Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Alan Adam Manthe

Craig Steven Knoener

Nicholas James Dessart

Jason Alan Dunahoo

Anthony VanBergen Salsich

Mary Divya Poulose

Bruce Patrick Albrecht

Thomas Allen Bunker

David Paul Marcusen

Michael David Madsen

Maxwell Bode Brock

Ashok Darisipudi

Steven D Hidden

Jon M Huhn

Brian Mitchell Brown

Scott Ryan Rozmarynowski

Chris John Roehl

Stephen Paul Ferkel

Ronald Dewayne Woodward

Jeremy John Erdmann

Gregg Donald Prochnow

Milad Pashapour Nikou

Daniel James Helein

Glenn A Koosmann

Jason Dunahoo

Systems and apparatus are disclosed relating to smart regulators and smart manifolds for welding-type systems. A smart regulator may be coupled to a fluid tank and provide information regarding the current pressure(s) and/or flow rate to a remote device and/or operator. The remote device may also determine and/or output additional information, such as, for example, remaining fluid and/or remaining time before the fluid runs out or becomes dangerously low. A smart manifold may be configured to work with several different fluid supplies. In this way, an operator may easily mix fluid types, switch between different fluid types, and/or switch between different fluid tanks.

Smart manifolds for welding-type systems

Systems and methods are provided for support of low-power operation in training modes in welding machines.

Methods and systems for support of low-power operation in training modes in welding machines

In some examples, smart spool detection systems use one or more first sensors and/or second sensors to detect and/or determine a first parameter (e.g., size) of a spool that retains filler material (e.g., wire) used by welding-type systems. One or more second sensors are used to detect and/or determine a second parameter of the spool. In some examples, the second parameter may be a weight of the spool, a distance to the filler material (e.g., wire) retained on the spool, and/or an angle of a guide arm lever supported by filler material retained on the spool. The smart spool detection system determines a remaining amount of consumable filler material remaining on the spool using the first and second parameters.

Smart spool detection for welding-type systems

Systems and methods are disclosed relating to welding-type power supplies. In some examples, the power supplies may have no vents, which may help prevent environmental contaminants from entering the power supplies. Instead, the power supplies include one or more thermal interfaces configured to conduct heat generated by internal circuitry of the power supply from the interior of the power supply to an exterior of the power supply. Additionally, the thermal interface(s) may be configured for attachment to one or more exterior heat dissipating devices.

Welding-type power supplies with expandable thermal interfaces

In certain embodiments, a system includes a welding-type system including circuitry configured to receive direct current (DC) power directly from a distributed DC bus, to generate a current using the received DC power, and to isolate the welding-type system from the distributed DC bus.

Welding system utilizing a distributed power bus

Power electronics, including welding-type power supplies may have a switched mode power supply configurable in two or more topologies. Detection circuitry of the power electronics may determine the configured topology of the switched mode power supply and the input voltage supplied to the power electronics. The detection circuitry and/or control circuitry of the power electronics may verify that the configured topology of the switched mode power supply corresponds to the supplied input voltage, and may indicate an error if the configured topology does not correspond to the supplied input voltage.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for verifying a switched mode power supply topology

Systems and methods for providing a constant current controller for use in constant current welding applications are described. In one embodiment, a current controller controls the output current of the welding torch without directly measuring the output current of the welding torch. The current controller controls or sets a current in a primary winding of a transformer in an inverter of a welding power supply to control the output current of the welding torch.

Constant current control systems and methods

Systems and methods for providing welding power supplies with interleaved inverter circuitry are described. In one embodiment, a welding power supply includes, for example, a first inverter circuit and a second inverter circuit that are arranged in parallel. A voltage source or a current source is coupled to a first same node of the first inverter circuit and the second inverter circuit. A filter inductor is coupled to a second same node of the first inverter circuit and the second inverter circuit. The output current of the filter inductor is halved in frequency by disabling one of the first inverter circuit and the second inverter circuit.

Welding power supply with interleaved inverter circuitry

A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power is disclosed. The system includes a power supply, a wire feeder, and a controller. The wire feed speed is reduced when the input current exceeds a value to prevent tripping circuit breakers on the power line the welder is connected to. The speed reduction is based on an average current draw exceeding a threshold. The output voltage is reduced if the input current exceeds a second threshold.

System and method for welding with input current limiting

Systems and methods to reduce magnetic flux in a switched mode power supply are disclosed. An example welding-type power supply includes a switched mode power supply, comprising: a transformer configured to transform an input voltage to a welding-type voltage; a capacitor in series with a primary winding of the transformer; switches configured to control a voltage applied to a series combination of the primary winding of the transformer and the capacitor; a comparator coupled to the transformer and configured to compare the welding-type output voltage to a threshold voltage; and a flux accumulator to determine a net flux in the transformer based on the voltage applied to the series combination of the primary winding of the transformer and the capacitor.

Systems and methods to balance magnetic flux in a switched mode power supply

A power supply for welding, cutting and similar operations includes a dual two-switch forward converter. The converter has two inverter circuits coupled in parallel but controlled to provide output power in an interleaved fashion. To avoid 'walking' of the circuits (which could result in different duty cycles and imbalance of the load sharing), control signals are determined and applied to a first of the inverter circuits, and 'on' times of the first circuit is monitored, such as by augmenting a counter to determine the number of clock cycles the first circuit is &#x201c;on&#x201d;. The same duration is then used for commanding output from the second inverter circuit. The duty cycles of both circuits is thus ensured to be the same regardless of changes in the total output power.

Growing community of inventors

Hortonville, WI, United States of America

Alan Adam Manthe