Integrated engine welder and hydraulic pump

• US 20060027547A1
• Filed: 08/04/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Silvestro, Nino V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,642,487 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/133
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/323 Combined coupling means, e.g. gas, electricity, water or the like electrical only H01R

Abstract

An integrated welder, generator and hydraulic unit that includes a housing that at least partially contains components of a welder, generator and a hydraulic pump. An engine, an electric current generator, and a hydraulic pump are at least partially mounted in the housing. The electric current generator is at least partially connected to the engine to be at least partially driven thereby. The hydraulic pump can be at least partially powered by the electric current generator or the fuel powered engine during the operation of the engine. The integrated welder, generator and hydraulic unit can also include an air compressor.

Claims

22. A method of providing pressurized hydraulic fluid from an engine welding comprising:

a. providing a housing that is at least partially contains an engine at least partially mounted in said housing;

b. providing an electric current generator that is at least partially mounted in said housing and at least partially connected to said engine to be at least partially driven thereby; and

,

c. providing a hydraulic unit at least partially mounted in said housing, said hydraulic unit including a hydraulic pump that is at least partially powered by said engine, said current generator, or combinations thereof.

1. An integrated welder, generator and hydraulic unit comprising:

a. a housing that at least partially contains components of said welder, generator and hydraulic unit;

b. an engine at least partially mounted in said housing;

c. an electric current generator at least partially mounted in said housing and at least partially connected to said engine to be at least partially driven thereby; and

,

d. a hydraulic unit at least partially mounted in said housing, said hydraulic unit including a hydraulic pump that is at least partially powered by said engine, said current generator, or combinations thereof.

2. The unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said hydraulic pump is at least partially powered by a primary drive, auxiliary drive or combinations thereof of said engine by a belt arrangement, a gear arrangement or combinations thereof.

3. The unit as defined in claim 2, including a clutch to engage and disengage said hydraulic pump from said belt arrangement, said gear arrangement or combinations thereof.

4. The unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said hydraulic pump is at least partially powered by an electric motor that is electrically connected to said electric current generator.

5. The unit as defined in claim 1, including an accumulator at least partially mounted in said housing, said accumulator fluidly connected to said hydraulic pump.

6. The unit as defined in claim 1, including a monitor to at least partially monitor a pressure, a flow rate, or combinations thereof of a hydraulic fluid in said hydraulic unit.

7. The unit as defined in claim 6, wherein said monitor generates a control signal to activate or deactivate said hydraulic pump based at least partially on a detected pressure, detected flow rate, or combinations thereof of said hydraulic fluid.

8. The unit as defined in claim 1, including a hydraulic fluid access on an exterior surface of said housing.

9. The unit as defined in claim 1, including an air compressor at least partially mounted in said housing.

10. The unit as defined in claim 9, wherein said air compressor at least partially powered by said engine, said current generator, or combinations thereof.

11. The unit as defined in claim 9, including a receiver tank at least partially mounted in said housing, said receiver tank fluidly connected to said air compressor.

12. The unit as defined in claim 11, including a pressure monitor to monitor a pressure in said receiver tank.

13. The unit as defined in claim 12, wherein said pressure monitor generates a control signal to activate or deactivate said air compressor based at least partially on a detected air pressure level in said receiver tank.

14. The unit as defined in claim 9, including an air pressure gauge on an exterior surface of said housing.

15. The unit as defined in claim 9, including a pressurized air access on an exterior surface of said housing.

16. The unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing includes at least one electrical outlet for use by welding equipment and at least one hydraulic fluid outlet.

17. The unit as defined in claim 16, wherein said housing includes at least one at least one pressurized air outlet.

18. The unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing includes wheels to enable said housing to be moved over a ground surface.

19. The unit as defined in claim 18, wherein said movement of housing on said wheels at least partially powered by said hydraulic unit.

20. The unit as defined in claim 18, wherein said movement of housing on said wheels at least partially powered by said electric generator.

21. The unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing is at least partially positioned on a lift unit, said lift unit at least partially powered by said hydraulic unit.

23. The method as defined in claim 22, including the step of at least partially powering said hydraulic pump by a primary drive, an auxiliary drive or combinations thereof of said engine by a belt arrangement, a gear arrangement or combinations thereof.

24. The method as defined in claim 23, including the step of providing a clutch to engage and disengage said hydraulic pump from said belt arrangement, said gear arrangement or combinations thereof.

25. The method as defined in claim 22, including the step of at least partially powering said hydraulic pump by an electric motor that is electrically connected to said electric current generator.

26. The method as defined in claim 22, including the step of at least partially monitoring a pressure, a flow rate, or combinations thereof of a hydraulic fluid in said hydraulic unit.

27. The method as defined in claim 22, including the step of generating a control signal to activate or deactivate said hydraulic pump based at least partially on said monitored pressure, monitored flow rate, or combinations thereof of said hydraulic fluid.

28. The method as defined in claim 22, including the step of providing a hydraulic fluid access on an exterior surface of said housing.

29. The method as defined in claim 22, including the step of providing an air compressor at least partially mounted in said housing.

30. The method as defined in claim 29, including the step of at least partially powering said air compressor by said engine, said current generator, or combinations thereof.

31. The method as defined in claim 29, including the step of providing a receiver tank at least partially mounted in said housing to be fluidly connected to said air compressor.

32. The method as defined in claim 31, including the step of monitoring a pressure in said receiver tank.

33. The method as defined in claim 32, including the step of generating a control signal to activate or deactivate said air compressor based at least partially on said monitored air pressure level in said receiver tank.

44. The method as defined in claim 29, including the step of providing an air pressure gauge on an exterior surface of said housing.

45. The method as defined in claim 29, including the step of providing a pressurized air access on an exterior surface of said housing.

46. The method as defined in claim 22, including the step of providing at least one electrical outlet on said housing for use by welding equipment and providing at least one at least one hydraulic fluid outlet on said housing.

47. The method as defined in claim 46, including the step of providing at least one at least one pressurized air outlet on said housing.

48. The method as defined in claim 22, including the step of providing a movement mechanism to enable said housing to be moved over a ground surface.

49. The method as defined in claim 48, wherein said movement mechanism at least partially powered by said hydraulic unit.

50. The method as defined in claim 48, wherein said movement mechanism at least partially powered by said electric generator.

51. The method as defined in claim 22, including the step of at least partially positioning said housing on a lift unit.

52. The method as defined in claim 51, including the step of at least partially powering said lift unit by said hydraulic unit.

25-1. The method as defined in claim 22, including the step of providing an accumulator at least partially mounted in said housing to be fluidly connected to said hydraulic pump.