Method and Apparatus For Providing Welding Type Power With Flux Balancing

• US 20150053660A1
• Filed: 11/07/2014
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Schartner, Quinn W., Vogel, Bernard J., Nelson, Andrew D.
• Granted Patent: US 11,161,193 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/130.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1043 characterised by the electric circuit B23K9/1012 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1056 by using digital means B23K9/1068 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1062 with computing means
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/007 Plural converter units in cascade push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/40 Means for preventing magnetic saturation
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/285 Single converters with a plurality of output stages connected in parallel parallel operation of a plurality of converters in dc distribution networks H02J1/10

Abstract

A welding-type power supply includes a controller, a preregulator, a preregulator bus, and an output converter. The controller has a preregulator control output and an output converter control output. The controller has a converter control output connected to the control input, and a flux balancing module. The converter control output is responsive to the flux balancing module such that the flux in the transformer remains balanced.

Claims

1. A welding-type power supply comprising:

a switched output converter, disposed to provide a welding type power output, and having a transformer and a control input;

a controller, having a converter control output connected to the control input, a flux balancing module, wherein the converter control output is responsive to the flux balancing module.

2. The welding-type power supply of claim 1, wherein the flux balancing module is a flux centering module.

3. The welding-type power supply of claim 2, wherein the flux centering module includes a minimum off time module.

4. The welding-type power supply of claim 2, wherein the flux centering module includes a pulse skipping module.

5. The welding-type power supply of claim 3, further comprising a preregulator that provides power to the switched output converter.

6. A method of providing welding-type power comprising:

switching an output converter to provide welding type power, including providing the power through a transformer;

controlling the switching such that the flux in the transformer remains balanced.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein controlling includes controlling the switching such that the flux in the transformer remains centered.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein controlling the switching includes controlling the pulse width of the switching.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein controlling the switching includes providing a minimum off time for the converter.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein controlling the switching includes insuring that each pulse is the opposite polarity of the preceding non-zero pulse.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising preregulating an input power prior to switching.

12. A welding-type power supply, comprising:

means for switching an output converter to provide welding type power, including providing the power through a transformer;

means for controlling the switching such that the flux in the transformer remains balanced.

13. The welding-type power supply of claim 12, wherein the means for controlling is a means for controlling the switching such that the flux in the transformer remains centered.

14. The welding-type power supply of claim 12, wherein the means for controlling is a means for controlling the pulse width of the switching.

15. The welding-type power supply of claim 12, wherein the means for controlling is a means for providing a minimum off time for the converter.

16. The welding-type power supply of claim 15, wherein the means for controlling the switching includes a means for insuring that each pulse is the opposite polarity of the preceding non-zero pulse.

17. The welding-type power supply of claim 13, further comprising a preregulator connected to receive an input power and provide power to the means for switching.