The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 10, 1994
Filed:
Nov. 03, 1992
Thomas L Ratledge, Carlsbad, CA (US);
Joseph E Donner, Vista, CA (US);
Hughes Aircraft Company, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
An AC line voltage compensation method and controller for use with an AC welding system that is adapted to weld an article. Welding parameters are provided by an operator that are suitable for welding the article. A desired heating percentage is also input by the operator that is determinative of an RMS output voltage supplied by the AC welding system. The AC line voltage supplied to the AC welding system is measured by means of a voltmeter. The difference between the measured AC line voltage and a desired nominal AC line voltage is determined. The time at which heat is applied to the article is adjusted as a function of the measured difference to maintain the RMS output voltage supplied at the output of the AC welding system at a relatively constant level for all AC line voltages supplied to the AC welding system. More specifically, gain adjustment which provides for improved line voltage compensation, and which is controlled by means of a user programmed digital control panel, has been added to a line voltage compensation computational algorithm employed in an AC resistance welding controller. The use of the user programmed gain factor allows an operator to adjust the amount of compensation for a specific welding setup. The user adjusts the gain factor to modify a mathematically calculated term for line voltage compensation. The computed gain factor is used to set a variable time delay, after which an SCR is turned on. The variable time delay determines the phase angle of the AC pulse applied during each weld.