Patent ID: 8502109
Filing Date: 2013-08-06
Classification: H05H

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling wear of at least one of two electrodes ( 1 , 2 ) of a plasma torch, said torch comprising the two electrodes ( 1 , 2 ) having a same main axis between which an arc ( 5 ) is established, the arc ( 5 ) contacting each of the two electrodes ( 1 , 2 ) at an arc root, the two electrodes ( 1 , 2 ) being separated by a chamber ( 3 ) designed to receive a plasma-generating gas, and at least one means for generating a magnetic field ( 7 ) being placed locally to said at least one of the two electrodes ( 1 , 2 ) for which wear is controlled, the method comprising: sweeping the arc root longitudinally over a portion of a surface of said at least one of the two electrodes ( wherein electrical power consumed by said torch since said at least one of the two electrodes ( wherein said series of measurements are recorded in a storage device, wherein based on a temporal evolution of said electrical power consumed over at least part of said series of measurements, an adjustment variable is determined to adjust the function of time and reduce wear on the at least one of the two electrodes (