Patents by Inventor Mike Kornprobst

Mike Kornprobst has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11770891
    Abstract: A cartridge for an air-cooled plasma arc torch is provided. The cartridge includes a swirl ring having a molded thermoplastic elongated body with a distal end, a proximal end, and a hollow portion configured to receive an electrode. The swirl ring also has a plurality of gas flow openings defined by the distal end of the elongated body and configured to impart a swirling motion to a plasma gas flow for the plasma arc torch. The swirl ring further includes a nozzle retention feature on a surface of the elongated body at the distal end for retaining a nozzle to the elongated body. The cartridge further includes a cap affixed to the proximal end of the elongated body of the swirl ring for substantially closing the proximal end of the elongated body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Hypertherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Zhang, Zheng Duan, Mahyar Esmaili, Mike Kornprobst, Brett Hansen, Garrett Quillia
  • Patent number: 10582605
    Abstract: A cartridge for an air-cooled plasma arc torch is provided. The cartridge includes a swirl ring having a molded thermoplastic elongated body with a distal end, a proximal end, and a hollow portion configured to receive an electrode. The swirl ring also has a plurality of gas flow openings defined by the distal end of the elongated body and configured to impart a swirling motion to a plasma gas flow for the plasma arc torch. The swirl ring further includes a nozzle retention feature on a surface of the elongated body at the distal end for retaining a nozzle to the elongated body. The cartridge further includes a cap affixed to the proximal end of the elongated body of the swirl ring for substantially closing the proximal end of the elongated body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Hypertherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Zhang, Zheng Duan, Mahyar Esmaili, Mike Kornprobst, Brett Hansen, Garrett Quillia
  • Patent number: 10462891
    Abstract: A crown for a plasma arc torch is provided. The crown includes a body defining a proximal and a distal end. The body includes an electrically conductive material. The crown also includes at least one raised feature at the proximal end of the body. The raised feature is adapted to activate a consumable sensor inside of the plasma arc torch. The crown further includes a biasing surface at the proximal end of the body for physically contacting a resilient element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Hypertherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Zhang, Zheng Duan, Mahyar Esmaili, Mike Kornprobst, Brett Hansen, Garrett Quillia
  • Publication number: 20190269002
    Abstract: A consumable cartridge for a plasma arc torch is provided. The consumable cartridge includes an outer component defining a substantially hollow body, an inner component disposed substantially within the hollow body of the outer component, and a hollow region between the rear portion of the inner component and the outer component. The inner component includes a forward portion configured to axially secure and rotatatably engage the outer component to the inner component and a rear portion substantially suspended within the hollow body of the outer component. The rear portion is axially secured and rotatably engaged with the outer component via the forward portion. The hollow region is configured to receive a torch head to enable mating between the rear portion of the inner component and a cathode of the torch head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Yu Zhang, Zheng Duan, Mahyar Esmaili, Mike Kornprobst, Brett Hansen, Garrett Quillia
  • Publication number: 20190261501
    Abstract: A cartridge for an air-cooled plasma arc torch is provided. The cartridge includes a swirl ring having a molded thermoplastic elongated body with a distal end, a proximal end, and a hollow portion configured to receive an electrode. The swirl ring also has a plurality of gas flow openings defined by the distal end of the elongated body and configured to impart a swirling motion to a plasma gas flow for the plasma arc torch. The swirl ring further includes a nozzle retention feature on a surface of the elongated body at the distal end for retaining a nozzle to the elongated body. The cartridge further includes a cap affixed to the proximal end of the elongated body of the swirl ring for substantially closing the proximal end of the elongated body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Yu Zhang, Zheng Duan, Mahyar Esmaili, Mike Kornprobst, Brett Hansen, Garrett Quillia
  • Patent number: 10321551
    Abstract: A consumable cartridge for a plasma arc torch is provided. The consumable cartridge includes an outer component defining a substantially hollow body, an inner component disposed substantially within the hollow body of the outer component, and a hollow region between the rear portion of the inner component and the outer component. The inner component includes a forward portion configured to axially secure and rotatatably engage the outer component to the inner component and a rear portion substantially suspended within the hollow body of the outer component. The rear portion is axially secured and rotatably engaged with the outer component via the forward portion. The hollow region is configured to receive a torch head to enable mating between the rear portion of the inner component and a cathode of the torch head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Hypertherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Zhang, Zheng Duan, Mahyar Esmaili, Mike Kornprobst, Brett Hansen, Garrett Quillia
  • Publication number: 20160165712
    Abstract: A crown for a plasma arc torch is provided. The crown includes a body defining a proximal and a distal end. The body includes an electrically conductive material. The crown also includes at least one raised feature at the proximal end of the body. The raised feature is adapted to activate a consumable sensor inside of the plasma arc torch. The crown further includes a biasing surface at the proximal end of the body for physically contacting a resilient element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Yu Zhang, Zheng Duan, Mahyar Esmaili, Mike Kornprobst, Brett Hansen, Garrett Quillia
  • Publication number: 20160165711
    Abstract: A consumable cartridge for a plasma arc torch is provided. The consumable cartridge includes an outer component defining a substantially hollow body, an inner component disposed substantially within the hollow body of the outer component, and a hollow region between the rear portion of the inner component and the outer component. The inner component includes a forward portion configured to axially secure and rotatatably engage the outer component to the inner component and a rear portion substantially suspended within the hollow body of the outer component. The rear portion is axially secured and rotatably engaged with the outer component via the forward portion. The hollow region is configured to receive a torch head to enable mating between the rear portion of the inner component and a cathode of the torch head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Yu Zhang, Zheng Duan, Mahyar Esmaili, Mike Kornprobst, Brett Hansen, Garrett Quillia
  • Publication number: 20160050740
    Abstract: A cartridge for an air-cooled plasma arc torch is provided. The cartridge includes a swirl ring having a molded thermoplastic elongated body with a distal end, a proximal end, and a hollow portion configured to receive an electrode. The swirl ring also has a plurality of gas flow openings defined by the distal end of the elongated body and configured to impart a swirling motion to a plasma gas flow for the plasma arc torch. The swirl ring further includes a nozzle retention feature on a surface of the elongated body at the distal end for retaining a nozzle to the elongated body. The cartridge further includes a cap affixed to the proximal end of the elongated body of the swirl ring for substantially closing the proximal end of the elongated body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Yu Zhang, Zheng Duan, Mahyar Esmaili, Mike Kornprobst, Brett Hansen, Garrett Quillia