FUEL SAVING ENGINE DRIVEN WELDING-TYPE DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20060027548A1
• Filed: 10/13/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Albrecht, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 7,838,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/133
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1006 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1043 characterised by the electric circuit B23K9/1012 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1062 with computing means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1075 Parallel power supply, i.e. multiple power supplies or multiple inverters supplying a single arc or welding current
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1081 Arc welding by means of accumulated energy

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a welding-type power source that includes a power source housing and an engine arranged in the power source housing to supply electrical power. An energy storage device is included that is in rechargeable association with the internal combustion engine and arranged to provide welding-type power for at least a given period.

Claims

1. A multi-powered welding-type power source comprising:

a converter configured to generate a welding-type power from an input power;

an energy storage device connected to the converter to provide input power thereto;

an engine constructed to generate an electrical output and connected to the converter to provide input power thereto; and

a controller configured to start the engine when the energy storage device approaches a threshold level of depletion.

2. The power source of claim 1 wherein the threshold level of depletion of the energy storage device is further defined as the energy storage device being unable to provide the input necessary for the converter to generate the welding-type power.

3. The power source of claim 1 further comprising a power conditioner electrically connected to the energy storage device and configured to recharge the electrical storage device with an output of the engine.

4. The power source of claim 1 further comprising a torch having a trigger and being connected to the converter such that the converter generates the welding-type power upon actuation of the trigger and independent of an operating condition of the engine.

5. The power source of claim 1 further comprising a generator connected to the engine and configured to the electrical output thereof, the generator connected to the energy storage device and configured to provide power thereto upon suspension of generation of the welding-type power.

6. The power source of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to at least one of automatically shut-down the engine upon completion of a desired welding process and maintain engine operation for a selected duration after completion of the desired welding process.

7. The power source of claim 6 wherein the controller is configured to start the engine such that the engine achieves an operating speed necessary to generate the welding-type power near the same time the energy storage device achieves the threshold.

8. A welding device having more than one source of power comprising:

an engine driven generator;

a battery;

a converter connected to the engine driven generator and the battery and constructed to generate a weld power from an input power; and

a controller connected to the converter and configured to connect a source of the input power from the battery to the engine driven generator after the battery exhibits a decrease of a voltage or current characteristic to support the input power required to generate the weld power.

9. The welding device of claim 8 further comprising a detection circuit constructed to monitor a condition of the battery.

10. The welding device of claim 9 wherein the controller is connected to the detection circuit and configured to automatically initiate starting of an engine connected to the engine driven generator when the battery approaches a threshold.

11. The welding device of claim 10 wherein the controller switches the source of the input power from the battery to the engine driven generator when the engine achieves a desired operating speed.

12. The welding device of claim 10 wherein the controller maintains operation of the engine for a duration after a welding arc collapses and communicates an output of the engine driven generator to the battery for the duration.

13. The welding device of claim 8 wherein the battery is rechargeably connected to the engine driven generator.

14. The welding device of claim 8 wherein the controller switches the source of the input power during a continuous welding arc.

15. The welding device of claim 8 further comprising a sensor configured to detect a signal delivered by the engine driven generator and provide feedback to the controller configured to control an electrical configuration of the welding device.

16. A method of controlling a welding apparatus comprising the steps of:

providing a battery constructed to provide a power signal for generation of a desired weld-power;

providing an engine driven generator constructed to provide another power signal for generation of the desired weld-power; and

delaying operation of an engine connected to the engine driven generator until the battery approaches a threshold that is unable to provide the power signal required to generate the desired weld-power.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of automatically switching from the power signal of the battery to the another power signal of the engine driven generator when the engine achieves operational speed.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of maintaining operation of the engine for a selected duration after termination of a welding process.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of recharging the battery with the another power signal of the engine driven generator for the selected duration.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of automatically shutting-off the engine upon termination of a welding process when the battery is unable to provide the power signal required to generate the desired weld-power.