REMOTELY CONTROLLED WELDING MACHINE
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a remotely controlled welding machine. A remote control uses the welding circuit to transfer information to a welding power source. The information to be communicated to the power source includes welding power source output command information (amperage/voltage control), welding circuit on/off information (power source output contactor control), and power source mode control (constant voltage/constant current). A transmitter transmits the desired welding operational parameters to a receiver disposed in the power source. The transmitter is constructed to use only a small amount of power which, preferably, is supplied by one or two low voltage replaceable and/or rechargeable batteries. Additionally, an open circuit voltage is not created between the power source and an electrode holder when an arc is not present.
63 Citations
37 Claims
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1-25. -25. (canceled)
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26. A wire feeder including a motor driving a set of feed rolls to force a welding wire from a spool through a welding torch to a welding operation, said wire feeder having:
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an input lead to be connected to the output terminal of a remotely located power source having an on condition and an off condition where a welding current is directed to said output terminal only when said source is in said on condition;
a weld starting trigger with a weld start position located adjacent said torch to close a switch when said trigger is shifted to the weld start position;
a circuit coupled to said switch to sense when said switch is closed; and
a transmitter on said wire feeder, said transmitter being coupled to said circuit and being operable to transmit a starting signal to said power source when said switch is closed whereby said power source is shifted to its on condition when said trigger is in said weld start position. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for turning on a power source of an electric arc welder including a remotely located wire feeder connected to said power source by a power cable, said method comprising:
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(a) starting the welding cycle of a welding process for said welder by shifting a weld starting trigger of the wire feeder to a weld start position to close a switch;
(b) sensing said starting by sensing when said switch is closed using a sensor circuit in the wire feeder;
(c) transmitting a signal from said wire feeder to said power source when said starting is sensed; and
(d) starting said power source upon receipt of said signal to direct power to said wire feeder by said cable. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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Specification