Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Hobart Brothers Company

Bernard J Vogel

Andrew David Nelson

Bruce Patrick Albrecht

Adam E Anders

Quinn William Schartner

Tim A Matus

Kenneth Austin Stanzel

Dennis Roland Sigl

Brian Schwartz

Michael David Madsen

Darrell Lee Sickels

Chris John Roehl

Kenneth C Altekruse

Caleb Robert Krisher

Kelley Morrow

James D Kimball

Jeffrey Lonigro

Ken Stanzel

Michael D Madsen

Joseph C Schneider

Richard W Beeson

Steven J Geissler

Jon O Reynolds

Todd Gerald Batzler

Peter Donald Mehn

Mark Andrew Ulrich

Andrew Joseph Henry

Christopher D McInnis

Brian Scott Bashore

James Donald Borowski

Travis Orvedahl

Brian S Bashore

Randy Decoster

David Prey

Richard G Shaw

Andrew J Henry

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

Apparatus, systems, and/or methods are disclosed relating to a welding-type power supply with a pre-regulator circuit configured to provide a pre-regulated direct current (DC) bus at two or more voltage levels, responsive to various operating conditions. In some examples, the pre-regulator circuit may be configured to provide a pre-regulated DC bus voltage at one voltage level for certain input line voltages, weld processes, and/or target weld output levels, and at another voltage level for other input line voltages, weld processes, and/or target weld output levels. In some examples, the pre-regulator circuit may be configured to provide a pre-regulated DC bus voltage for certain input line voltages, weld processes, and/or target weld output levels and an unregulated DC bus voltage at other input line voltages, weld processes, and/or target weld output levels. In some examples, the pre-regulator circuit may be configured to provide a pre-regulated DC bus at a service voltage in response to detecting a service mode of operation, and/or at an idle voltage in response to detecting an idle mode of operation.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for pre- regulator control in welding-type power supplies

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

A method and apparatus for providing welding type power includes a phase shifted double forward converter having a first and second converter with a controller and an output rectifier. The output rectifier has at least one cathode current path that creates a cathode magnetic field when current flows in the cathode current path. The output rectifier also has at least one anode current path that creates an anode magnetic field when current flows in the anode current path. The cathode current path is disposed and oriented and the anode current path is disposed and oriented such that the cathode magnetic field acts to at least partially cancel the anode magnetic field.

Methods for welding with a power supply with output rectifier and phase shift double forward converter

Systems and methods to provide welding-type arc starting and stabilization with reduced open circuit voltage are disclosed. An example welding-type power supply includes: power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power; and control circuitry configured to: control the power conversion circuitry to output a voltage pulse at a first voltage; determine whether the power conversion circuitry outputs current during the voltage pulse; in response to determining that there is less than a threshold output current during the voltage pulse, control the power conversion circuitry to turn off an output or output a second voltage that is less than the first voltage; and in response to determining that the power conversion circuitry outputs at least the threshold output current during the voltage pulse, control the power conversion circuitry to output the welding-type power.

Systems and methods to provide welding-type arc starting and stabilization with reduced open circuit voltage

Systems, methods, and apparatus for pre-regulator control in welding-type power supplies

An example welding-type power supply includes: power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power, and to output the welding-type power via a welding-type circuit; a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of at least one component of the welding-type power supply; and stray current detection circuitry configured to detect stray welding-type current based on the measured temperature of the at least one component.

Methods and apparatus to detect stray welding-type current

A method and apparatus for providing welding type power includes receiving input power and pulse width modulating a first forward converter and a second forward converter so that they operate as a pulse width modulated double forward converter to provide a welding type output. A phase relationship between the first forward converter and a second forward converter is selected from at least two available phase relationships using a controller. The controller includes a pwm module, and the pwm module includes a phase relationship module. The at least two available phase relationships are at least two of variable phase shifting, fixed phase staggering and locked in phase. The selected phase relationship is maintained over a predetermined range of outputs.

Method and apparatus for providing welding type power using double forward converter

A low voltage system and method for servicing welding equipment including a service tool that may provide a low voltage power source to the welding equipment, enabling the welding equipment to be tested in a low voltage mode of operation. The service tool may also run various test sequences on the welding equipment operating in a low voltage mode of operation to troubleshoot and diagnose any issues with the circuitry of the welding equipment.

Methods and apparatus for servicing welding equipment

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 system includes a welding power supply unit and control circuitry. The welding power supply unit includes an auxiliary power supply configured to supply power to an auxiliary power load connected to the auxiliary power supply. The control circuitry is configured to detect a voltage received by the auxiliary power load from the auxiliary power supply, compare an output voltage generated by the auxiliary power supply with the voltage received by the auxiliary power load, and apply a correction factor to the output voltage from the auxiliary power supply based at least in part on the comparison of the output voltage generated by the auxiliary power supply and the voltage received by the auxiliary power load.

Welding power supply with controlled auxiliary power

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 preregulator receives a range of inputs voltages as a power input, and receives the preregulator control output as a control input, and provides a preregulator power output signal. The preregulator includes a plurality of stacked boost circuits. The preregulator bus receives the preregulator output signal. The output converter receives the preregulator bus as a power signal and receives the output converter control output as a control input. The output converter provides a welding type power output, and includes at least one stacked inverter circuit.

Method and apparatus for providing welding type power

A technique for dynamically adjusting an output voltage for a welding or cutting operation is provided. The technique allows for varying output voltage at the welding or cutting torch by manipulating the duty cycles of two forward converter circuits. The present disclosure provides methods and systems for increasing synchronized duty cycles in a pair of forward converter circuits in response to increasing output voltage demand then changing a phase shift between the duty cycles in response to further increases in output voltage demand. The present disclosure provides a controller designed to receive input signals and generate output pulse width modulation signals that control the duty cycle width and phase shift of the outputs of the forward converter circuits in response to these signals. Methods of accommodating for the time needed for the transformer core to reset via leading edge or lagging edge compensation are provided.

Welding or cutting power supply using phase shift double forward converter circuit (PSDF)

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

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Troy, OH, United States of America

Bernard J Vogel