Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Pepsico, Inc.

Andrew David Nelson

Quinn William Schartner

Bernard J Vogel

Peter Donald Mehn

Timothy W Bethuy

Adam E Anders

Randy Alan DeCoster

Brian Schwartz

William J Black

Edward Gerard Beistle

Anthony Van Bergen Salsich

James Francis Rappl

Brian Lee Ott

Kenneth Austin Stanzel

Brian T Cahill

Jeremy Daniel Overesch

Richard V Baxter

Anthony VanBergen Salsich

Mark Richard Christopher

John C Leisner

Richard V Baxter, Jr

Brian J Hammers

James Donald Borowski

Jason Alan Dunahoo

Tiffany Anne Carter

Quinn W Schartner

Joseph Todd Piatnik

Caleb M Rosera

Michael P Vandenberg

Gary Blank

Jeffrey C Thon

Randy Decoster

Tony Salsich

Randy Alan Decoster

Jason Dunahoo

A method and apparatus for TIG welding and starting a TIG welding process includes limiting the pulse width of a power circuit when a TIG start is being performed, and monitoring for the creation of a welding arc. After the welding arc has been detected the limiting of the pulse width is ended.

Welding type power supply for TIG starts

Disclosed are welding systems and methods for conducting a completed circuit testing process. The welding system includes a power source to deliver power via one or more power outlets. Control circuitry receives an input to initiate a welding process and to command the power source to deliver a power signal with a current below a threshold level. The control circuitry monitors characteristics of the power signal at the one or more power outlets and determines whether a completed circuit condition exists. The control circuitry performs this determination based on information obtained through monitoring the characteristics of the power signal. The control circuitry controls the power source to prevent delivery of power if a completed circuit condition exists.

Welding power supplies and method for completed circuit testing process

A welding-type power supply includes a controller, a preregulator, a preregulator bus, and an output converter. The controller has a preregulator control output and an output converter control output. The controller has a converter control output connected to the control input, and a flux balancing module. The converter control output is responsive to the flux balancing module such that the flux in the transformer remains balanced.

Method and apparatus for providing welding type power with flux balancing

Welding power supplies, wire feeders, and systems to measure a weld cable voltage drop are disclosed. Example welding-type power supplies include a power converter configured to convert input power to output welding-type power to a remote device via a weld cable; a reference conductor connected between the power supply and the remote device; a voltage monitor configured to determine a first voltage between the weld cable and the reference conductor while substantially zero current is being conducted through the reference conductor; and a receiver circuit configured to receive a second voltage between the weld cable and the reference conductor from the remote device.

Welding power supplies, wire feeders, and systems to measure a weld cable voltage drop

A welding-type power supply that receives alternating current (AC) input power and converts the AC input power to direct current (DC) power to provide power for welding tools. The welding-type power supply is configured to detect whether single phase AC power or three-phase AC power is connected to the input of welding-type power supply. Single phase input power may be detected by sampling ripple voltage of the DC power, either synchronously with the AC input power or synchronously with a signal generated by an output of the welding-type power supply.

Single phase input detection and power source protection

A method for handling a data packet includes a network device receiving the data packet. The method also includes the network device separating first network layer data of the data packet from message data of the data packet. The message data of the data packet includes a source address represented by less than four bytes, a destination address represented by less than four bytes, and a format identifier. The method includes determining whether the destination address of the message data matches an address of the network device or whether the message data indicates a broadcast message. The method also includes the network device processing the format identifier if the destination address of the message data matches the address of the network device or if the message data indicates the broadcast message. The method includes the network device providing the message data to the network device and/or other network devices.

Digital networking in a welding system

A welding system user interface module includes a front panel comprising a first input device and a first display screen. The welding system user interface module also includes circuitry comprising a memory storing machine-readable instructions, a processor for executing the machine-readable instructions, and communication circuitry configured to receive UI data from the first input device or a second input device of a remote welding system user interface module, and to broadcast synchronized data to the first display screen and a second display screen of the remote welding system user interface module.

Welding system with multiple user interface modules

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, including a transformer configured to transform an input voltage to a welding-type voltage; switches configured to control a voltage applied to the primary winding of the transformer; a current detector configured to measure a current through the primary winding; a flux accumulator configured to determine a net flux in the transformer based on a number of volt-seconds applied to the primary winding of the transformer; and a controller configured to: control duty cycles of the switches based on the net flux; and set a value of the net flux in response to the current through the primary winding satisfying a current threshold.

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

Systems and methods to estimate 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; and switches configured to control a voltage applied to a series combination of the primary winding of the transformer and the capacitor; a voltage estimator coupled to the transformer and configured to output a signal representative of an alternating-current (AC)-coupled voltage at the capacitor; 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 estimate magnetic flux in a switched mode power supply

Apparatuses, systems, and/or methods for synchronization of control circuits of welding power supplies are disclosed. In some examples, welding-type power supplies use a modified pulse width modulated (PWM) control signal, in conjunction with certain fail safes, for synchronization of control circuitry. The welding-type power supplies may include conversion circuitry that converts and/or regulates input power to welding-type power. Control circuitry may provide control signals to control the conversion and/or regulation of the input power via the conversion circuitry. The control circuitry may be comprised of a first control circuit and a second control circuit. The first and second control circuit may synchronize their operations using a synchronization signal (e.g., comprised of a modified PWM control signal).

Control circuit synchronization of welding-type power supplies

Systems and methods for pairing welding devices in a welding system. In one method, the method includes sending a pairing request from a first welding device to a second welding device. The method also includes receiving, at the first welding device, a response to the pairing request from the second welding device. The second welding device is physically connected to the first welding device. The pairing request or the response includes a change in welding power, welding consumables, or any combination thereof. The method includes pairing the first welding device and the second welding device after the first welding device receives the response to the pairing request from the second welding device.

System and method for pairing welding devices

A welding-type power supply includes a controller, bus (that can, but need not be preregulated), and an output converter. The controller has a preregulator control output and an output converter control output. The controller may receive bus feedback indicative of a plurality of bus voltages. A bus voltage balancing module in the converter includes a scaled correction module responsive to the bus feedback signal, and the converter control output is responsive to the bus voltage balancing module. The controller may receive load feedback indicative of a load output, have a bus voltage balancing module that includes a load proportional gain module responsive to the load.

Method and apparatus for providing welding type power with balanced bus

A method for handling a data packet includes a network device receiving the data packet. The method also includes the network device separating first network layer data of the data packet from message data of the data packet. The message data of the data packet includes a source address represented by less than four bytes, a destination address represented by less than four bytes, and a format identifier. The method includes determining whether the destination address of the message data matches an address of the network device or whether the message data indicates a broadcast message. The method also includes the network device processing the format identifier if the destination address of the message data matches the address of the network device or if the message data indicates the broadcast message. The method includes the network device providing the message data to a second network device and/or other network devices.

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Andrew David Nelson