Alternative power for engine driven welder

• US 10,207,350 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2017
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Farah, Samir F., Hruska, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Jennison, Brian W
• Application Number:
  US15/639,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20170297133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 219137 PS, 219134
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1006 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1081 Arc welding by means of accumulated energy

Abstract

The invention described herein generally pertains to a system and method for a welding device and, in particular, a hybrid welding device, that leverages a renewable energy source for a source of electrical current. The welding device can include one or more renewable energy kits that harvest renewable energy sources for performing a welding operation or a powering at least one of a device or component external to the welding device. The welding device includes renewable energy component that collects an input to convert to an electrical current that can be used as a replacement current, a supplemental current, or a complimentary current.

Claims

1. A welding device, comprising:

an engine-driven generator having a stator and a rotor coupled to a shaft rotatable through operation of an engine to generate a first electric current;

an energy storage device configured to store electrical energy and output a second electric current;

a renewable energy device that generates a third electric current based on a renewable energy source; and

a controller configured to;

select at least one of the engine-driven generator, the energy storage device, or the renewable energy device as a power source for a welding operation; and

select at least one of the engine-driven generator or the renewable energy device as a source to charge the energy storage device based on a fuel amount available for the engine-driven generator and a fuel efficiency of the engine.

2. The welding device of claim 1, further comprising a user-operable switch for instructing the controller to select the renewable energy device as the power source for the welding operation.

3. The welding device of claim 1, wherein the renewable energy device is portable and detachably coupleable to the welding device.

4. The welding device of claim 1, wherein the renewable energy device is a solar panel for converting sunlight into electrical energy.

5. The welding device of claim 4, wherein the solar panel is coupled to a housing of the welding device.

6. The welding device of claim 1, wherein the controller selects the power source based on one or more welding parameters of the welding operation.

7. The welding device of claim 6, wherein the one or more welding parameters include at least one of a welding voltage, a welding current, a welding process, a welding waveform, a wire feed speed, a type of weld, or a workpiece composition.

8. The welding device of claim 1, wherein the renewable energy device is a wind turbine.

9. The welding device of claim 1, wherein the renewable energy device is a hydropower component.

10. A welding system, comprising:

a renewable energy device that generates a first electric current based on a renewable energy source; and

a welding device operable to perform a welding operation, the welding device includes;

an engine-driven generator that generates a second electric current;

an energy storage device configured to store electrical energy and output a third electric current; and

a controller configured to;

select a power source for the welding operation, wherein the power source selected includes at least one of the renewable energy device, the engine-driven generator, or the energy storage device; and

select a charging source for the energy storage device, wherein the charging source selected includes at least one of the renewable energy device or the engine-driven generator.

11. The welding system of claim 10, wherein the controller selects the power source for the welding operation based on at least one of a generator condition, an environmental condition, or parameters of the welding operation.

12. The welding system of claim 11, wherein the generator condition includes information related to at least one of a fuel amount available for the engine, a fuel efficiency of the engine, or a fuel cost.

13. The welding system of claim 11, wherein the environmental condition includes information related to at least one temperature, air pressure, altitude, wind speed, humidity, or brightness.

14. The welding system of claim 11, wherein the parameters of the welding operation include at least one of a welding voltage, a welding current, a welding process, a welding waveform, a wire feed speed, a type of weld, or a workpiece composition.

15. The welding system of claim 10, wherein the controller selects the renewable energy device as the charging source when the engine-driven generator is unavailable.

16. The welding system of claim 10, wherein the renewable energy device is portable and removeably coupleable to the welding device.

17. The welding system of claim 10, wherein the renewable energy device includes at least one of a solar panel, a wind turbine, or a hydropower component.

18. A welding device, comprising:

a welding torch;

a power supply configured to provide a welding output to the welding torch for a welding operation;

an engine-driven generator configured to generate a first electric current;

an energy storage device configured to store electrical energy and to discharge stored energy to generate a second electric current;

a connector for detachably coupling to a renewable energy device to receive a third electric current generated from a renewable energy source; and

a controller configured to;

select at least one of the engine-driven generator, the energy storage device, or the renewable energy device as input to the power supply for the welding operation; and

select at least one of the engine-driven generator or the renewable energy device as a charging source to charge the energy storage device.

19. The welding device of claim 18, wherein the controller selects the input to the power supply for the welding operation based on at least one of a generator condition, an environmental condition, or parameters of the welding operation;

and

selects the charging source based on at least one of the generator condition or the environmental condition.