Systems, methods, and devices for transmitting information to thermal processing systems

• US 10,486,260 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hypertherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hypertherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Hoffa, Michael, Shipulski, E. Michael, Hansen, Brett A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chou, Jimmy
• Application Number:
  US13/838,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20130264317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,447 Days
• Field of Search: 2191372, 21913731, 219138, 21913001, 21912154, 21912157, 21912148, 340593, 34059313, 34059317
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 10/00 Welding or cutting by means of a plasma
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 10/006 Control circuits therefor circuits for plasma torches H05H1/36
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 10/02 Plasma welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/21 by welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/38 by boring or cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/702 Auxiliary equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/16 making use of shielding gas selection of media B23K35/38
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/32 Accessories earthing connections H01R
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/34 Details, e.g. electrodes, nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/3494 Means for controlling discharge parameters

Abstract

In some aspects, a replaceable consumable component for performing a cutting or welding operation can include a body and a readable data storage device coupled to the body or integrated within the body, wherein the data storage device contains an operation instruction for a cutting or welding device.

Claims

1. A replaceable consumable component of a torch tip in a thermal processing torch for performing a cutting operation, the thermal processing torch in electrical communication with a power supply located external to the thermal processing torch, the replaceable consumable component of the torch tip in the thermal processing torch comprising:

a body; and

a readable data storage device, comprising a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, integrated with the body, the readable data storage device includes an operation instruction for operating the thermal processing torch,

wherein (i) the readable data storage device is inserted within the thermal processing torch upon installation of the replaceable consumable component in the thermal processing torch and (ii) the readable data storage device is positioned on the body to maintain an unobstructed signal communication path to an RFID reader and is readable by the RFID reader from inside of the thermal processing torch.

2. The replaceable consumable component of claim 1, wherein the operation instruction comprises a cutting program.

3. The replaceable consumable component of claim 2, wherein the cutting program comprises torch system setup values.

4. The replaceable consumable component of claim 1, wherein the operation instruction comprises a workpiece cutting application.

5. The replaceable consumable component of claim 1, wherein the operation instruction comprises a firmware update.

6. The replaceable consumable component of claim 1, wherein the readable data storage device is also rewritable.

7. A torch for a cutting process of a thermal processing system that includes a power supply and a controller located external to the torch and in electrical communication with the torch, the torch comprising:

a replaceable consumable component;

a readable data storage device located in or on the replaceable consumable component;

a data reading device in the torch for reading the readable data storage device; and

a data transfer mechanism enabling communication between the data reading device and the controller of the thermal processing system, wherein the readable data storage device includes data for operating the thermal processing system,

wherein the readable data storage device is inserted within the torch upon installation of the replaceable consumable component in the torch, and

wherein the torch is configured to maintain an unobstructed communication path between the readable data storage device and the data reading device inside of the torch.

8. The torch of claim 7, wherein the unobstructed communication path inside of the torch comprises substantially no metal material in the unobstructed communication path.

9. The torch of claim 7, wherein the data transfer mechanism comprises a wireless connection.

10. The torch of claim 7, wherein the readable data storage device is rewriteable.

11. The torch of claim 10, wherein the readable data storage device is at least one of writable while in service or while disposed within the torch.

12. The torch of claim 7, wherein the data comprises a cutting program.

13. The torch of claim 7, wherein the data is configured to produce an altered performance characteristic of the thermal processing system.

14. The torch of claim 13, wherein the altered performance characteristic comprises a better cut quality capability relative to an original cutting capability that would be possible using a substantially similar replaceable consumable component that does not transfer the data.

15. The torch of claim 7, wherein the data comprises a firmware update for the thermal processing system.

16. The torch of claim 7, wherein the data reading device comprises an RFID reading device.