IP Library Granted Patent US 11,110,626
Granted Patent B2
US 11,110,626 · App. 16/521,319 · Granted Sep 7, 2021

Liquid pressurization pump and systems with data storage

Inventors: Cedar J. Vandergon (New Brighton, MN); Jon W. Lindsay (Grantham, NH); Steve E. Voerding (New Brighton, MN); Brett A. Hansen (Mapleton, UT)
Assignee: Hypertherm, Inc.
B26F3/004G01K1/024G01K1/14G01K1/143B24C5/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,110,626
App. No.
16/521,319
Granted
Sep 7, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention features methods and apparatuses for altering a cutting operation during operation of the pressurized liquid jet cutting system. A pressurized liquid jet cutting system includes a pressurized fluid jet cutting head having a plurality of components. The cutting head further includes a sensor configured to sense an operating condition. The sensor transmits a value of the operating condition to a computing device, which alters a subsequent cutting operation. Further, the fluid jet cutting head is configured to work with a data storage mechanism and a reader, such that the data storage mechanism in contact with a body of the fluid jet cutting head is configured to communicate information to a reader of the pressurized liquid jet cutting system. The information is usable to determine a condition of replacement (e.g., a remaining usable life) of the replaceable component, change an operating pressure, change a cutting speed, or alter another operating parameter of the pressurized liquid jet cutting system.

Claims (42)

1. A method of operating a pressurized fluid jet cutting head, the method comprising:

providing a cutting head having a plurality of component parts and a sensor configured to sense an operating condition of at least one of the component parts,

wherein the operating condition comprises at least one of temperature, leakage, moisture information, or number of operational cycles;

providing a computing device in communication with the sensor;

sensing the operating condition for a cutting operation;

transmitting a value of the operating condition to the computing device; and

altering an operating parameter of a subsequent cutting operation based on the value of the operating condition.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating parameter is at least one of an operating pressure or a cutting speed.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the value of the operating condition in a data storage mechanism.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising comparing the value of the operating condition to existing information stored in the data storage mechanism.

5. A pressurized fluid jet cutting system, comprising:

a cutting head having a plurality of components parts;

a sensor, configured to sense an operating condition of at least one of the component parts,

wherein the operating condition comprises at least one of temperature, leakage, moisture information, or number of operational cycles; and

a computing device in communication with the sensor, the computing device configured to alter a subsequent cutting operation based on a value of the operating condition.

6. The pressurized fluid jet cutting system of claim 5 wherein the computing device alters at least one of an operating pressure or a cutting speed based on the value of the operating condition.

7. The pressurized fluid jet cutting system of claim 5 wherein the subsequent cutting operation is altered to extend a life expectancy of at least one of the component parts.

8. The pressurized fluid jet cutting system of claim 5 wherein the computing device includes at least one of a computer numeric controller or a pump programmable logic controller.

9. The pressurized fluid jet cutting system of claim 5 wherein the sensor is disposed within or near at least one of the component parts.

10. A pressurized fluid jet cutting system, comprising:

a cutting head having a plurality of components parts;

a sensor, configured to sense an operating condition of at least one of the component parts; and

a computing device in communication with the sensor, the computing device configured to alter a subsequent cutting operation based on a value of the operating condition,

wherein the computing device is further configured to record a time of installation of at least one of the component parts.

11. The pressurized fluid jet cutting system of claim 10 further comprising:

a data storage mechanism, configured to store the value of the operating condition during operation of the fluid jet cutting system; and

a reader configured to read information from the data storage mechanism and transmit information to the computing device.

12. The pressurized fluid jet cutting system of claim 10 wherein the data storage mechanism is configured to store at least one of a use metric or identification data of at least one of the component parts.

13. The pressurized fluid jet cutting system of claim 10 wherein the data storage mechanism is an RFID tag.

14. A pressurized fluid jet cutting system, comprising:

a cutting head having a plurality of component parts;

sensing means for detecting an operating condition of at least one of the component parts,

wherein the operating condition comprises at least one of temperature, leakage, moisture information, or number of operational cycles;

means for altering a subsequent cutting operation based on a value of the operating condition communicated by the sensing means.

15. The pressurized fluid jet cutting system of claim 14 wherein the means for altering a subsequent cutting operation alters at least one of an operating pressure or a cutting speed based on the value of the operating condition.

16. The pressurized fluid jet cutting system of claim 14 wherein the sensing means detects at least one of temperature, pressure, leakage, moisture, humidity, or detected strain.

17. The pressurized fluid jet cutting system of claim 14 further comprising:

storage means for storing the value of the operating condition; and

means for reading the value of the operating condition from the storage means.

18. The pressurized fluid jet cutting system of claim 17 wherein the means for reading the value of the operating condition is further configured to transmit the value of the operating condition to the means for altering a subsequent cutting operation.

19. The pressurized fluid jet cutting system of claim 16 wherein the storage means is configured to store multiple values of the operating condition over time.

20. The pressurized fluid jet cutting system of claim 16 wherein the means for altering a subsequent cutting operation compares the value of the operating condition to existing information in the storage means.

Assignments (6)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE COLLATERAL AGENT/ASSIGNEE'S ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 058573 FRAME: 0832. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: HYPERTHERM, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058983/0459 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2022
From: HYPERTHERM, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058573/0832 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2022
From: HYPERTHERM, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058982/0425 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2022
From: HYPERTHERM, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058982/0480 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2020
From: HYPERTHERM, INC.; OMAX CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053889/0180 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2019
From: VANDERGON, CEDAR J.; LINDSAY, JON W.; VOERDING, STEVE E.; HANSEN, BRETT A.
To: HYPERTHERM, INC.
Reel/Frame 049928/0211 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 15974557 · May 8, 2018
Continuation In Part 14641897 · Mar 9, 2015
Provisional Application 61949922 · Mar 7, 2014
Related Publication 20190344466A1 · Nov 14, 2019
Cited By (4)
US 12,217,118 US 12,275,082 US 12,280,441 US 12,521,905