Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Cody J Bowman

Richard Charles Joyce

Jeffery Ray Ihde

Alan Frederic Smith

Richard Joyce

An example welding power supply includes: power conversion circuitry configured to convert supply power to welding current and to output the welding current to at least one of a shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) electrode, a gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) electrode, or a gouging torch; a voltage sense circuit configured to measure an output voltage of the power conversion circuitry; and control circuitry configured to: determine a droop slope based on an arc control parameter; determine a reference voltage corresponding to an amperage parameter; set a target current by adjusting the amperage parameter based on the droop slope and based on a difference between the output voltage and the reference voltage; and control the power conversion circuitry using a current-controlled control loop based on the target current.

Welding power supplies having dynamic current responses

An example welding power supply includes: power conversion circuitry configured to convert supply power to welding current and to output the welding current to at least one of a shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) electrode or a gouging torch; a voltage sense circuit configured to measure an output voltage of the power conversion circuitry; and control circuitry configured to: control the power conversion circuitry using a current-controlled control loop based on a target current; while the output voltage is above a lower voltage limit, control the target current based on a difference between a reference voltage and the output voltage; and in response to detecting that the output voltage has decreased below the lower voltage limit, control a welding current output by the power conversion circuitry based on a first exponential relationship.

Welding power supplies having dynamic current responses are disclosed. Example welding power supplies include: power conversion circuitry configured to convert supply power to welding current; a voltage sense circuit configured to measure an output voltage of the power conversion circuitry; and control circuitry configured to: in response to detecting that the output voltage has decreased below a lower voltage limit: control an increasing ramp rate of the welding current output by the power conversion circuitry; and in response to detecting that the output voltage has increased above the lower voltage limit, control a decreasing ramp rate of the welding current output by the power conversion circuitry.

Systems and methods for remote control of a weld schedule of a welding power supply are disclosed. In some examples, a remote device is provided for monitoring or controlling the welding power supply, which controls and delivers power to one or more welding tools (e.g., a welding torch) and/or accessories (e.g., a wire feeder). The remote device includes a user interface to receive one or more inputs, which are provided to a control circuitry configured to transmit signals to or receive signals from the welding power supply via a remote transceiver. In some examples, the signals include data corresponding to one or more weld schedules.

Systems and methods for remote weld schedule control

Welding power supplies having adjustable current ramping rates are disclosed. An example welding power supply, comprising: a switched mode power supply to convert primary power to welding-type power having an output current based on a current control loop; a voltage sensing circuit to measure a weld voltage; a voltage comparator to determine whether the weld voltage corresponds to a welding arc condition or a short circuit condition; and a control circuit to: select a current ramping rate; and execute the current control loop to control the output current, the control circuit configured to, while the weld voltage corresponds to the short circuit condition, increase the output current at the current ramping rate.

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Cody J Bowman