AIR FLOW METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A WELDER-GENERATOR

• US 20100012636A1
• Filed: 07/09/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Jochman, Nathan Joe
• Granted Patent: US 9,474,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/133
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/10 Other electric circuits therefor; Protective circuits; Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/06 with fans or impellers driven by the machine shaft
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20145 Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20909 Forced ventilation, e.g. on heat dissipaters coupled to components

Abstract

Configurations of internal components of a welder-generator are provided to improve efficiency of the cooling of the internal components. The disclosed embodiments include configurations in which a single fan, such as an engine fan, drives a single airflow path through the welder-generator. Additionally, embodiments are provided with configurations in which a primary engine fan drives a first airflow path and a secondary generator fan drives a second airflow path through the welder-generator. In disclosed embodiments, internal components are thermally aligned such that air circulates first through components with low critical operating temperatures and last through components with higher critical operating temperatures.

Claims

1. A welder-generator system comprising:

a welding device comprising;

an engine with a first side and a second side, wherein a fan is integral with the first side;

a generator;

a muffler;

weld components; and

an airflow path established through the welder-generator system such that when the fan generates airflow it flows from a front of the welding device to the weld components, to the generator, to the engine, to the muffler and out a back of the welding device in the recited order.

2. The welder-generator system of claim 1, comprising a baffle configured to separate suction and pressure sides of the fan in the welding device.

3. The welder-generator system of claim 1, wherein the engine, the generator, the muffler, and the weld components are thermally aligned.

4. The welder-generator system of claim 1, wherein the fan and the airflow path are configured to generate airflow that cools internal components of the welding device in an order such that components with the lowest critical operating temperatures are in the coldest air and components with the highest critical operating temperatures are in the hottest air.

5. The welder-generator system of claim 1, wherein the first side of the engine is connected to a generator assembly.

6. The welder-generator of claim 5, wherein a single rotating shaft connects the first side of the engine to the generator assembly.

7. The welder-generator of claim 5, wherein a stationary connector connects the first side of the engine to a stationary part of the generator assembly.

8. A welder-generator system comprising:

a welding device comprising;

an engine with a first side and a second side, wherein a first fan is integral with the first side;

a generator, wherein a second fan is integral with the generator;

a muffler;

weld components;

a first airflow path established through the welder-generator system such that when the first fan generates airflow it flows from a front of the welding device, to the weld components, to the engine, to the muffler, and out a back of the welding device in the recited order; and

a second airflow path established through the welder-generator system such that when the second fan generates airflow it flows from the back of the welding device, through the generator, to the muffler, and out the back of the welding device in the recited order.

9. The welder-generator system of claim 8, comprising a baffle configured to separate suction and pressure sides of the fan in the welding device.

10. The welder-generator system of claim 8, wherein the engine, the muffler, and the weld components are thermally aligned.

11. The welder-generator system of claim 8, wherein the first airflow path and the second airflow path are configured to generate airflow that cools internal components of the welding device in an order such that components with the lowest critical operating temperatures are in the coolest air and components with the highest critical operating temperatures are in the hottest air.

12. The welder-generator system of claim 8, wherein the first airflow path and the second airflow path converge before exiting the welding device.

13. The welder-generator system of claim 8, wherein the engine comprises a radiator.

14. The welder-generator of claim 8, wherein the weld components comprise rectifiers, reactors, stabilizers, electronic modules, PC boards, or a combination thereof.

15. A method of cooling a welder-generator comprising:

establishing a first airflow path through the welder-generator such that when a first fan generates airflow it flows from a front of the welder-generator, to weld components, to an engine, to a muffler, and out a back of the welder-generator in the recited order; and

establishing a second airflow path through the welder-generator such that when a second fan generates airflow it flows from the back of the welder-generator, through a generator, to the muffler, and out the back of the welding device in the recited order.

16. The method of cooling a welder-generator of claim 15, comprising using a baffle to separate suction and pressure sides of the fan in the welder-generator.

17. The method of cooling a welder-generator of claim 15, comprising thermally aligning the engine, the weld components, and the muffler.

18. The method of cooling a welder-generator of claim 15, wherein the first airflow path and the second airflow path are configured to generate airflow that cools the internal components in an order such that components with the lowest critical operating temperatures are in the coolest air and components with the highest critical operating temperatures are in the hottest air.

19. The method of cooling a welder-generator of claim 15, comprising converging the first airflow path and the second airflow path prior to exiting the welder-generator.

20. The method of cooling a welder-generator of claim 15, wherein the weld components comprise electrical circuitry.