received by the International Bureau on 8 May 2015 (08.05.2015)

Claims

1. A connector component configured for assembly into a material processing head, the connector component comprising:

a generally cylindrical body including a proximal end and a distal end defining a

longitudinal axis;

at least two thread regions disposed on a surface of the body near the proximal end, wherein each thread region includes at least one thread disposed on the surface of the body, wherein two adjacent thread regions of the at least two thread regions are formed along discontinuous helical paths; and

at least two non-threaded regions oriented longitudinally at a radial location on the

surface of the body, each non-threaded region disposed between the thread regions.

2. The connector component of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the thread regions extends radially at least 50 degrees about the surface of the body.

3. The connector component of claim 1, wherein each thread has a helix angle of about 3 degrees.

4. The connector component of claim 1 , wherein the connector component comprises a male component configured to securely engage a female component.

5. The connector component of claim 4, further comprising an axial stop disposed radially about the surface of the body between the distal end and the thread regions, the axial stop configured to contact the female component.

6. The connector component of claim 5, wherein the male component is aligned to the female component via the axial stop prior to rotational engagement of the threads.

7. The connector component of claim 1, wherein the connector component is configured to secure a corresponding component.

8. The connector component of claim 7, wherein at least one of the non-threaded regions of the connector component is configured to align with at least one of the thread regions of the corresponding component to facilitate slidable displacement of one component into the other component.

9. The connector component of claim 7, wherein one component is rotatable in relation to the other component in a first direction by a number of degrees less than 360 degrees to secure the other component.

10. The connector component of claim 9, wherein the components are disengaged when one component is rotated in relation to the other component in a second direction opposite from the first direction by about the same number of degrees.

11. The connector component of claim 1 , further comprising

an axial stop flange disposed circumferentially about the surface of the body between the distal end and the thread regions; and

an o-ring seal disposed about the body between the proximal end and the axial stop flange.

12. The connector component of claim 1, wherein the adjacent thread regions of the at least two thread regions are disposed radially about the body on opposite sides of the body relative to the longitudinal axis.

13. The connector component of claim 1, wherein the at least one thread of each thread region extends substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

14. The connector component of claim 1, wherein the connector component is coupled to a consumable.

15. The connector component of claim 14, wherein the consumable comprises one of an electrode, a cartridge, a nozzle, or a retaining cap.

16. The connector component of claim 1, wherein the connector component consists of two thread regions.

17. The connector component of claim 1, wherein the proximal end extends to about half of the longitudinal length of the connector component.

18. A consumable connector component for attaching a consumable to a corresponding component of a material processing head, the consumable connector component comprising: a cylindrical body including a proximal end and a distal end disposed along a longitudinal axis;

a plurality of longitudinally-oriented smooth regions disposed radially about a surface of the body near the proximal end; and

a plurality of longitudinally-oriented segments disposed radially about the body

interspersed between the smooth regions, each segment including at least one thread disposed along the surface of the body, each of the at least one thread of one segment is formed along a helical path that is discontinuous from a helical path along which the at least one thread of an opposing segment is formed.

19. The consumable connector component of claim 18, wherein at least one of the segments extends radially at least 50 degrees about the surface of the body.

20. The consumable connector component of claim 18, wherein each thread has a helix angle of about 3 degrees.

21. The consumable connector component of claim 18, wherein the consumable connector component is a male consumable component configured to securely engage a female consumable component.

22. The consumable connector component of claim 21, further comprising an axial stop disposed circumferentially about the surface of the cylindrical body between the distal end and the segments, the axial stop configured to contact the female consumable component.

23. The connector component of claim 22, wherein the male consumable component is aligned to the female consumable component via the axial stop prior to rotational engagement of the threads.

24. The consumable connector component of claim 18, wherein the connector component is configured to secure a corresponding component.

25. The consumable connector component of claim 24, wherein at least one of the smooth regions of the consumable connector component is configured to align with at least one of the segments of the corresponding component to facilitate slidable insertion of one component into the other component.

26. The consumable connector component of claim 24, wherein one component is rotatable in relation to the other component in a first direction by a number of degrees less than 180 degrees to secure the other component.

27. The consumable connector component of claim 26, wherein the components are disengaged when one component is rotated in relation to the other component in a second direction opposite from the first direction by about the same number of degrees.

28. The consumable connector component of claim 18, wherein the at least two segments are disposed radially about the body in a rotationally symmetrical arrangement.

29. The consumable connector component of claim 18, wherein the at least one thread of each segment extends radially about the body.

30. The consumable connector component of claim 18, wherein the consumable connector component is coupled to a consumable comprising one of an electrode, a cartridge, a nozzle, or a retaining cap.

31. The consumable connector component of claim 18, wherein the proximal end extends to about half of the longitudinal length of the connector component.

32. A connector component configured for assembly into a material processing head, the connector component comprising:

a generally cylindrical body including a proximal end and a distal end defining a

longitudinal axis; at least one thread region disposed at a radial location on a surface of the body near the proximal end, wherein each thread region includes at least one thread element disposed on the surface of the body, the at least one thread element having a pitch that is discontinuous from a pitch of an adjacent feature of the cylindrical body; and at least one non-threaded region disposed at a radial location on the surface of the body, wherein each non-threaded region is radially adjacent to a thread region.

33. The connector component of claim 32, wherein the thread element extends radially at least 50 degrees about the surface of the body.

34. The connector component of claim 32, wherein the thread element has a substantially flat circumferential surface.

35. The connector component of claim 32, wherein the thread element is angled about 3 degrees in relation to a circumferential axis of the body orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

36. The connector component of claim 32, wherein at least one circumferential end of the thread element comprises an arcuate shape that is configured to engage a complementary thread element of another connector component.

37. A connector component configured for assembly into a torch, the connector component comprising:

a body including a proximal end and a distal end disposed along a longitudinal axis; at least two thread regions disposed radially about the longitudinal axis on a surface of the body near the proximal end, wherein each thread region includes at least one thread segment disposed on the surface of the body, each of the thread segments having a pitch that is discontinuous from a pitch of an adjacent thread segment; and at least two smooth regions each disposed radially about the longitudinal axis between a pair of thread regions on the surface of the body.

38. The connector component of claim 37, wherein the connector component comprises a male component configured to securely engage a female component.

39. The connector component of claim 38, wherein the male component includes a gap disposed at the distal end of the body, the gap being configured to prevent rotation of the male component in the female component unless the gap is aligned with a corresponding rim of the female component.

40. The connector component of claim 37, wherein the connector component comprises a female component configured to securely engage a male component.

41. The connector component of claim 40, wherein the female component includes a rim disposed on the distal end of the body, the rim being configured to prevent rotation of the male component in the female component unless the rim is aligned with a corresponding gap of the male component.

42. The connector component of claim 37, wherein the connector component consists of two thread regions.

43. The connector component of claim 37, wherein the connector component is configured to secure a corresponding component.

44. The connector component of claim 43, wherein at least one of the smooth regions of the connector component is configured to align with at least one of the thread regions of the corresponding component to facilitate slidable displacement of one component into the other component.

45. The connector component of claim 43, wherein one component is rotatable in relation to the other component in a first direction by a number of degrees less than 360° to secure the other component.

46. The connector component of claim 43, wherein the number of degrees comprises one of less than or equal to about 60°, 90°, or 180°.

47. The connector component of claim 43, wherein the components are disengaged when one component is rotated in relation to the other component in a second direction opposite from the first direction by about the same number of degrees.

48. The connector component of claim 37, wherein the each of the thread segments having a pitch that is discontinuous from a pitch of an adjacent thread segment comprises each thread segment being formed along different helical paths.

49. The connector component of claim 37, wherein the connector component is coupled to a consumable of the plasma arc torch for attaching the consumable to another element of the plasma arc torch.

50. The connector component of claim 49, wherein the consumable comprises one of an electrode, nozzle, retaining cap, shield or torch.

51. The connector component of claim 37, wherein the location and orientation of the threads on one thread region are substantially the same as those of another thread region.

52. The connector component of claim 37, wherein the at least two thread regions are disposed radially about the body in a rotationally symmetrical arrangement.

53. The connector component of claim 37, wherein the at least two smooth regions are disposed radially about the body in a rotationally symmetrical arrangement.

54. The connector component of claim 37, wherein the at least two parallel threads are oriented substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

55. The connector component of claim 37, wherein the at least two parallel threads are evenly spaced relative to each other along the longitudinal axis.

56. A consumable electrode component configured for attaching to a plasma arc torch, the consumable electrode component comprising: a cylindrical body including a proximal end and a distal end disposed along a longitudinal axis;

two opposing thread segments extending radially from a surface of the body about the proximal end, each of the two thread segments:

comprising a segment formed along a helical profile that is discontinuous from a helical profile of the opposing thread segment;

being formed on opposite sides of the body with respect to the longitudinal axis; and

a plurality of longitudinally-oriented smooth regions disposed radially about the surface of the body about the proximal end, the smooth regions being formed on opposite sides of the body with respect to the longitudinal axis.

57. The consumable electrode component of claim 56, further comprising at least one of: an axial stop flange disposed circumferentially about the surface of the cylindrical body between the distal end and the thread segments, the axial stop configured to contact the female consumable component; and

an o-ring seal disposed about the body between the proximal end and the axial stop flange.

58. The consumable electrode component of claim 56, wherein each of the two thread segments i) extend less than about 90 degrees along the surface of the body; and/or have circumferential ends defining a rounded contour.

59. A method for engaging a first component and a second component for a material processing head, the first and second components each having i) at least one thread region having at least one thread and ii) at least one slotted region characterized by the absence of threads, the method comprising:

aligning the at least one thread region of the first component with the at least one slotted region of the second component;

sliding the first component relative to the second component longitudinally in the radially aligned position;

axially abutting the first component and the second component; and rotating the first component in one direction relative to the second component to engage the at least one thread of the thread region of the first component with the at least one thread of the thread region of the second component to secure the first and second components relative to one another.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

preventing the first component from rotating with respect to the second component during the sliding;

engaging a gap of the first component with a rim of the second component; and rotating the first component relative to the second component in one direction after the engaging.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein rotating the first component relative to the second component comprises rotating the first component by a number of degrees less than 360°.

62. The method of claim 59, wherein the at least one thread region of the first component with the at least one slotted region of the second component comprises a set of two opposite thread regions of the first component and a set of two opposite slotted regions of the second component.

63. The method of claim 61, further comprising rotating the first component relative to the second component in an opposite direction by about the same number of degrees to disengage the two components.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the first component is prevented from rotating further in the opposite direction when a face of a thread region of the first component encounters an opposing face of a thread region of the second component in the rotational path.

65. The method of claim 59, wherein at least one of the first component or the second component is coupled to a consumable of the plasma arc torch.

66. The method of claim 59, further comprising forming a seal between the first component and the second component.

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67. The method of claim 59, wherein the axially abutting the first component and the second component comprises at least one of:

contacting a rim of the second component with a flange of the first component to limit further relative axial of the first component and the second component; or

contacting a seal of the second component with the first component.

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