WELD SETTING BASED ENGINE-DRIVEN GENERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100194356A1
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Trinkner, Michael J., Beeson, Richard, Fosbinder, Daniel C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,115,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 322/25
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1006 Power supply

Abstract

A system and method are provided for controlling an internal combustion engine driving a generator/welder or a stand-alone generator. The engine and/or the generator is controlled based upon settings for welding. Controlling the engine may include altering the engine speed based upon a detected demand on the generator and/or operating parameters of a welder.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an engine-driven generator/welder, comprising:

detecting a weld setting on the generator/welder;

monitoring for a current and/or a voltage draw on a welding output of a generator driven by an internal combustion engine; and

controlling engine speed of the internal combustion engine based upon the detected weld setting and on the detected current and/or voltage draw.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the preset operating parameters of the welding gun are user-input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the engine speed comprises increasing the engine speed from an idle speed to a target operating speed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein an idle speed and an operating speed are determined at least in part based upon the preset operating parameters of a welding gun.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the engine speed comprises transitioning from an engine acceleration control regime to an engine speed control regime based on the engine speed when the engine speed approaches a target operating speed.

6. A method for controlling an engine-driven generator/welder, comprising:

selecting an idle speed, a target operating speed, and an engine acceleration control regime for an internal combustion engine drivingly coupled to a generator/welder, wherein selecting is based on operating settings of the generator/welder;

monitoring current and/or voltage draw for a demand on a weld output of the generator/welder;

increasing an engine speed of the internal combustion engine using the engine acceleration control regime when the demand is detected; and

transitioning from the engine acceleration control regime to an engine speed control regime based on the engine speed.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising selecting the engine acceleration control regime based at least in part on preset operating parameters of a welding gun.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the preset operating parameters of the welding gun are user-input.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the preset operating parameters of the welding gun comprise a welding current, a welding voltage, or a combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein transitioning to the engine speed control regime is also based upon a rate of increase of the engine speed.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein transitioning to the engine speed control regime occurs at a preset engine speed.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein transitioning to the engine speed control regime occurs at a user-input engine speed

13. An engine-driven generator/welder system, comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a power generator driven by the internal combustion engine; and

an engine controller, wherein the engine controller is configured to receive weld settings and to control the internal combustion engine at least in part based on the weld settings.

14. The system of claim 13, comprising a welding gun, wherein the engine controller is configured to control the internal combustion engine at least in part based on preset operating parameters of the welding gun.

15. The system of claim 13, comprising an engine governor configured to receive control signals from the engine controller and to adjust an engine speed of the internal combustion engine.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the engine controller is configured to detect a demand on the power generator and to control the internal combustion engine at least in part based on the detected demand.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the demand comprises a current, a voltage, or a combination thereof.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein controlling the internal combustion engine comprises increasing or decreasing an engine speed of the internal combustion engine at least in part based upon the weld settings.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the engine controller is configured to detect operating conditions of the internal combustion engine and to control the internal combustion engine at least in part based upon the detected operating conditions.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the weld settings comprise a welding current, a welding voltage, or a combination thereof.