WIRELESS SYSTEM FOR PREVANTATIVE MAINTENANCE OF WELDING-TYPE DEVICES

• US 20070080151A1
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Ulrich, James, Albrecht, Bruce
• Application Number:
  US11/276,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20070080151A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/130.10
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/10 Other electric circuits therefor; Protective circuits; Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1087 Arc welding using remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/32 Accessories earthing connections H01R
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4063 Monitoring general control system G05B19/4062 takes precedence

Abstract

A welding-type device has wireless communications to transmit wireless signals comprising at least maintenance information. The information may be transmitted either automatically or in response to request signals. Such a welding-type device may be configured to communicate with other welding-type devices, a monitoring device, or both. A wireless communication system has at least one welding-type device, at least one wireless communication assembly, and at least one monitoring device and is capable of assisting a user in scheduling preventive maintenance.

Claims

1. A system for coordinating maintenance of a welding-type device comprising:

a data storage unit of a welding-type device configured to store a schedule of maintenance;

a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit a preventive maintenance notification signal to a remote receiver; and

a controller configured to identify a scheduled maintenance task and cause the transmitter to transmit the preventive maintenance notification signal at a given time before the maintenance task is scheduled to be performed on the welding-type device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to cause the transmitter to wirelessly transmit at least a portion of the schedule of maintenance upon receiving a schedule request signal.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to cause the transmitter to wirelessly transmit a location identifying signal with the preventive maintenance notification signal.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to cause the transmitter to wirelessly transmit real-time operation information of the welding-type device with the preventive maintenance notification signal.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the preventive maintenance notification signal is RF, infrared, optical, sub-sonic, or ultra-sonic.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a welding-type device;

a data storage unit connected to the welding-type device and having operation information of the welding-type device stored thereon; and

a wireless communication unit operationally attached to the data storage unit, the wireless communication unit configured to emit a signal carrying the operation information from the data storage unit and configured to receive welding-type device system software upgrades.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to periodically emit a beacon signal containing identification information of the welding-type device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the identification information comprises a unique ID number, a location identifier, an ownership identifier, or a system identifier.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to emit a signal containing maintenance information of overall welding system operation.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a plurality of sensors and interfaces connected to the data storage unit and configured to input welding-type device operation information including at least one of a history of usage, a history of maintenance performed, a schedule of preventive maintenance, existing and imminent operational problems, current device resources, real-time operation status, or operator notes to the data storage unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the data storage unit and the wireless communication unit comprise an active or a passive RFID device.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the wireless communication unit communicates by at least one of RF signals, infrared signals, optical signals, sub-sonic signals, or ultra-sonic signals.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 incorporated into a mesh network comprising at least one other welding-type device and at least one monitoring device so as to relay signals across the network, thereby extending a range of the network.

14. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein at least one of the data storage unit or the wireless communication unit is disposed in the welding-type device.

15. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein at least one of the data storage unit or the wireless communication unit is affixed to an outer surface of the welding-type device.

16. A wireless communication system for welding-type devices comprising:

at least one welding-type device;

at least one RF transceiver connected to the at least one welding-type device and configured to emit signals therefrom and wirelessly receive software upgrades and options and upload them to the at least one welding-type device; and

at least one remote monitoring device configured to receive the signals from the at least one RF transceiver.

17. The wireless communication system of claim 16 wherein the signals further contain operation information of the at least one welding-type device encoded thereon.

18. The wireless communication system of claim 16 wherein the at least one welding-type device further comprises a number of data input and output devices connected to the at least one RF transceiver.

19. The wireless communication system of claim 16 wherein the at least one remote monitoring device comprises a hand-held device, a portable station, or a desktop device.

20. The wireless communication system of claim 16 further comprising a plurality of welding-type devices, and a plurality of RF transceivers, and wherein the at least one remote monitoring device and the plurality of RF transceivers are arranged in a network capable of relaying signals therebetween.

21. The wireless communication system of claim 16 wherein the at least one RF transceiver further comprises a passive or an active RFID device;

an infrared communication device;

an optical communication device;

a sub-sonic communication device;

or an ultra-sonic communication device.

22. The wireless communication system of claim 16 wherein the at least one RF transceiver is mounted to an outer housing of the at least one welding-type device.

23. The wireless communication system of claim 16 wherein the at least one RF transceiver is mounted inside the at least one welding-type device.