Weld cell system with communication

• US 10,058,948 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2011
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Temby, Timothy N., Rappl, James F., Feldhausen, Joseph E., Holverson, Todd E., Novak, Michael H., Ihde, Jeffery R., Schneider, Joseph C., Albrecht, Bruce P., Bunker, Thomas A., Byron, Clay A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAFLAME JR, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US13/339,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20130264319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,435 Days
• Field of Search: 21913001, 2191301, 21913771, 219137 R, 34053913, 34053917, 367124
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/095 Monitoring or automatic control of welding parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0953 using computing means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1043 characterised by the electric circuit B23K9/1012 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/323 Combined coupling means, e.g. gas, electricity, water or the like electrical only H01R

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power is disclosed and includes a means for communicating and a means for locating a cable. A welding power supply has a controller, a power circuit and a weld cable locator module with a cable locator output connected to the controller, the power circuit, and/or a weld cable connection. The distal end of the cable is located, and the proximal end is connected to the power supply. An identifying signal is provided to the proximal end and transmitted to the distal end where it is detected. A pendant with a cable sensor and a transmitter responsive to the cable sensor can be provided. The cable sensor can include an RFID reader and/or a bar code reader.

Claims

1. A welding-type system that can identify a weld cable, comprising a welding power supply having a controller, a power circuit connected to receive at least one signal from the controller, at least one weld connection connected to a proximal end of a weld cable and connected to receive power from the power circuit, and a weld cable locator module having a cable locator output connected to at least one of the controller, the power circuit, and the weld cable connection, wherein the weld cable has a distal end and the cable locator output is transmitted to the distal end.

2. The welding-type system of claim 1, wherein the cable locator output is connected to, and able to provide an identifier signal to, the weld cable connection.

3. The welding-type system of claim 1, wherein the weld cable locator module comprises:

a memory, capable of storing cable identifier information;

a receiver, capable of receiving a cable identifier signal; and

a comparator, connected to compare the stored cable identifier information and the received cable identifier signal;

wherein the cable locator output is responsive to the comparator.

4. The welding-type system of claim 3 further comprising, a pendant with a cable sensor and a transmitter responsive to the cable sensor.

5. The welding-type system of claim 4 wherein the cable sensor includes an RFID reader.

6. The welding-type system of claim 4 wherein the cable sensor includes a bar code reader.

7. The welding-type system of claim 4 wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter and the receiver is a wireless receiver.

8. The welding-type system of claim 4 further comprising a wire feeder connected to the distal end of the weld cable, a power supply binding module in the welding power supply and a wire feeder binding module in the wire feeder, wherein the power supply binding module and the wire feeder binding module are responsive to the weld cable locator module.

9. A welding-type system located in a weld cell that can provide welding power to a weld location and can communicate information to a location outside of the weld cell, comprising:

a controller, disposed to provide at least one control signal;

a power circuit, disposed to receive the at least one control signal;

an output connection, connected to the power circuit, and further connected to a proximal end of a weld cable;

a power supply weld cable communication module, connected to the output connection, and further connected to a data transmitter;

a weld location weld cable communication module, connected to a distal end of the weld cable and located at the weld location; and

a data receiver, capable of receiving data transmitted by the data transmitter, and located at a location outside of the weld cell.

10. The welding-type system of claim 9, wherein the data transmitter includes a first smart grid communication module and wherein the data receiver include a second smart grid communication module.

11. The welding-type system of claim 9, wherein the data transmitter is a wireless transmitter and the data receiver is a wireless receiver.

12. The welding-type system of claim 9, wherein the weld location weld cable communication module is disposed in a wire feeder connected to the distal end of the weld cable.

13. The welding-type system of claim 9, wherein the weld location weld cable communication module is disposed in a pendant in communication with the distal end of the weld cable.

14. The welding-type system of claim 9, wherein the weld location weld cable communication module is disposed in a torch connected to the distal end of the weld cable.

15. The welding-type system of claim 9, wherein the transmitter is capable of transmitting data indicative of at least one of operating parameters, quality information, and safety information.

16. The welding-type system of claim 9, wherein the power supply weld cable communication module and the weld location weld cable communication module are two-way weld cable communication modules.