Confinement system for plasma arcs - is particularly for cutting uniform grooves in concrete and uses side jets alongside main jet

摘要

The confinement system is for a plasma arc which is used to cut sections of concrete or to produce grooves or slots in some similar base material. The plasma jet (6) is confined by the addition of jets (3, 4) to the sides of the plasma jet itself, the jets being in the form of tubes running close to the sides of the plasma generator (1) so that their open ends provide a wall or curtain of liquid (8, 9) holding the plasma within a confined zone. The position of the tube jets is variable and converts the orthodox approx. circular effective area of the plasma to an elongated form. The confining jet is of water for nitrogen based plasmas, other liquids being applicable to differing plasmas.