Method for air carbon-arc cutting or gouging

Claim 1

A DEVICE FOR THE AIR CARBON-ARC CUTTING OF A MOVABLE METALLIC WORKPIECE COMPRISING A CONSUMABLE CARBON ELECTRODE, MEANS FOR ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING A CARBON ARC DISCHARGE BETWEEN SAID ELECTRODE AND SAID WORKPIECE DURING A CUTTING OPERATION, SAID DISCHARGE FORMING A MOLTEN METAL PUDDLE AT THE POINT ON SAID WORKPIECE WHERE SAID DISCHARGE IS FORMED, MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY MOVING SAID ELECTRODE TOWARD SAID WORKPIECE AT A CONTROLLED SPEED AS A FUNCTION OF THE RATE SAID ELECTRODE IS CONSUMED DURING SAID CUTTING OPERATION, A SOURCE OF AIR, A FIRST NOZZLE, MEANS FOR FEEDING AIR FROM SAID AIR SOURCE THROUGH SAID NOZZLE AT A FIRST CONTROLLED RATE, SAID NOZZLE BEING DIRECTED TOWARD SAID MOLTEN METAL PUDDLE TO FACILITATE REMOVAL THEREOF, A SOURCE OF WATER, A SECOND NOZZLE, MEANS FOR FEEDING WATER FROM SAID WATER SOURCE THROUGH SAID SECOND NOZZLE IN THE FORM OF A JET SPRAY AND AT A SECOND CONTROLLED RATE ONTO SAID ELECTRODE AT A POINT CLOSE TO THE TIP OF SAID ELECTRODE SUCH THAT SAID JET SPRAY OF WATER IS COMPLETELY VAPORIZED BY SAID ELECTRODE, SAID VAPORIZED WATER EXTENDING TO SAID TIP OF SAID ELECTRODE, SAID VAPORIZED WATER SERVING AS A MEANS FOR SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY ELIMINATING THE CARBON DUST, GASES AND FUMES FORMED BY SAID CONSUMABLE ELECTRODE DURING SAID CUTTING OPERATION.

Claim 2

A DEVICE FOR THE AIR CARBON-ARC CUTTING OF A MOVABLE METALLIC WORKPIECE COMPRISING A CONSUMABLE CARBON ELECTRODE, MEANS FOR ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING A CARBON ARC DISCHARGE BETWEEN SAID ELECTRODE AND SAID WORKPIECE DURING A CUTTING OPERATION, SAID DISCHARGE FORMING A MOLTEN METAL PUDDLE AT THE POINT ON SAID WORKPIECE WHERE SAID DISCHARGE IS FORMED, MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY MOVING SAID ELECTRODE TOWARD SAID WORKPIECE AT A CONTROLLED SPEED AS A FUNCTION OF THE RATE SAID ELECTRODE IS CONSUMED DURING SAID CUTTING OPERATION, A SOURCE OF AIR, A FIRST NOZZLE, MEANS FOR FEEDING AIR FROM SAID AIR SOURCE THROUGH SAID NOZZLE AT A FIRST CONTROLLED RATE, SAID NOZZLE BEING DIRECTED TOWARD SAID MOLTEN METAL PUDDLE TO FACILITATE REMOVAL THEREOF, A SOURCE OF WATER, A SECOND NOZZLE, MEANS FOR FEEDING WATER FROM SAID WATER SOURCE THROUGH SAID SECOND NOZZLE IN THE FORM OF A JET SPRAY AND AT A SECOND CONTROLLED RATE ONTO SAID ELECTRODE AT A POINT CLOSE TO THE TIP OF SAID ELECTRODE SUCH THAT SAID JET SPRAY OF WATER IS COMPLETELY VAPORIZED BY SAID ELECTRODE, SAID VAPORIZED WATER EXTENDING TO SAID TIP OF SAID ELECTRODE, SAID VAPORIZED WATER SERVING AS A MEANS FOR SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY ELIMINATING THE CARBON DUST, GASES AND FUMES FORMED BY SAID CONSUMABLE ELECTRODE DURING SAID CUTTING OPERATION.