Oxidation cutting work support means

Claim 2

A material support for an oxidation cutting operation comprising: longitudinally extending stanchion means for operatively underlying and supporting, at least in part, material to be cut by an oxidation cutter, and longitudinally extending tip means operatively connected to said stanchion means and projecting above said stanchion means for supporting the material to be cut, said tip means in cross section having a recess in the bottom thereof for receiving a portion of said stanchion means, and angled side portions, said side portions extending from a base portion inwardly and upwardly from said base portion to define an upwardly directed acute vertex for contacting an underside of the material to be cut to minimize direct impingement of the oxidation stream upon said tip means and to direct molten material, from a kerf in the material to be cut, away from said tip means, and said tip means being constructed of material with a thermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductivity of said stanchion means and having a mass substantially greater than the mass of said portion of said longitudinally extending stanchion means to distribute and dissipate within said tip means hot spots generated upon said tip means by the oxidation cutter.

Claim 3

A material support for an oxidation cutting operation as defined in claim 1 wherein: the sides of said tip means subtend an angle of approximately 42°.

Claim 4

A material support for an oxidation cutting operation as defined in claim 1 wherein: said stanchion and said tip means are longitudinally coextensive to support said material to be cut in substantial line contact by said tip means.

Claim 5

A material support for an oxidation cutting operation as defined in claim 1 wherein: said tip means longitudinally extend in intermittent regular increments along said longitudinally extending stanchion means to support said material to be cut in intermittent, substantially line contact by said tip means.

Claim 6

A material support for an oxidation cutting operation as defined in claim 1 wherein: said tip means is composed of an alloy of copper and a hardening material in which the copper content of the alloy is equal to or greater than 95% of the alloy composition.

Claim 7

A material support for an oxidation cutting operation as defined in claim 5 wherein: said hardening material is comprised of chromium.

Claim 8

A material support for an oxidation cutting operation as defined in claim 6 wherein: the sides of the apex of said tip means subtend an angle of approximately 42°.

Claim 9

A material support for an oxidation cutting operation as defined in claim 1 wherein: said tip means is provided with a mortise in the base portion thereof which is dimensioned to intimately receive the uppermost portion of said stanchion means, and means extending through said base portion of said tip means and said uppermost portion of said stanchion means to releasably connected said tip means to said stanchion means.

Claim 10

A work table for supporting a material to be cut by an oxidation cutting operation comprising: a generally planar work surface; a plurality of vertical, longitudinally extending stanchion means positioned upon said work surface for operatively underlying and supporting material to be cut by an oxidation cutter; and a plurality of longitudinally extending tip means, at least one connected to each of said stanchion means and extending between said stanchion means and the material to be cut, each of said tip means in cross section having a recess in the bottom thereof for receiving a portion of the stanchion means to which such tip means is connected and having angled sides extending from a base portion upwardly and inwardly to define an upwardly directed acute vertex for contacting an underside of the material to be cut to minimize direct impingement of the oxidation stream upon said tip means and to direct molten material, from a kerf in the material to be cut, away from said tip means, and each of said tip means being constructed of material with a thermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductivity of said stanchion means and having a mass substantially greater than the mass of said portion of said longitudinally extending stanchion means to distribute and dissipate within said tip means hot spots generated upon said tip means by the oxidation cutter.

Claim 11

A work table for supporting a material to be cut by an oxidation cutting operation comprising: a generally planar work surface; a plurality of vertical, longitudinally extending stanchion means positioned upon said work surface for operatively underlying and supporting material to be cut by an oxidation cutter; and a plurality of longitudinally extending tip means, at least one connected to each of said stanchion means and extending between said stanchion means and the material to be cut, each of said tip means in cross section having a recess in the bottom thereof for receiving a portion of the stanchion means to which such tip means is connected and having angled sides extending from a base portion upwardly and inwardly to define an upwardly directed acute vertex for contacting an underside of the material to be cut to minimize direct impingement of the oxidation stream upon said tip means and to direct molten material, from a kerf in the material to be cut, away from said tip means, and each of said tip means being constructed of material with a thermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductivity of said stanchion means and having a mass substantially greater than the mass of said portion of said longitudinally extending stanchion means to distribute and dissipate within said tip means hot spots generated upon said tip means by the oxidation cutter.

Claim 12

A work table for supporting a material to be cut by an oxidation cutting operation as defined in claim 9 wherein: said plurality of stanchions are positioned in a substantially mutually parallel, equally spaced posture across said work surface, each of said stanchion means coextending with said at least one tip means connected thereto to support the material to be cut by a plurality of substantially line contacts by said tip means.

Claim 13

A work table for supporting a material to be cut by an oxidation cutting operation as defined in claim 9 wherein: said plurality of stanchions are positioned across said work surface and each of said stanchion means is fitted with a plurality of tip means which are positioned in intermittent, regular increments along each of said stanchion means to support the material to be cut in a plurality of intermittent substantially line contacts by said tip means.

Claim 14

A work table for supporting a material to be cut by an oxidation cutting operation as defined in claim 11 wherein: the intermittent tip means of each stanchion means are offset with respect to the intermittent tip means of adjacent stanchion means.

Claim 15

A work table for supporting a material to be cut by an oxidation cutting operation as defined in claim 9 wherein: a plurality of apertures forming a regular matrix is disposed in said planar work surface; and a plurality of peg means extend downwardly from said stanchion means for snug insertion into said apertures to secure said stanchion means to said work table.

Claim 16

In a work table for supporting a material to be cut by an oxidation cutting operation, the work table including a stanchion for supporting in a horizontal position, material to be cut by the oxidation stream the improvement comprising: tip means removably mounted on the stanchion to project above the stanchion for directly supporting the material to be cut, said tip means in cross section having a recess in the bottom thereof for receiving a portion of said stanchion, and upwardly and inwardly converging side portions forming an upwardly directed acute vertex for contacting an underside of the material to be cut to minimize direct impingement of the oxidation stream upon said tip means and to direct molten material, from a kerf in the material to be cut, away from said tip means, and said tip means being constructed of material with a thermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductivity of said stanchion and having a mass substantially greater than the mass of said portion of said longitudinally extending stanchion to distribute and dissipate within said tip means hot spots generated upon said tip means by the oxidation cutter.

Claim 17

In a work table for supporting a material to be cut by an oxidation cutting operation, the work table including a stanchion for supporting in a horizontal position, material to be cut by the oxidation stream the improvement comprising: tip means removably mounted on the stanchion to project above the stanchion for directly supporting the material to be cut, said tip means in cross section having a recess in the bottom thereof for receiving a portion of said stanchion, and upwardly and inwardly converging side portions forming an upwardly directed acute vertex for contacting an underside of the material to be cut to minimize direct impingement of the oxidation stream upon said tip means and to direct molten material, from a kerf in the material to be cut, away from said tip means, and said tip means being constructed of material with a thermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductivity of said stanchion and having a mass substantially greater than the mass of said portion of said longitudinally extending stanchion to distribute and dissipate within said tip means hot spots generated upon said tip means by the oxidation cutter.

Claim 18

In a work table as defined in claim 14 and further wherein the improvement comprises: the sides of said tip means subtend an angle of approximately 42°.

Claim 19

In a work table as defined in claim 15 and further wherein the improvement comprises: said tip means is composed of an alloy of copper and a hardening material in which the copper content of the alloy is equal to or greater than 95% of the alloy composition.

Claim 20

In a work table as defined in claim 16 and further wherein the improvement comprises: said hardening material is comprised of chromium.