A method and apparatus for operating a DC plasma torch. The power supply used is at least two times the average operating voltage used, resulting in a more stable operation of the torch. The torch can include two concentric cylinder electrodes, the electrodes can be graphite, and the plasma forming gas can be hydrogen. The power supply provided also has the capability of igniting the torch at a pulse voltage of at least 20 kilovolts.

A system for determining an operational state of an atmospheric pressure plasma. The system has a transformer for coupling power into the atmospheric pressure plasma, a current sampling circuit configured to sample at least one current pulse flowing through a primary winding of the transformer, and a programmed microprocessor configured to determine, from a waveform of the current pulse, the operational state of the atmospheric pressure plasma. The operational state is one of: a no plasma state, a plasma origination state indicative of an ignited arc expanding into a plasma by gas flow thereinto, and a plasma maintenance state indicative of the plasma being expanded.

A system for determining an operational state of an atmospheric pressure plasma. The system has a transformer for coupling power into the atmospheric pressure plasma, a current sampling circuit configured to sample at least one current pulse flowing through a primary winding of the transformer, and a programmed microprocessor configured to determine, from a waveform of the current pulse, the operational state of the atmospheric pressure plasma. The operational state is one of: a no plasma state, a plasma origination state indicative of an ignited arc expanding into a plasma by gas flow thereinto, and a plasma maintenance state indicative of the plasma being expanded.

An inline thermal treatment system for thermally treating a continuous product includes a gas supply system configured to supply a first gas flow and a power source configured to supply power. The system includes a plasma torch configured to receive the first gas flow from the gas supply system and power from the power source to form a plasma arc, wherein the plasma arc heats a portion of the continuous product disposed near the plasma arc.

In a DC pulse power supply device according to the present invention, at the time of starting pulsing operation, the duty of the pulsing operation of a chopper circuit is controlled, a switching element is set to an ON state, and the pulse width at which the DC reactor is in an energized state is made variable over the period until the capacitor voltage is charged to a sufficient voltage to reset the magnetic saturation of the DC reactor. Gradually increasing the pulse width suppresses the degree of increase in the DC reactor current, and suppresses the DC reactor current below the magnetic saturazion level. As a result, the magnetic saturation of the DC reactor is suppressed at the time of starting pulsing operation.

In some aspects, power supplies for liquid cooled plasma cutting systems configured to support plasma arc generation by a torch head connected to the power supply can include: a set of electrical components for plasma arc generation; and a power supply housing containing the set of electrical components, the power supply housing having a front panel and at least two side panels and defining: a set of inlets for allowing a cooling gas to enter the power supply housing to thermally regulate the set of electrical components, at least one inlet of the set of inlets being positioned at a corner of the housing and oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the front panel and to at least one of the two side panels; and a set of vents for allowing at least a portion of the cooling gas to exit the power supply housing.

A plasma cutting system includes a plasma torch having a head, and a housing. A power supply is disposed within the housing and is in communication with the plasma torch. The power supply is configured to provide an output current for generating and maintaining a plasma cutting arc by the plasma torch, and includes a control processor in communication with a plurality of autonomous switching circuits via a multi-node communications bus. Each of the autonomous switching circuits includes a microcontroller configured to control the generation of a portion of the output current based on messages received from the control processor, monitor operating parameters of the autonomous switching circuit, and modify a control parameter of the autonomous switching circuit independent of and asynchronous to the other autonomous switching circuits of the plurality of autonomous switching circuits when one or more of the operating parameters exceeds a predetermined threshold.

A circuit for the control and identification of a plasma torch comprising an electronic circuit plate (100) provided with a microcontroller located next to the plasma cut torch (200), controlling and identifying the plasma torch (200) next to the central plate (30) of the device (300) by means of two wires (10) known as “network” which perform the communication between the circuit (100) and the power supply of the device (300) promoting monitoring and control of all the actions of the device, eliminating the need of various wires, solving the problems of frequent stops of the device due to breaking wires and eliminating difficulties to read the power of the plasma torch (200).

A welding-type system with a programmed controller and alert devices for alerting a user as to the impending thermal shutdown of the welding-type system.

A fusion splicer includes: a first gear including a first eccentric cam unit; a first rotating member including a first main body having a first abutting surface abutting on the first eccentric cam unit, a first arm unit extending from the first main body and rotatably supported by a main base, and a second arm unit extending from the first main body; a second gear including a second eccentric cam unit; and a second rotating member including a second main body having a second abutting surface abutting on the second eccentric cam unit, a third arm unit extending from the second main body and rotatably supported by the second arm unit, a fourth arm unit extending from the second main body, and a placing unit at a tip end of the fourth arm unit with a groove for receiving one of optical fibers.