Centralized control architecture for a plasma arc system
AssigneeHypertherm, Inc.
InventorsTate S. Picard, Roger E. Young, Jr., Gregory S. Wilson, Ronald M. Huppe, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention features a centralized control architecture for a closely-coupled plasma arc system, in which the “intelligence” of the system is integrated into a single controller. The closely-coupled plasma arc system includes a power source, an automatic process controller and a torch-height controller, where each of these components individually has a closed-loop dynamic relationship with the controller.
Claims28
A method of controlling a power supply of a plasma arc system comprising a controller in electrical communication with the power supply, the method comprising:
- a) providing a command signal from the controller to the power supply to generate an electrical current sufficient to form a plasma arc in a plasma arc torch;
- b) monitoring the electrical current generated by the power supply;
- and
- c) adjusting the command signal provided from the controller to the power supply based on the electrical current monitored.
A plasma arc system comprising:
- a power source for generating an electrical current sufficient to form a plasma arc in a plasma arc torch;
- and
- a controller in electrical communication with and physically remote from the power source, the controller controlling, monitoring, and adjusting the electrical signal generated by the power source.
A power source for a plasma arc system, the power source comprising:
- an input for receiving an input signal;
- a switch in electrical communication with the input, the switch configured to receive a switch command signal from a controller remote from the power source to open or close the switch;
- a transformer in electrical communication with the switch to receive the input signal when the switch is closed and generate an AC output signal;
- at least one dc power module in electrical communication with the transformer to receive the AC output signal and thereby generate a rectified DC output signal, the dc power module configured to receive a dc power module command signal from the controller for controlling the DC output signal and to provide a dc power module feedback signal to the controller;
- and
- torch ignition circuitry in electrical communication with the dc power module to receive the rectified DC output signal and generate a current sufficient to ignite a plasma arc.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.