PORTABLE BATTERY POWERED WELDER

• US 20090057285A1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hobart Brothers Company (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hobart Brothers Company (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Vogel, Bernard J., Krisher, Caleb R., Sickels, Darrell L., Bashore, Brian S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,399,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/130.100
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1006 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/32 Accessories earthing connections H01R

Abstract

A portable battery powered welder is disclosed that is configured to operate without an external power source. The portable battery powered welder may include a battery coupled to a welding circuit and a wire feeder. Further, the portable battery powered welder may include a suitcase to integrally support and completely enclose the welding circuit, the battery, and the wire feeder. The suitcase may include a lateral access door having a hinge and a latch. Additionally, the wire feeder and a wire spool may be disposed in a region accessible by the lateral access door. The suitcase may also include an access panel disposed over a region containing the battery. The access panel may be mounted to the case via a snap mount and/or secured via fasteners. Finally, the suitcase may include a top handle and may be made of a lightweight, impact resistant, and flame retardant material.

Claims

1. A battery powered welder, comprising:

a welding circuit;

a battery coupled to the welding circuit;

a wire feeder coupled to the battery and the welding circuit; and

a suitcase integrally supporting and completely enclosing the welding circuit, the battery, and the wire feeder.

2. The battery powered welder of claim 1, wherein the suitcase comprises a lateral access door having a hinge.

3. The battery powered welder of claim 2, wherein the wire feeder and a wire spool are disposed in a region accessible by the lateral access door.

4. The battery powered welder of claim 2, wherein the lateral access door comprises a latch.

5. The battery powered welder of claim 1, wherein the suitcase is made of a lightweight, impact resistant, and flame retardant material.

6. The battery powered welder of claim 1, wherein the suitcase is made of a flame retardant polymer.

7. The battery powered welder of claim 1, wherein the suitcase comprises an access panel disposed over a region containing the battery.

8. The battery powered welder of claim 7, wherein the access panel comprises a snap mount.

9. The battery powered welder of claim 1, comprising a power conversion and/or conditioning circuit disposed in the suitcase and coupled to the battery.

10. The battery powered welder of claim 1, comprising a cooling system disposed in the suitcase.

11. The battery powered welder of claim 10, wherein the cooling system comprises a wind tunnel.

12. The battery powered welder of claim 1, comprising a work clamp and a welding gun coupled to the wire feeder and the welding circuit.

13. The battery powered welder of claim 1, wherein the suitcase comprises a top handle.

14. The battery powered welder of claim 1, comprising a gas supply system disposed in the suitcase.

15. The battery powered welder of claim 1, comprising a voltage polarity unit disposed in the suitcase.

16. A battery powered welder, comprising:

circuitry comprising a welding circuit and a power conversion circuit;

a battery coupled to the circuitry; and

a portable enclosure supporting the circuitry and the battery.

17. The battery powered welder of claim 16, comprising a wire feeder and a wire spool mount disposed inside the portable enclosure.

18. The battery powered welder of claim 17, wherein the portable enclosure completely surrounds the wire feeder and the wire spool mount.

19. The battery powered welder of claim 16, wherein the portable enclosure comprises a front louver and a rear louver, and a fan and a wind tunnel are disposed inside the portable enclosure between the front and rear louvers.

20. The battery powered welder of claim 16, comprising a temperature sensor and a temperature monitoring circuit disposed inside the portable enclosure.

21. The battery powered welder of claim 16, comprising a gas supply system disposed in the portable enclosure.

22. The battery powered welder of claim 16, wherein the circuitry comprises a battery charger circuit configured to recharge the battery.

23. The battery powered welder of claim 16, wherein the portable enclosure comprises a suitcase having a hinged door.

24. The battery powered welder of claim 16, comprising a gas supply system disposed in the suitcase.

25. The battery powered welder of claim 16, comprising a voltage polarity unit disposed in the suitcase.

26. A battery powered welder, comprising:

a suitcase at least substantially made of a flame retardant non-metallic material, wherein the suitcase comprises a hinged access door configured to rotate between open and closed positions over a first compartment, a snap-mounted access panel configured to open and close over a second compartment, and a top handle;

a welding circuit disposed in the suitcase;

a power conversion circuit disposed in the suitcase and coupled to the welding circuit;

a wire feeder disposed in the first compartment and coupled to the welding circuit;

a wire spool mount disposed in the first compartment;

a battery disposed in the second compartment and coupled to the welding circuit and power conversion circuit; and

a welding wire outlet extending through the suitcase, wherein the welding wire outlet is generally flush with an exterior of the suitcase.

27. A battery powered welder, comprising:

a portable enclosure consisting essentially of a shell that is continuously closed and sealed except for an air vent and a welding wire outlet, wherein the shell is generally free from protruding structures except for structural ribs and a handle.

28. The battery powered welder of claim 27, comprising an external control panel protected by structural ribs.

29. The battery powered welder of claim 27, comprising a pair of batteries in series, a wire feeder, a wire spool mount, a welding circuit, a power conversion circuit, an overheating prevention circuit, a cooling fan, and a wind tunnel disposed in the portable enclosure.