Plasma jet converter for arc welders

Claim 1

A QUICK-ATTACHABLE AND -DETACHABLE CONVERSION UNIT FOR CONVERTING AN ELECTRIC ARC WELDER INTO PLASMA JET APPARATUS, SAID WELDER BEING OF THE TYPE HAVING AN ARCFORMING ELECTRODE EXTENDING FROM A GAS-SHIELDING SLEEVE THEREFOR, SAID ELECTRODE ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED WITH ONE SIDE OF AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT; SAID UNIT COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A SHOULDER-FORMING PORTION FOR THE SLEEVE, A DOUBLE-WALLED HOLLOW LIQUID-COOLANT JACKET OF A FORM ADAPTED AT ONE END TO TELESCOPE OVER SAID SLEEVE AND ENGAGE SAID SHOULDER, SAID JACKET AT ITS OTHER END HAVING AN ORIFICE FOR PLASMA, SAID ORIFICE ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED ADJACENT THE END OF THE ELECTRODE WHEN THE JACKET IS TELESCOPED ONTO THE SLEEVE AND INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SHOULDER, AN INLET PIPE FOR A PLASMA-FORMING GAS SUPPORTED BY SAID JACKET AND CONNECTED WITH ITS HOLLOW INTERIOR FOR INJECTION THEREIN OF PLASMA-FORMING GAS AND FLOW OF THE SAME TO SAID ORIFICE, COOLANT PIPES SUPPORTED BY AND CONNECTED TO THE SPACE BETWEEN THE WALLS OF THE JACKET FOR COOLANT CIRCULATION AROUND SAID SLEEVE AND THE ORIFICE, A REACTION MEMBER HAVING OPENINGS FOR THE RECEPTION OF A PART OF THE WELDER SPACED FROM SAID SHOULDER AND ALSO FOR THE RECEPTION OF PORTIONS OF SAID COOLANT PIPES, DRAW MEANS ON THE COOLANT PIPES ADAPTED WHEN THE REACTION MEMBER IS APPLIED TO THE REARWARD PART OF THE WELDER TO TELESCOPE AND TO HOLD THE TELESCOPED JACKET ON SAID SLEEVE AND AGAINST SAID SHOULDER, SAID GAS AND COOLANT PIPES CARRYING COUPLING PORTIONS FOR EFFECTING ATTACHMENTS TO PLASMA GAS AND COOLANT LINES RESPECTIVELY, AND AN ELECTRICAL TERMINAL HAVING A CONDUCTIVE CONNECTION FOR SUPPLYING CURRENT TO SAID SLEEVE.