(19)
(11) EP 1 439 041 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
28.07.2004 Bulletin 2004/31

(43) Date of publication A2:
21.07.2004 Bulletin 2004/30

(21) Application number: 04007551.7

(22) Date of filing: 20.09.2000
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B26F 3/00, B23K 28/00, B23K 9/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT

(30) Priority: 21.09.1999 US 155078 P

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
00963648.1 / 1218152

(71) Applicant: HYPERTHERM, INC.
Hanover, NH 03755 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Sanders, Nicholas A.
    Norwich VT 05055 (US)
  • Couch, Richard W.
    Hanover NH 03755 (US)
  • Yang, Yong
    Hanover NH 03755 (US)
  • Lu, Zhipeng
    Hanover NH 93755 (US)
  • Dean, Robert C.
    Norwich VT 05055 (US)
  • Woods, Kenneth J.
    Lebanon NH 03755 (US)
  • Hackett, Charles M.
    Hanover NH 03755 (US)
  • Sobr, John
    Lebanon NH 03766 (US)
  • Connally, William J.
    Grantham NH 03753 (US)

(74) Representative: Trueman, Lucy Petra 
Barker Brettell, 138 Hagley Road, Edgbaston
Birmingham B16 9PW
Birmingham B16 9PW (GB)

   


(54) Apparatus for cutting or welding a workpiece with a metal jet


(57) A metal jet cutting system, which includes a jetting head (9), a heater (30) and a power source (54), is used for modifying a workpiece. The jetting head (9) includes a crucible (11) and an inlet (17c) for receiving a feed stock (87) of a conductive material. The heater (30) melts the conductive material in the crucible (11) to provide a conductive fluid (80), which exits the jetting head (9) via an outlet. The power source (54), which is in electrical communication (50,52) with the conductive fluid (80), increases the temperature of the conductive fluid (80). The conductive fluid (80) is applied to the workpiece (70) to modify the workpiece.






Search report