Patent ID: 9649715
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: B23K,H05H

Claim:
1. A method for controlling gas flow to a plasma arc torch, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plasma gas supply in communication with the plasma arc torch; regulating the pressure of the plasma gas supply using a pressure regulator; positioning a valve downstream in the flow of gas from the pressure regulator and between the plasma gas supply and the plasma arc torch so as to control the flow of plasma gas to the torch, the valve having an inlet and an outlet; ascertaining a frequency and duty cycle at which to cycle the valve between conditions of fully opened and fully closed based on the pressure provided to the valve inlet as determined by the pressure regulator; cycling the valve between conditions of fully opened and fully closed at the frequency and duty cycle provided by said step of ascertaining so as to provide a predetermined average gas pressure at the outlet of the valve; and maintaining a relatively constant flow of plasma gas to the plasma torch during said step of cycling the valve.