Patent Publication Number: US-2023138128-A1

Title: Apparatus and method for brazing

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This U.S. patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/019,655 filed on Jun. 27, 2018, which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/592,016, filed on Nov. 29, 2017, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. U.S. Pat. No. 8,444,041, which was issued on May 21, 2013 based on an application filed on Apr. 8, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments of the present invention described herein relate generally to brazing systems with reproducible gas flow rate control using a plurality of gases and methods for achieving the same. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Brazing is one of the known methods of joining metal members together with a brazing filler, i.e., a metal or alloy having a lower melting point than the metals to be joined. Brazing typically involves the use of a torch having at least two needle metering valves that control the flow and ratio of at least two welding gases. One of the gases will include a flammable fuel gas such as LP gas, natural gas, acetylene gas, methane, propane, butane, hydrogen and mixtures and combinations thereof, while the other gas will include a combustion-assisting gas such as oxygen or air. Needle metering valves are used to manually adjust the flow of the gases before and during brazing because the pressure, flow rate, and/or quality of the gases can vary and, in some cases, lead to quality issues. Adjustment is needed due for a variety of reasons, including changes in external temperature, the total amount of gas used, or the amount of gas remaining in a cylinder, all variables which affect gas flow rates. In addition, a torch operator, even an operator with many years of experience, can have a very difficult time setting the needle valves and determining if the gas mixture creates a flame having an acceptable oxygen to fuel ratio. 
     In view of the foregoing problems and shortcomings of existing brazing systems with torches having a plurality of adjustment valves, the present application describes brazing systems and methods to overcome these shortcomings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Embodiments of brazing systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a brazing system includes a touch screen display and a controller circuit board having a processor and a memory. The controller circuit board is configured to be manually set by an operator to support a single torch configuration or a multiple torch configuration. The single torch configuration includes a first integrated software having first computer-executable instructions stored in the memory and configured to execute on the processor, and the multiple torch configuration includes a second integrated software having second computer-executable instructions stored in the memory and configured to execute on the processor. The multiple torch configuration supports the independent setting up of multiple brazing torches and the simultaneous use of the multiple brazing torches by multiple users during multiple independent brazing processes. The controller circuit board is operatively connected to the touch screen display and configured to allow user interaction with the controller circuit board via the touch screen display. 
     In one embodiment, the torch brazing system is one of a single torch brazing system or a multiple torch brazing system. The single torch brazing system and the multiple torch brazing system have at least some controllable hardware elements that are different from each other. The controller circuit board is configured to control controllable hardware elements of the single torch brazing system when the controller circuit board is installed in the single torch brazing system and when the controller circuit board is set to the single torch configuration. The controller circuit board is configured to control controllable hardware elements of the multiple torch brazing system when the controller circuit board is installed in the multiple torch brazing system and when the controller circuit board is set to the multiple torch configuration. 
     In one embodiment, the controller circuit board is configured to provide a home screen and a main menu, and support user interaction, via at least the touch screen display, with a production mode, a setup mode, and a demo mode. 
     In one embodiment, the torch brazing system includes a robot operatively connected to the controller circuit board via an automation interface. The controller circuit board is configured to communicate with a programmable logic controller of the robot holding a brazing torch via the automation interface to control motion of the robot and to synchronize selected flame types to brazing positions of the robot during a brazing operation. 
     In one embodiment, The torch brazing system includes a fuel gas mass flow controller and an oxygen/air gas mass flow controller configured to monitor and adjust at least a flow rate of a fuel gas and a flow rate of an oxygen/air gas to maintain a desired flame corresponding to a selected flame setting. 
     In one embodiment, the torch brazing system includes a fuel gas mass flow controller and an oxygen/air gas mass flow controller. The mass flow controllers are configured to independently monitor and adjust flow rates of a fuel gas for each of multiple fuel gas outputs of the system, and flow rates of an oxygen/air gas for each of multiple oxygen/air gas outputs of the system. The monitoring and adjusting is under the control of the controller circuit board in the multiple torch configuration to simultaneously maintain different desired flames corresponding to different selected flame settings for each of the multiple brazing torches. 
     In one embodiment, the controller circuit board provides a first process flow for the single torch configuration and a second process flow for the multiple torch configuration. The first process flow includes features of at least one of flame set up, job set up, torch selection, flame setting selection, WiFi configuring, activation of a software license, setting a server upload time to upload collected data, and selecting display options. The second process flow includes features of at least one of flame set up, job set up, torch selection, flame setting selection, WiFi configuring, activation of a software license, setting a server upload time to upload collected data, and selecting display options. 
     In one embodiment, the controller circuit board is configured to control a process flow, where the process flow includes an initial entry into the torch brazing system by a user. The initial entry into the torch brazing system includes at least one of user setting of a machine identification, user configuration of WiFi, user validation of a software license, and user setting of a server upload time of when to upload collected data collected by the controller circuit board. 
     In one embodiment, the controller circuit board is configured to store multiple jobs of flame presets in the memory. Any job of the multiple jobs of flame presets can be called up from the controller circuit board. Each job of the multiple jobs of flame presets corresponds to a sequence of joint brazings to be performed on a braze assembly and includes multiple selectable flame presets. Each flame preset of the multiple selectable flame presets defines a flame setting based on at least a flow rate of a fuel gas and a flow rate of an oxygen/air gas. In one embodiment, the torch brazing system includes a fuel encoder knob and an oxygen/air encoder knob. A flame preset of the multiple selectable flame presets can be established in the memory of the controller circuit board by entering a setup mode of the controller circuit board via the touch screen display and using the fuel encoder knob and the oxygen/air encoder knob to independently adjust a flow rate of each of the fuel gas and the oxygen/air gas. 
     In one embodiment, the torch brazing system includes a wireless router and an external computer. The wireless router is operatively connected to the external computer, and the controller circuit board is configured to wirelessly communicate with the external computer via the wireless router for at least one of data collection and management of a software license by the external computer. The wireless router is a Wi-Fi router and the controller circuit board is configured to wirelessly communicate with the external computer via the Wi-Fi router. The external computer includes a dashboard user interface implemented as a software application running on the external computer as third computer-executable instructions. The dashboard user interface is configured to process collected data, collected by the external computer from the controller circuit board, to be viewed and analyzed by a user. The collected data is related to at least one of an amount of time the torch brazing system was on during a brazing process, an amount of time that gas was flowing during the brazing process, settings associated with what the torch brazing system was doing and when during the brazing process, and diagnostic information. The dashboard user interface is configured to be accessed based on a date to show an operating factor for the torch brazing system. The operating factor is the percentage of time the brazing system is on or active. 
     These and other aspects will be evident when viewed in light of the drawings, detailed description and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       At least one embodiment of the present invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, which will be described in detail in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is a side elevational view of a prior art brazing system in which flow control is achieved using metering valves positioned on the torch; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a single torch brazing system configuration mounted on a stand, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates various elements of the single torch brazing system configuration of  FIG.  2    that can be seen and accessed from a front view, an inlet side view, and an outlet side view of the brazing system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a multiple torch brazing system configuration mounted on a stand, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  5    illustrates various elements of the multiple torch brazing system configuration of  FIG.  4    that can be seen and accessed from a front view, an inlet side view, and an outlet side view of the brazing system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  6    and  FIG.  7    illustrate a single torch system showing various components and interfaces that are internal or external to the single torch configuration of  FIG.  2   , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  8    and  FIG.  9    illustrate a multiple torch system showing various components and interfaces that are internal or external to the multiple torch configuration of  FIG.  4   , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  10    illustrates one embodiment of a brazing configuration in wireless communication with a server computer; 
         FIG.  11    illustrates one embodiment of a brazing configuration in communication with a server computer via an intermediate computer; 
         FIG.  12    illustrates one embodiment of a user computer in communication with a server computer via a computer network; 
         FIGS.  13 - 17    show embodiments of example screen shots provided by a dashboard user interface; 
         FIGS.  18 A,  18 B,  19 A,  19 B,  20 - 25 ,  26 A and  26 B  illustrate embodiments of screen shots provided by the multiple torch configuration of  FIG.  4    showing process flow control; and 
         FIGS.  27 A,  27 B,  28 A,  28 B,  29 ,  30 A,  30 B,  31 - 34    illustrate embodiments of screen shots provided by the single torch configuration of  FIG.  2    showing process flow control. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described below by reference to the attached figures. The described exemplary embodiments are intended to assist in understanding, and are not intended to limit the scope in any way. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates a prior art brazing system  100  in which metering valves are positioned on the torch, and includes a first gas source  105  and a second gas source  110 , wherein the first gas source  105  provides oxygen or air and the second gas source  110  provides a fuel, including at least one of the following: acetylene, propane, natural gas or methane, propylene, hydrogen, and butane or blends thereof. A first gas hose  115  connects to the first gas source  105  and to the brazing torch  120 , and a second gas hose  125  connects to the second gas source  110  and to the brazing torch  120 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the brazing torch  120  includes a handle or a torch body  130 , an on/off switch  135 , a first needle valve  140 , a second needle valve  145 , a brazing torch neck  150 , and a brazing tip  155 . To use the conventional brazing system  100 , an operator opens valves on the first gas source  105  and the second gas source  110 , opens the first needle valve  140  and the second needle valve  145  to form a flammable gas mixture, and ignites the gas mixture exiting the brazing tip  155 . It is understood that the gas sources can be from gas tanks that have pressure regulators, or can be from main supply lines that have pressure regulators. After ignition, the brazing torch operator will make adjustments to the first needle valve  140  and the second needle valve  145  to react to real or perceived inconsistencies in the brazing flame. Further, needle valve settings may be changed due to inconsistencies in the brazing joint caused by fluctuations in gas pressure and flow rates and inaccurate gas mixtures. As discussed above, even very experienced torch operators have difficulty setting flames with consistent oxygen to fuel ratios. 
     For example, operators can have difficulty accurately determining whether or not a brazing flame from the torch is neutral, or has the desired flame temperature or BTU output. Furthermore, operators have great difficulty in creating a consistent and repeatable flame, with the same flame characteristics. 
     Again, a brazing system may include a first gas source and a second gas source, wherein the first gas source is oxygen or air and the second gas source is a fuel, including at least one of the following: acetylene, propane, natural gas or methane, propylene, hydrogen, and butane or blends thereof. The gas sources can be from gas tanks that have pressure regulators or from main supply lines that have pressure regulators, for example. A first gas hose can connect to the first gas source and to an enclosure of the brazing system. A second gas hose can connect to the second gas source and to the same enclosure. In some exemplary embodiments, the enclosure is made from materials and constructed to meet NEMA 4× specifications. 
     In one embodiment, gas from the first gas source flows from the enclosure into a first brazing torch gas hose, and gas from the second gas source flows from the enclosure into a second brazing torch gas hose. The first brazing torch gas hose and the second brazing torch gas hose connect to a brazing torch. Again, the brazing torch may include a handle, an operating trigger or on/off switch, a neck, and a brazing tip. The brazing torch also includes an internal portion where the gases mix before exiting the brazing torch at the brazing tip. An operator activates the operating trigger on the brazing torch to light the torch. 
     Determination and/or control of at least a ratio of flow rates of a first gas and a second gas, also known as the oxygen to fuel ratio, can be made in accordance with one embodiment. Each of the fuel gases, including acetylene, propane, natural gas or methane, propylene, hydrogen, and butane, has a range of oxygen to fuel ratio that produces a consistent brazing flame every time the operator lights the brazing torch. For example, the oxygen to fuel ratio can be set to reproduce a targeted and maximized oxidizing flame, a neutral flame, a carburizing flame, or any flame having characteristics between the above identified flames as known by those of skill in the art. 
     In order to provide additional context for various aspects of some embodiments of the present invention, the following discussion is intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable computing environment in which the various aspects of some embodiments of the present invention may be implemented. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various aspects of some embodiments of the invention also may be implemented in combination with other program modules and/or as a combination of hardware and software. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular data types. 
     Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the inventive methods may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including single-processor or multiprocessor computer systems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personal computers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, and the like, each of which may be operatively coupled to one or more associated devices. The illustrated aspects of some embodiments of the invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where certain tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. 
     A computerized device (e.g., a computerized controller) or a user interface can utilize an exemplary environment for implementing various aspects of some embodiments of the invention including a computer, wherein the computer includes a processing unit, a system memory, and a system bus. The system bus couples system components including, but not limited to, the system memory to the processing unit. The processing unit may be any of various commercially available processors. Dual microprocessors and other multi-processor architectures also can be employed as the processing unit. 
     The system bus can be any of several types of bus structure including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus and a local bus using any of a variety of commercially available bus architectures. The system memory can include read only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM). A basic input/output system (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the computer, such as during start-up, is stored in the ROM. 
     The computerized device or the user interface can further include a hard disk drive, a magnetic disk drive, e.g., to read from or write to a removable disk, and an optical disk drive, e.g., for reading a CD-ROM disk or to read from or write to other optical media. The computerized device or the user interface can include at least some form of computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by the computer. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the user interface. 
     Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media. 
     A number of program modules may be stored in the drives and RAM, including an operating system, one or more application programs, other program modules, and program data. The operating system in the computerized device or the user interface can be any of a number of commercially available operating systems. 
     In addition, a user may enter commands and information into the computerized device through a keyboard and a pointing device, such as a mouse. Other input devices may include a microphone, an IR remote control, a track ball, a pen input device, a joystick, a game pad, a digitizing tablet, a satellite dish, a scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit through a serial port interface that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, a game port, a universal serial bus (“USB”), an IR interface, and/or various wireless technologies. A monitor or other type of display device, may also be connected to the system bus via an interface, such as a video adapter. Visual output may also be accomplished through a remote display network protocol such as Remote Desktop Protocol, VNC, X-Window System, etc. In addition to visual output, a computer or computerized device may include other peripheral output devices, such as speakers, printers, etc. 
     A display can be employed with a user interface to present data that is electronically received from the processing unit. For example, the display can be an LCD, plasma, CRT, etc. monitor that presents data electronically. Alternatively, or in addition, the display can present received data in a hard copy format such as a printer, facsimile, plotter etc. The display can present data in any color and can receive data from the user interface via any wireless or hard wire protocol and/or standard. 
     A computerized device can operate in a networked environment using logical and/or physical connections to one or more remote computers. The remote computer(s) can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, a personal computer, microprocessor based entertainment appliance, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described relative to the computer. The logical connections depicted include a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN). Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet. 
     When used in a LAN networking environment, a computerized device is connected to the local network through a network interface or adapter. When used in a WAN networking environment, a computerized device typically includes a modem, or is connected to a communications server on the LAN, or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN, such as the Internet. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computerized device, or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. It will be appreciated that network connections described herein are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between computers may be used. 
     Embodiments of some substantially automated brazing systems are described next herein. The indication of flame type (neutral, oxidizing or carburizing) is a function of the oxygen to fuel gas ratio, determined by, for example, a controller of a brazing system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. However, the controller can also take into account the type of fuel being utilized. That is, the ratios that produce certain flames types for a first type of fuel will not be the same for a different type of fuel. Stated differently, a first gas ratio will produce a neutral flame when using acetylene, but the same ratio may not produce a neutral flame when using other types of fuel gas, such as propane, etc. Therefore, the controller takes into account the type of fuel and the gas ratio when determining the flame type. Similarly, the ranges of gas ratios which produce neutral, oxidizing or carburizing flame types will be different for each type of fuel gas used, and thus the controller takes these factors into account when determining the appropriate flame type (e.g., to display the flame type). 
     A first embodiment of a substantially automated brazing system is a single torch brazing system configuration that includes a unit that supports operation of a single torch. The single torch configuration has a single oxygen/air gas input, a single oxygen/air gas output, a single fuel gas input, and a single fuel gas output. The fuel gas may be, for example, propane, natural gas, or hydrogen.  FIG.  2    shows a single torch unit configuration  200  mounted on a stand  210 . Various views of the single torch configuration  200  are shown in  FIG.  2    which includes a front view  220 , an inlet side view  230 , an outlet side view  240 , and a rear view  250 . 
       FIG.  3    shows various elements of the single torch configuration  200  that can be seen and accessed from the front view  220 , the inlet side view  230 , and the outlet side view  240 . The elements include a display touch screen  202 , an oxygen/air encoder knob  204 , a fuel encoder knob  206 , an antenna  208  (e.g., a Wi-Fi antenna), a power switch  212 , and a power indication LED  214 . The elements also include an inlet oxygen/air line (oxygen/air gas input)  216 , an outlet oxygen/air line (oxygen/air gas output)  218 , an inlet fuel line (fuel gas input)  222 , and an outlet fuel line (fuel gas output)  224 . The elements further include handles  226 , side louvers  228 , and wall mount brackets  232 . The elements also include a foot pedal connector  234 , an AC supply input  236 , and an automation interface  238 . 
     A second embodiment of a substantially automated brazing system is a multiple torch brazing system configuration that includes a unit that supports operation of multiple torches (e.g., three torches) and provides different tips and different settable flow rates for each torch. The multiple torch configuration has one oxygen/air gas input and one fuel gas input along with multiple (e.g., three) controlled oxygen/air gas outputs and multiple (e.g., three) controlled fuel gas outputs to independently support each of the multiple (e.g., three) torches. The multiple torch configuration allows multiple brazing stations to be supported by a single unit, thus reducing the cost per station.  FIG.  4    shows a multiple torch unit configuration  400  mounted on a stand  410 . Various views of the multiple torch configuration  400  are shown in  FIG.  4    which includes a front view  420 , an inlet side view  430 , an outlet side view  440 , and a rear view  450 . 
       FIG.  5    shows various elements of the multiple torch configuration  400  that can be seen and accessed from the front view  420 , the inlet side view  430 , and the outlet side view  440 . The elements include a display touch screen  402 , an oxygen/air encoder knob  404 , a fuel encoder knob  406 , an antenna  408  (e.g., a Wi-Fi antenna), a power switch  412 , and a power indication LED  414 . The elements also include an inlet oxygen/air line (oxygen/air gas input)  416 , multiple (e.g., three) outlet oxygen/air lines (oxygen/air gas outputs)  418 , an inlet fuel line (fuel gas input)  422 , and multiple (e.g., three) outlet fuel lines (fuel gas outputs)  424 . The elements further include handles  426 , side louvers  428 , wall mount brackets  432 , and an AC supply input  436 . 
       FIG.  6    and  FIG.  7    illustrate an embodiment of a single torch system  600  showing various components and interfaces that are internally or externally integrated with the single torch unit configuration  200 . As such, the terms such as “single torch configuration  200 ” and “single torch system  600 ” may be used subsequently herein, in some instances, to refer to the integrated embodiment. The single torch system  600  includes a controller circuit board (a.k.a., control board or controller)  260  having a memory  262  and a processor  264 , a power supply board  270 , a touch screen display  202 , a foot pedal  610 , a wireless router  620  (e.g., a Wi-Fi router), a robot system  630  having a PLC  632 , an automation (RS485) interface  238 , an oxygen/air (oxygen or air) gas mass flow controller (MFC)  280  with a first RS232 interface  285 , and a fuel gas MFC  290  with a second RS232 interface  295 . The touch screen display  202  and the foot pedal  610  operatively connect to the controller circuit board  260 . The power supply board  270  also operatively connects to at least the controller circuit board  260  to provide electrical power. In one embodiment, the controller circuit board  260  distributes the electrical power to other components such as, for example, the touch screen display  202 . In another embodiment, the power supply board  270  operatively connects to the controller circuit board  260  as well as other components such as, for example, the touch screen display  202  to provide electrical power. 
     The oxygen/air gas MFC  280  is operatively connected to the controller circuit board  260  via the RS232 interface  285  and is also operatively connected between the oxygen/air gas input  216  and the oxygen/air gas output  218 . The oxygen/air gas MFC  280  is configured to monitor and adjust at least the flow rate of the oxygen/air gas under the control of the controller circuit board  260 . Similarly, the fuel gas MFC  290  is operatively connected to the controller circuit board  260  via the RS232 interface  295  and is also operatively connected between the fuel gas input  222  and the fuel gas output  224 . The fuel gas MFC  290  is configured to monitor and adjust at least the flow rate of the fuel gas under the control of the controller circuit board  260 . 
       FIG.  8    and  FIG.  9    illustrate an embodiment of a multiple torch system  800  showing various components and interfaces that are internally or externally integrated with the multiple torch unit configuration  400 . As such, terms such as “multiple torch configuration  400 ” and “multiple torch system  800 ” may be used subsequently herein, in some instances, to refer to the integrated embodiment. In accordance with some embodiments, both the single torch configuration  200  and the multiple torch configuration  400  use a common controller circuit board  260  that can be manually set by an operator to support the single torch configuration  200  or the multiple torch configuration  400 . In this manner, having a common controller circuit board between the two configurations can provide economic advantages, by allowing the production volume to be increased and the cost to be reduced on components of the common controller circuit board. 
     The multiple torch system  800  includes a controller circuit board (a.k.a., control board or controller)  260 , a power supply board  470 , a touch screen display  402 , a wireless router  820  (e.g., a Wi-Fi router), an oxygen/air (oxygen or air) gas mass flow controller (MFC)  480  with a first RS232 interface  485 , and a fuel gas MFC  490  with a second RS232 interface  495 . The MFC&#39;s  480  and  490  are each configured to accommodate multiple (e.g., three) controlled output flows of gas. The touch screen display  402  operatively connects to the controller circuit board  260 . The power supply board  470  also operatively connects to at least the controller circuit board  260  to provide electrical power. In one embodiment, the controller circuit board  260  distributes the electrical power to other components such as, for example, the touch screen display  402 . In another embodiment, the power supply board  470  operatively connects to the controller circuit board  260  as well as other components such as, for example, the touch screen display  402  to provide electrical power. 
     The oxygen/air gas MFC  480  is operatively connected to the controller circuit board  260  via the RS232 interface  485  and is also operatively connected between the oxygen/air gas input  416  and the multiple oxygen/air gas outputs  418 . The oxygen/air gas MFC  480  is configured to independently monitor and adjust at least the flow rates of the oxygen/air gas under the control of the controller circuit board  260  to independently support multiple brazing torches. Similarly, the fuel gas MFC  490  is operatively connected to the controller circuit board  260  via the RS232 interface  495  and is also operatively connected between the fuel gas input  422  and the multiple fuel gas outputs  424 . The fuel gas MFC  490  is configured to independently monitor and adjust at least the flow rates of the fuel gas under the control of the controller circuit board  260  to support the multiple brazing torches. 
     The single torch configuration  200  provides multiple (e.g., five) flame presets that can be changed and cycled through via the foot pedal  610 , in accordance with one embodiment. In one embodiment, the controller circuit board  260  stores multiple jobs of flame presets in a memory. Any job of flame presets can be called up from the controller circuit board  260  (e.g., via the touch screen display  202 ) and cycled through in response to tapping the foot pedal  610 . Each job of the multiple jobs corresponds to a sequence of joint brazings to be performed on a braze assembly and includes multiple selectable flame presets. Each flame preset defines a flame setting based on a flow rate of a fuel gas and a flow rate of an oxygen/air gas. A flame preset can be established in a memory of the controller circuit board  260  for a job by entering a setup mode of the controller circuit board  260  via the touch screen display  202 . The encoder knobs  204 / 206  on the front  220  of the unit  200  are used to independently adjust the flow rate for both of the oxygen/air gas and the fuel gas for the preset to establish a type of flame such as, for example, a neutral flame, an oxidizing flame, or a carburizing flame. The flame preset can be named and saved in a memory  262  (see  FIG.  7   ) of the system  200 . In accordance with one embodiment, up to 100 flame presets can be established, and groups or jobs of five presets can be formed from the 100 flame presets such that any job of presets can be called up and cycled through by tapping the foot pedal  610 . In this manner, a sequence of joint brazings to be performed on a braze assembly, that may each require a different flame setting, can be readily and easily accommodated. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, the multiple torch configuration  400  provides similar presets and jobs that may be set up and used by each of the multiple torches. For example, flame settings can be established in the memory  262  of the controller circuit board  260  for a plurality of brazing torches by entering a setup mode of the controller circuit board  260  via the touch screen display  402 . The fuel encoder knob  406  and the oxygen/air encoder knob  404  can then be used to independently adjust flow rates of the fuel gas for each of the plurality of fuel gas outputs  424  and flow rates of the oxygen/air gas for each of the plurality of oxygen/air gas outputs  418 . 
     In one embodiment, the flow of gas is controlled via mass flow controllers (e.g.,  280  and  290  in the single torch configuration;  480  and  490  in the multiple torch configuration). The MFC&#39;s  480  and  490  are each configured to control three gas output flows. The single torch configuration  200  and the multiple torch configuration  400  each include integrated software having computer-executable instructions stored in memory  262  (see  FIG.  7    and  FIG.  9   ) and configured to execute on a processor  264  (see  FIG.  7    and  FIG.  9   ) of the common controller circuit board  260 . The software automatically monitors sensed gas flow and makes adjustments to the mass flow controllers (e.g.,  280  and  290  or  480  and  490 ), in accordance with one embodiment, to create and maintain the desired (selected) flame(s). The software is configured to react in real time to changes in gas flow. 
     For example, the fuel gas MFC  290  and the oxygen/air MFC  280  are configured to monitor and adjust at least the flow rate of the fuel gas and the flow rate of the oxygen/air gas, under the control of the controller circuit board  260 , to maintain a desired flame corresponding to a selected flame setting. Similarly, the fuel gas MFC  490  and the oxygen/air gas MFC  480  are configured to independently monitor and adjust at least the flow rates of the fuel gas for each of the multiple fuel gas outputs  424  and the flow rates of the oxygen/air gas for each of the multiple oxygen/air gas outputs  418  under the control of the controlling circuit board  260  to simultaneously maintain different desired flames corresponding to different selected flame settings for each of multiple brazing torches. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, an oxygen/air gas mass flow controller is configured to provide a controlled flow range of 2 to 100 standard cubic feet per hour (SCFH) for oxygen, and 2 to 100 SCFH for air. In accordance with one embodiment, a fuel gas mass flow controller is configured to provide a controlled flow range of 2 to 100 SCFH for methane, 1.2 to 60 SCFH for propane, 2 to 100 SCFH for acetylene, 2 to 100 SCFH for hydrogen, 1.4 to 70 SCFH for propylene, and 1 to 44 SCFH for butane. 
     In one embodiment (e.g., the single torch configuration), a brazing system includes a RS485 communication port (an automation interface)  238  for remote control of the brazing system by a programmable logic controller (PLC) (e.g., PLC  632  of the robotic system  630 ). The automation interface  238  is operatively connected to the controller circuit board  260 . In this manner, brazing can be performed automatically by the robotic system  630  with the PLC  632  (which controls motion of a robot of the robotic system  630  holding a brazing torch) while also remotely controlling the brazing system (e.g., to call up different preset flame types during a robotic brazing process being performed on a brazing assembly by the robot). The PLC  632  effectively synchronizes the selected flame types to the brazing positions of the robot, in accordance with one embodiment. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, both the single torch configuration  200  and the multiple torch configuration  400  support wireless communication capability (e.g., via the Wi-Fi router  620  or  820 ) and are configured to communicate with an external server computer  1000  for data collection (e.g., for acquiring collected data from the controller circuit board  260 ) and management of a software license, as shown in  FIG.  10   . For example, in one embodiment of the single torch configuration  200 , the wireless router  620  is operatively connected to the external server computer  1000 . The controller circuit board  260 , operatively connected to the antenna  208 , is configured to wirelessly communicate with the external server computer  1000  via the wireless router  620 . In one embodiment of the multiple torch configuration  400 , the wireless router  820  is operatively connected to the external server computer  1000 . The controller circuit board  260 , operatively connected to the antenna  408 , is configured to wirelessly communicate with the external server computer  1000  via the wireless router  820 . The external server computer  1000  is on-site and within wireless communication range of the brazing system  200 / 400 , in accordance with one embodiment. In accordance with another embodiment, the brazing system  200 / 400  may communicate wirelessly with an intermediate computer system  1100  (see  FIG.  11   ). The intermediate computer system  1100  may then communicate with the server computer  1000  which is located off-site (e.g., “in the cloud”  1110 ). 
     During data collection, a data string is wirelessly sent from the brazing system to the server computer  1000 . The data string may be sent at a particular settable time (e.g., when a brazing process is completed or at the end of the work day), in accordance with one embodiment. The data string may be sent continuously during the brazing process, in accordance with another embodiment. The string of data includes data related to, for example, an amount of time the brazing system was on during the brazing process, an amount of time that gas was flowing during the brazing process, settings associated with what the brazing system was doing (and when) during the brazing process, as well as other monitored or diagnostic information. The server computer  1000  can then analyze the brazing process, or the data can be extracted from the server computer  1000  by another system which can then analyze the brazing process, in accordance with various embodiments. In accordance with one embodiment, the data on the server computer  1000  is presented to a user via a web interface where web pages reside on the server computer  1000 . 
     In accordance with one embodiment, the server computer  1000  is configured to be accessed by an external user and provide the collected data (e.g., collected from the controller circuit board  260 ) to a dashboard user interface that allows the user to view and analyze the collected data on the user&#39;s desktop computer  1200 , for example (see  FIG.  12   ). The user&#39;s computer  1200  may access the server computer  1000  via an intermediate computer network  1210  (e.g., a LAN, a WAN, the internet, or some combination thereof). The dashboard user interface is provided by a software application running on the user&#39;s computer  1200 , in accordance with one embodiment. In another embodiment, the dashboard user interface is provided by the server computer  1000  and the user simply accesses the dashboard user interface, for example, via a web browser on the user&#39;s computer  1200 . The dashboard user interface is configured to process the collected data collected from the controller circuit board  260  such that the collected data can be viewed and analyzed by the user. 
       FIGS.  13 - 17    show embodiments of example screen shots provided by the dashboard user interface. As shown in  FIG.  13   , a screen shot of the dashboard user interface can be accessed based on a date (see the hi-lighted date in the range of dates). The hi-lighted date is 10-16-17 and the range of dates extends from 10-15-17 to 10-19-17. The screen shot of  FIG.  13    shows the “operating factor” for a brazing system, which is the percentage of time the brazing system is on or active. A beginning operating factor (40%) is shown for the beginning date of 10-15-17 and an ending operating factor (50%) is shown for the ending date of 10-19-17, along with a range of operating factors (40% to 50%) over the range of dates.  FIG.  13    also shows the composite operating factors, for each of the five dates in the range of dates, hour-by-hour. 
       FIG.  14    shows an average operating factor across all five days within the range of days from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., along with a daily trend of operating factor across all five days.  FIG.  15    shows operating factor, hour-by-hour, for a brazing system for the date of 10-16-17.  FIG.  16    shows operating factor, hour-by-hour, for three different brazing systems for the date of 10-19-17.  FIG.  17    shows overhead costs, labor costs, and projections of savings for a brazing system. Other types of screen shots provided by the dashboard user interface are possible as well, in accordance with other embodiments. 
     In one embodiment, a licensed brazing system cannot be operated in a licensed mode by an operator unless a wireless connection (e.g., a Wi-Fi connection) is established with the server computer to establish a validity of the license. The valid license effectively permits the operator to use the brazing system. A license may be good for a period of time and may need to be updated to allow continued use. Otherwise, when the license runs out, the brazing system will revert to a limited operation mode, in accordance with one embodiment, and prevent the operator from using certain features of the brazing system. 
       FIGS.  18 A- 26 B  illustrate embodiments of screen shots provided by the multiple torch configuration of  FIG.  4    showing process flow control.  FIG.  18 A  and  FIG.  18 B  illustrate an embodiment of the process flow concerned with initial entry into the multiple torch configuration. The process flow of  FIG.  18 A  and  FIG.  18 B  includes setting the machine ID, configuring the Wi-Fi, validating the license, and setting the server upload time.  FIG.  19 A  and  FIG.  19 B  illustrate an embodiment of the process flow concerned with there being no valid license for the multiple torch configuration. The process flow of  FIG.  19 A  and  FIG.  19 B  includes updating the license and configuring the Wi-Fi.  FIGS.  20 - 26 B  illustrate an embodiment of the process flow concerned with the home screen, main menu, and active license for the multi-torch configuration, and includes a production mode, a setup mode, and a demo mode. Various process flow features include flame setup, torch selection, flame setting selection, Wi-Fi configuration, license settings, server upload time, and display options, for example. Other process flow features are possible as well, in accordance with other embodiments. 
       FIGS.  27 A- 34    illustrate embodiments of screen shots provided by the single torch configuration of  FIG.  2    showing process flow control.  FIG.  27 A  and  FIG.  27 B  illustrate an embodiment of the process flow concerned with initial entry into the single torch configuration. The process flow of  FIG.  27 A  and  FIG.  27 B  includes setting the machine ID, configuring the Wi-Fi, validating the license, and setting the server upload time.  FIGS.  28 A and  28 B  illustrate an embodiment of the process flow concerned with there being no valid license for the single torch configuration. The process flow of  FIG.  28 A  and  FIG.  28 B  includes updating the license and configuring the Wi-Fi.  FIGS.  29 - 34    illustrate an embodiment of the process flow concerned with the home screen, main menu, and active license for the single torch configuration, and include a production mode, a setup mode, and a demo mode. Various process flow features include flame setup, job setup, torch selection, flame setting selection, Wi-Fi configuration, license settings, server upload time, and display options, for example. Other process flow features are possible as well, in accordance with other embodiments. 
     While the disclosed embodiments have been illustrated and described in considerable detail, it is not the intention to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the various aspects of the subject matter. Therefore, the disclosure is not limited to the specific details or illustrative examples shown and described. Thus, this disclosure is intended to embrace alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims, which satisfy the statutory subject matter requirements of 35 U.S.C. § 101. The above description of specific embodiments has been given by way of example. From the disclosure given, those skilled in the art will not only understand the general inventive concepts and attendant advantages, but will also find apparent various changes and modifications to the structures and methods disclosed. It is sought, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the general inventive concepts, as defined by the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.