ADAPTIVE MAINTENANCE OF A PRESSURIZED FLUID CUTTING SYSTEM

1 . A method of generating a service part replacement criteria for a part of a pressurized fluid cutting system, the method comprising:

providing a first service part of a pressurized fluid cutting system;

assigning an initial service score for the first service part;

measuring an operating condition of the pressurized fluid cutting system associated with the first service part; and

assigning a modified service score of the first service part based upon the measured operating conditions of the pressurized fluid cutting system.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first service part is provided from the group consisting of:

a check valve;

a low-pressure poppet;

a high-pressure cylinder;

a high-pressure seal back-up;

a hydraulic rod seal;

a seal housing O-ring;

a seal housing O-ring back-up;

a high-pressure hoop;

a high-pressure water seal;

a check valve O-ring;

a high-pressure poppet assembly;

a low-pressure poppet retainer;

an indicator pin spring; or

a plunger bearing.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the service score is determined by a plurality of factors, wherein the factors may be considered separately or in various combinations.

4 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of factors are considered from two or more of the group consisting of:

predicted life of the part;

measured operating conditions;

part price;

ease of part replacement; or

opportunity for part replacement.

5 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the initial service score becomes the modified service score based on at least one of the factors.

6 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the modified service score corresponds to a measured condition determined by input from a monitoring sensor.

7 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising modifying the modified service score to become a second modified service score based on at least one of the factors.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

measuring a second operating condition of the pressurized fluid cutting system associated with the first service part; and

assigning a second modified service score of the first service part based upon the second measured operating conditions of the pressurized fluid cutting system.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein a second service part is provided from the parts as set forth in claim 2 and as selected based on the second modified service score.

10 . A service protocol for a pressurized fluid cutting system, comprising:

presenting a user, by a computer interface associated with the cutting system, with one or more service thresholds;

receiving a user input of a selected service threshold;

identifying a failure event of a first part;

based upon the selected service threshold, designating one of a first set of parts or a second set of parts to be serviced;

wherein the first set of parts to be serviced is associated with a first service threshold and the second set of parts to be serviced is associated with a second service threshold, and

wherein the first set of parts is different than the second set of parts; and

indicating to the user the designated first or second set of parts that fall within the selected service threshold.

11 . The service protocol of claim 10 , wherein the step of identifying includes receiving an input from a user identifying the failure event.

12 . The service protocol of claim 10 , wherein the step of identifying includes receiving an input from a monitoring sensor determining the failure event.

13 . The service protocol of claim 10 , wherein the step of selecting a service threshold occurs after the step of identifying a failure event.

14 . The service protocol of claim 10 , wherein there is a third set of parts associated with a selection of a third service threshold.

15 . The service protocol of claim 10 , wherein the determination of which parts comprise a set of parts is based upon one or more factors including:

predicted part life;

measured operating conditions;

part price;

ease of part replacement; and

opportunity for part replacement.

16 . The service protocol of claim 10 , wherein one or more of the parts of the first set of parts and the second set of parts have a variable service score relative to the selected threshold,

wherein parts that have a score that is above the threshold get replaced, and

wherein services scores are variable based upon sensor measurement of the parts.

17 . A service management system for a pressurized fluid cutting system, comprising:

providing a pressurized fluid cutting system having a plurality of service parts;

establishing a first scheduled maintenance event for servicing a first set of parts;

establishing a second scheduled maintenance system for servicing a second set of parts;

identifying a failure of a part of the first set of parts prior to the first scheduled maintenance event;

modifying the first scheduled maintenance event to coincide with the failure of the part of the first set of parts, based upon a service score; and

modifying the second maintenance event based upon the modified first scheduled maintenance event.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the service score is based upon a user-selected threshold pertaining to risk of future part failure.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein a lower risk threshold determines a service score that prompts more regular part service.

20 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising a user interface configured to identify which parts are to be serviced during a scheduled maintenance event.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to input identification of a failed part, wherein the identification of a failed part comprises a failure event.

22 . The system of claim 17 , wherein a sensor identifies the failure of the part of the first set of parts prior to the first scheduled maintenance event.