Societe Anonyme Dite: Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle

Jean-Marie F Lambert

Alain Blondy

Maintenance aid device (1) for a plasma torch (2) affected by a breakdown, comprising an expert system (3) successively determining subassemblies (4) of said torch (2), of decreasing size, likely to contain the brokendown element, by means of questions (QU) relating to the state of certain subassemblies (4), the response to these questions (QU) by an operator (14) being facilitated by the fact that said maintenance aid device (1) includes addressing means (10) able to read from a documentary base (8), and to display, information relating to a determined subassembly (4). Maintenance of complex plasma torches and use of a unique knowledge structure of the latter for other expertise besides breakdown repair.

Expert system for plasma torch

System for controlling a plasma torch generating high power, including a rectifier feeding said torch; a circuit feeding said torch with plasma-generating gas, controlled by a regulating valve; and a controller for controlling the rectifier and the valve in order to control the arc current and the plasma-generating gas flow rate. The valve is actuated by an electropneumatic positioner associated with a pneumatic flow amplifier, the controller receives measurements of the arc voltage and arc current and delivers to the rectifier and to the electropneumatic positioner respectively, arc current and plasma-generating gas flow rate reference values adapted to produce a desired electrical reference power.

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Saint Medard En Jalles, France

Jean-Marie F Lambert