Primed pneumatic control of process gas regulator
AssigneeThe ESAB Group, Inc.
InventorErik Anthony Leger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pneumatic system for nearly instantaneously controlling process gas for an arc process torch. The pneumatic system includes an electro-pneumatic regulator and a three-way valve for pneumatically controlling a pilot signal for a pilot regulator. The pilot regulator controls a pressure of a process gas supplied to an arc process torch.
Claims20
A process gas control system for a plasma torch, the process gas control system comprising:
- a gas source;
- a first regulator connected to the gas source;
- a valve component having multiple modes of operation;
- a first line connected to the first regulator and to the valve component, the first line supplying a gas from the first regulator to the valve component, the gas in the first line being at a first pressure;
- a second regulator;
- and
- a second line connected to the valve component and to the second regulator, the second line supplying a gas from the valve component to the second regulator, the gas in the second line being at a second pressure, wherein the valve component controls the second pressure in the second line.
A process gas control system for a plasma torch, the process gas control system comprising:
- a gas source;
- a first regulator connected to the gas source;
- a three-way valve having a plurality of operational modes;
- a first pneumatic line connected to the first regulator and to the three-way valve, the first pneumatic line supplying a gas from the first regulator to the three-way valve;
- a second regulator;
- a second pneumatic line connected to the three-way valve and to the second regulator, the second pneumatic line supplying a gas from the three-way valve to the second regulator;
- and
- a process gas line downstream of the second regulator, wherein a pressure of gas in the second pneumatic line and a pressure of gas in the process gas line can be adjusted relative to a pressure of gas in the first pneumatic line by the three-way valve being in a particular one of its plurality of operational modes.
A method of operating a process gas control system for a plasma torch, the process gas control system including a gas source, a valve component, a first pneumatic line upstream of and connected to the valve component and supplying a gas from the gas source to the valve component, a second pneumatic line downstream of and connected to the valve component, the method comprising the steps of:
- controlling the valve component to be in an open position;
- adjusting gas in the first pneumatic line to be a first pressure;
- fluidly coupling the first pneumatic line to the second pneumatic line so that a pressure of gas in the second pneumatic line is at the first pressure;
- and
- upon determining that the gas in the second pneumatic line is at the first pressure, controlling the valve component to be in a hold position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.