Patent ID: 9736918
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: B23K,H05H

Claim:
1. A swirl ring component of a contact start plasma arc torch, the swirl ring component comprising: a hollow body formed of a front portion and a rear portion along a longitudinal axis and defining an exterior surface and an interior surface; one or more gas passageways extending from the exterior surface to the interior surface in the front portion of the hollow body; a resilient element including a spring and a separate contact surface comprising an annular, washer-like plate secured to the spring, the resilient element disposed relative to the interior surface in the rear portion of the hollow body and configured to pass at least a pilot arc current to an electrode body, wherein the separate contact surface of the resilient element is configured to facilitate physical contact with a proximal portion of the electrode body; and a shoulder portion configured to retain the resilient element in the hollow body.