Modular welding system

• US 10,046,411 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Dessart, Nicholas James, Peterson, Ryan Lawrence, Matiash, Nicholas Alexander, Sammons, Michael Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Ross, Dana
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIMS III, JAMES F
• Application Number:
  US13/841,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20140069906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,978 Days
• Field of Search: 21913762, 21913771, 219137 PS, 361728
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/02 Carriages for supporting the welding or cutting element
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1006 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/133 Means for feeding electrodes, e.g. drums, rolls, motors
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/323 Combined coupling means, e.g. gas, electricity, water or the like electrical only H01R
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/327 Means for transporting supplies carriages in general B23K37/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0021 Side-by-side or stacked arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1432 specially adapted for power drive units or power converters
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14324 comprising modular units, e.g. DIN rail mounted units
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A welding system includes power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to weld power and a first housing surface. The first housing surface includes a first mating geometry configured to mate with a first complementary geometry of a first modular surface of a first modular component of the welding system.

Claims

1. A welding system comprising:

a first modular component comprising a first modular surface, wherein the first modular surface includes one or more posts extending outward from the first modular surface, wherein the first modular surface further includes one or more snaps, and wherein the first modular component comprises a torch cooler or a transportation device;

a second modular component comprising a second modular surface, wherein the second modular surface includes a flange, and wherein the second modular component comprises a wire feeder or a swivel;

a welding power supply comprising;

power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to weld power;

a first housing surface, wherein the first housing surface comprises;

one or more recesses configured to receive the one or more posts extending outward from the first modular surface of the first modular component, wherein the one or more recesses of the first housing surface are configured to interface with the one or more posts of the first modular component to stabilize the welding power supply relative to the first modular component, and to limit translational movement between the first housing surface and the first modular surface; and

one or more engagement portions configured to interface with the one or more snaps of the first modular surface of the first modular component; and

a second housing surface opposite to the first housing surface, wherein the second housing surface comprises a rim forming a channel configured to receive the flange of the second modular surface of the second modular component, wherein the second housing surface is configured to limit movement of the second modular component relative to the welding power supply when the second housing surface mates with the second modular surface.

2. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the first housing surface comprises a lift eye, and the second modular surface comprises a recess configured to receive the lift eye.

3. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the first modular component comprises the torch cooler.

4. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the second modular component comprises a wire feeder.

5. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the first modular component comprises the transportation device.

6. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the second modular component comprises the swivel.

7. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the one or more snaps comprise spring-loaded ball detents.

8. The welding system of claim 4, wherein the wire feeder comprises a dual-wire wire feeder.

9. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the first modular component comprises the transportation device.

10. The welding system of claim 9, wherein the transportation device comprises supports configured to extend and retract to accommodate differently sized power supplies.

11. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the flange has a thickness that is less than or equal to a height of the channel.

12. The welding system of claim 2, wherein the second modular surface comprises a second recess configured to receive the lift eye.

13. The welding system of claim 4, wherein wire feeder comprises a recess configured to receive a lift eye extending from the second housing surface of the welding power supply.

14. The welding system of claim 13, wherein the wire feeder comprises a second recess configured to receive the lift eye.