Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Maxwell Bode Brock

Peter Donald Mehn

Christopher Hsu

Quinn William Schartner

Richard Martin Hutchison

Todd Gerald Batzler

Alan Adam Manthe

Gregg Donald Prochnow

Nicholas James Dessart

Scott Ryan Rozmarynowski

Chris John Roehl

Adam E Anders

Jeremy John Erdmann

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

Methods and apparatus to communicate via a weld cable are disclosed. An example weld circuit communications device includes a receiver circuit, a processor, and a local communications adapter. The receiver circuit to receive a communication via a weld circuit while current is flowing through the weld circuit or after the current has stopped flowing through the weld circuit, the communication including weld voltage feedback information measured at a device remote from a power supply and remote from the weld circuit communications device while the current is flowing through the weld circuit. The processor generates power supply control information based on the weld voltage feedback information. The local communications adapter transmits the power supply control information to control welding-type power output by a power converter to regulate a weld voltage to a weld voltage setpoint.

Welding power supplies, wire feeders, and systems to compensate a weld voltage via communications over a weld circuit

Methods and apparatus to provide a consistent electrode state for welding, an example welding-type system includes: a first wire drive to feed an electrode wire through a welding torch; a bidirectional assisting wire drive to advance the electrode wire from a wire supply to the first wire drive; a tension-compression detector to detect a first tension-compression state of the electrode wire; and one or more motor controllers to control the first wire drive and the assisting wire drive to put the electrode wire in a predetermined position relative to the welding torch by: controlling the first wire drive to hold the electrode wire; and controlling the assisting wire drive to advance or retract the electrode wire based on the first tension-compression state to put the electrode wire in a second tension-compression state.

Methods and apparatus to provide a consistent electrode state for welding

An example welding-type system includes: processing circuitry; and a machine readable storage medium comprising a machine readable instruction, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to: control a first switch to disconnect a motor circuit from a motor power source, the motor circuit comprising a wire feed motor and a second switch; control the second switch to permit current to flow while the first switch disconnects the motor circuit from the motor power source during a test period; and in response to feedback indicative of a current through the motor circuit while the first switch is open and the second switch is closed, detecting a fault condition associated with the motor circuit.

Systems and methods to detect faults in wire feed motor drive circuits

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

Methods and apparatus to communicate via a weld cable are disclosed. An example welding-type power supply includes a power converter, a receiver circuit, and a controller. The power converter converts input power to welding-type power based on a weld voltage setpoint and to output the welding-type power via a weld circuit. The receiver circuit receives a communication via the weld circuit while current is flowing through the weld circuit or after the current has stopped flowing through the weld circuit. The communication includes weld voltage feedback information measured at a device remote from the power supply while the current is flowing through the weld circuit. The controller controls the welding-type power output by the power converter according to a voltage feedback loop using the weld voltage feedback information to regulate a weld voltage at the remote device to the weld voltage setpoint.

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Maxwell Bode Brock