Claims
- 1. An apparatus for cutting preheated metal, comprising:
a cutting torch having a cutting torch tip, wherein the cutting torch tip is positioned so that an angle between the cutting torch tip and a cutting surface of the preheated metal is less than 45 degrees; a motive device for causing relative movement between the cutting torch tip and the preheated metal; a high pressure combustible gas which is emitted from the cutting torch tip at a pressure of at least 45 psi and directed generally at the preheated metal; and a high pressure combustion enhancing gas which is emitted from the cutting torch tip at a pressure of at least 150 psi and directed generally at the preheated metal to remove metal from a cutting trench formed in the preheated metal.
- 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said combustion enhancing gas is discharged at a velocity of at least 180 psi.
- 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus further comprises a sensing system for detecting the status of at least one of a cut, a flame from the cutting torch, a temperature of the cutting torch frame, the pressure of the combustion enhancing gas and the combustible gas.
- 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus further comprises a control system for controlling movement of the motive device.
- 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control system is a computer numerical control (CNC) system.
- 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the motive device utilizes a rail system for causing relative movement between the cutting torch tip and the preheated metal.
- 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the motive device is a single carriage system operably connected to a beam that is operably connected to the cutting torch.
- 8. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the motive device is a multi jointed robotic arm which is operably connected to the cutting torch, wherein said robotic arm rotates the cutting torch tip to point at any position in a hemisphere and moves the tip to any position generally adjacent to the preheated metal.
- 9. A piece of cut metal formed by a metal cutting apparatus, comprising:
a metal base; cooled slag semi-adhering to the metal base wherein the cooled slag forms a plurality of generally arcuate paths, wherein the piece of cut metal has a cut formed therein by the metal cutting apparatus, so that an edge of the cut is straight.
- 10. The piece of cut metal according to claim 9, wherein the cut is a gouge and the paths of the cooled slag are to be transverse to the longitudinal length of the gouge.
- 11. A piece of cut metal according to claim 9, wherein the cut extends between opposite sides of the metal base, and wherein the cooled slag has generally linear shapes formed on at least one wall of the cut.
- 12. A piece of cut metal formed by a metal cutting apparatus, comprising:
first and second surfaces, said first and second surfaces being disposed on opposite sides of said cut metal; an edge connecting said first and second surfaces, wherein said edge has a grain pattern that is not perpendicular to said first and second surfaces of said cut metal.
- 13. The piece of cut metal according to claim 12, wherein said grain pattern of said edge is diagonal to at least one of said first and second surfaces of said cut metal.
- 14. The piece of cut metal according to claim 12, wherein said grain pattern of said edge is about parallel to at least one of said first and second surfaces of said cut metal.
- 15. The piece of cut metal according to claim 12, wherein said grain pattern of said edge has a diverging pattern.
- 16. A cutting metal device, comprising:
a cutting torch with a cutting tip; a combustion enhancing gas supplied to the cutting torch at a predetermined pressure; a combustible gas supplied to the cutting torch at a predetermined pressure; and an automatic drive system for causing relative movement between the cutting torch and a metal to be cut, wherein the cutting tip of the cutting torch is disposed at an acute angle relative to the metal and driven automatically by the automatic drive system along a desired cut line.
- 17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the combustible gas is emitted from the cutting torch at a pressure of at least 45 psi.
- 18. The device according to claim 16, wherein the combustion enhancing gas is emitted from the cutting torch at a pressure of at least 150 psi.
- 19. The device according to claim 16, wherein the ratio of combustion enhancing gas to combustible gas is at least 2:1.
- 20. The device according to claim 16, further comprising:
a sensing system for determining characteristics of the metal which has been heated by the cutting torch; and a control system which positions the cutting torch tip at the metal to have the acute angle in the direction of the desired cut line and controls the pressure at which the combustion enhancing gas is discharged so that the pressure of the gas coincides with the angle of the torch tip, the position of torch tip, the movement of the drive system, thickness of the metal, and length of desired cut.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is an application filed under 35 U.S.C. §111(a) claiming benefit pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of the filing date of the Provisional Application No. 60/162,205 filed Oct. 29, 1999, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §111(b).
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60162205 |
Oct 1999 |
US |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09637896 |
Aug 2000 |
US |
Child |
10322194 |
Dec 2002 |
US |