Non-plugging d.c. plasma gun

Abstract

A plasma gun system comprising: a plasma gun comprising an outlet, wherein the plasma gun is configured to generate a plasma stream and provide the plasma stream to the outlet; and a plasma gun extension assembly configured to be coupled to the plasma gun, wherein the plasma gun extension assembly comprises an extension chamber and a port, the extension chamber having an interior diameter defined by a chamber wall and being configured to receive the plasma stream from the outlet of the plasma gun and to enable the plasma stream to expand upon entering the extension chamber, and the port being configured to introduce a powder to the expanded plasma stream at a location outside of the plasma gun.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of using a plasma gun system, the method comprising:
 generating a plasma stream using a plasma gun, wherein the plasma stream flows through an outlet of the plasma gun and into an extension chamber having an interior diameter defined by a chamber wall, the plasma stream expanding upon entering the extension chamber; and   flowing a powder into the expanded plasma stream in the extension chamber via a port fluidly coupled to the extension chamber, wherein the port introduces the powder to the expanded plasma stream at a location outside of the plasma gun.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the port is disposed on a faceplate that is coupled between the plasma gun and the extension chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the faceplate comprises a circular ring shape and the outlet of the plasma gun is aligned with the center of the faceplate to enable the plasma stream to pass the faceplate and flow into the extension chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the faceplate comprises copper. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the chamber wall comprises a ceramic material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the chamber wall comprises boron nitride. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the chamber wall comprises a substantially tubular shape. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a stainless steel sheath is coupled to the faceplate and around the chamber wall. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the faceplate is configured to be coupled to the chamber wall prior to being coupled to the plasma gun, thereby allowing the faceplate and the chamber wall to be coupled to the plasma gun and de-coupled from the plasma gun as a single unit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the faceplate, the chamber wall, and the plasma gun are configured to be coupled together using one or more threaded fasteners. 
     
     
         11 . A plasma gun system comprising:
 a plasma gun comprising an outlet, wherein the plasma gun is configured to generate a plasma stream and provide the plasma stream to the outlet; and   a plasma gun extension assembly configured to be coupled to the plasma gun, wherein the plasma gun extension assembly comprises an extension chamber and a port, the extension chamber having an interior diameter defined by a chamber wall and being configured to receive the plasma stream from the outlet of the plasma gun and to enable the plasma stream to expand upon entering the extension chamber, and the port being configured to introduce a powder to the expanded plasma stream at a location outside of the plasma gun.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the port is disposed on a faceplate that is coupled between the plasma gun and the extension chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the faceplate comprises a circular ring shape and the outlet of the plasma gun is aligned with the center of the faceplate to enable the plasma stream to pass the faceplate and flow into the extension chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the faceplate comprises copper. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the chamber wall comprises a ceramic material. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the chamber wall comprises boron nitride. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the chamber wall comprises a substantially tubular shape. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein a stainless steel sheath is coupled to the faceplate and around the chamber wall. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the faceplate is configured to be coupled to the chamber wall prior to being coupled to the plasma gun, thereby allowing the faceplate and the chamber wall to be coupled to the plasma gun and de-coupled from the plasma gun as a single unit. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the faceplate, the chamber wall, and the plasma gun are configured to be coupled together using one or more threaded fasteners.