Patent ID: 7375301

Claim:
A modular anode support member for a plasma spray gun comprising: an outer sleeve having a cylindrical sidewall defining a central opening through a length of said outer sleeve for receiving an inner sleeve, a mounting member extending outwardly from an outer surface of said sidewall and formed integrally with said sidewall, said mounting member for mounting said outer sleeve and an associated spray gun to a spray gun manipulator, a coolant tube mount extending outwardly from an outer surface of said sidewall and formed integrally with said sidewall, said coolant tube mount defining a coolant inlet in fluid communication with an inlet conduit extending through said sidewall to said central opening, an inner sleeve having a generally cylindrical shape removably disposed in said central opening of said outer sleeve, said inner sleeve having forward and rearward portions defined by a stepped central bore through a length thereof, an annular shoulder defined by said stepped central bore extending through said rearward portion, an outer surface of said rearward portion defining a circumferential coolant groove aligned with said inlet conduit of said outer sleeve, said forward portion for receiving an anode housing therein, said rearward portion defining inlet and outlet passageways for carrying coolant to and from an anode housing, said inlet passageways in fluid communication with said coolant groove, alignment means for fixing the relative position of said inner sleeve in said outer sleeve, at least one seal disposed between said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve adjacent said coolant groove for fluidly sealing said inlet conduit and said coolant groove, and wherein said inner and outer sleeve assembly provide a separable water-cooled anode support member of a plasma spray gun and carry an electric current to an anode thereof.