to a vacuum source, such that the hood and duct can move with the torch, is less than desirable because the sliding seal is difficult to maintain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention uses an innovative design to produce a torch cutter exhaust system having a torch and an exhaust shroud at least partially encircling a discharge tip of the torch and mounted to the torch for movement therewith. The exhaust shroud is a crescent-shaped enclosure having an open arcuate wall defining an intake port and an outer arcuate wall having an output port. A table is located beneath the torch to support a stock material while the stock material is being cut by the torch. A gantry, movably mounted to the table, supports the torch and exhaust shroud. A duct, mounted to the gantry, connects the exhaust shroud with a flexible exhaust hose located alongside the table. The output end of the hose connects to a vacuum source to create low pressure near the discharge tip of the torch. The input end of the exhaust hose moving in unison with the gantry. The exhaust hose is supported by a wheel assembly that moves in response to the motion of the gantry.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4058299 (1977-11-01), Lindkvist
patent: 4350280 (1982-09-01), Kruse
patent: 4382170 (1983-05-01), Klingel
patent: 4441934 (1984-04-01), Kawakami
patent: 4662117 (1987-05-01), Korwin et al.
patent: 4816637 (1989-03-01), Sanders et al.
patent: 5491320 (1996-02-01), Taylor
patent: 5556559 (1996-09-01), Bjorkman, Jr. et al.
patent: 5734143 (1998-03-01), Kawase et al.
patent: 5763852 (1998-06-01), Brolund et al.
patent: 6077473 (2000-06-01), Diedrich et al.
patent: 6222155 (2001-04-01), Blackmon et al.
patent: 2533842 (1984-04-01), None
Letter to Castle Metals from Bob P. Bowlin dated Jan. 26, 2000.
Letter to Castle Metals from Bob P. Bowlin dated Jun. 12, 2000.
Bowlin Bobby P.
Bowlin Paul B.
Bracewell & Patterson L.L.P.
Kastler Scott
LandOfFree
Torch cutter exhaust system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Torch cutter exhaust system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Torch cutter exhaust system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3201007