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US 10,328,516 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for automatically controlling gas pressure for a plasma cutter
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsAnthony V. Salsich, Joseph C. Schneider, James F. Ulrich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for providing a dynamically controlled plasma cutting system. The plasma cutting system includes a proportional valve and a sensing device arrangement and a controller connected to this arrangement. The system is configured to dynamically control gas flow in a plasma torch. The system measures gas pressure at a proportional valve and makes necessary gas pressure adjustments in the system by way of controlling a drive signal sent to the proportional valve to control gas flow.
Claims15
A plasma cutting system comprising:
- a power source configured to generate plasma cutting power;
- a plasma torch coupled to the power source, wherein the plasma torch is configured for use in a manual plasma cutting operation;
- a gas flow system configured to receive pressurized gas and provide a gas flow to the plasma torch;
- a proportional valve configured to regulate the gas flow;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- regulate operation of the proportional valve to regulate a pressure of the gas flow by controlling a drive signal sent to the proportional valve;
- compare the drive signal to an expected drive signal of a cutting process performed by the plasma cutting system;
- and
- adjust an input gas pressure to the proportional valve based on a comparison of the drive signal to the expected drive signal.
7 more elements
A plasma cutting system comprising:
- a plasma torch configured for use in a manual plasma cutting operation;
- a gas flow system configured to receive pressurized gas;
- a proportional valve having a control to regulate gas flow from the gas flow system to the plasma torch;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- regulate operation of the control of the proportional valve to regulate a pressure of the gas flow by controlling a drive signal sent to the control of the proportional valve;
- detect an out-of-spec input pressure by comparing an expected drive signal for a given input pressure and output pressure to an actual drive signal for achieving a desired gas pressure set point for the manual plasma cutting operation;
- and
- adjust an input gas pressure to the proportional valve based on a comparison of the actual drive signal to the expected drive signal.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.