Method and apparatus for advance warning and controlled shutdown in an arc processing system
First Claim
1. A warning system for providing advance warnings to an operator of an arc processing system, said warning system comprising:
- an input operatively coupled with a sensor associated with said arc processing system to receive a sensor signal indicative of an operational condition of said arc processing system;
a logic system operatively coupled with said input, said logic system being operable to detect a pending fault condition according to said sensor signal;
a pending fault signaling system operatively coupled with said logic system to selectively provide a warning signal to an operator of said arc processing system, said warning signal being indicative of said pending fault condition; and
a shutdown system operatively coupled to said pending fault signaling system and to said arc processing system, said shutdown system being operable to selectively shut down said arc processing system according to a controlled shutdown sequence,said shutdown system is operable to selectively shut down said arc processing system a predetermined time period after said pending fault signaling system provides said warning signal to said operator, andsaid shutdown system is operable to selectively allow a new welding cycle to start after detection of said pending fault condition if said new welding cycle will complete before said predetermined time period will expire, and to selectively prevent said new welding cycle from starting if said predetermined time period will expire before said new welding cycle will complete.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Warning and shutdown systems and methods are presented for providing advance warnings of pending fault conditions to an operator of an arc processing system. The warning system comprises an input, a logic system, and a signaling system, where the input receives a sensor signal indicative of an operational condition of the arc processing system, the logic system detects a pending fault condition based on the sensor signal, and the signaling system provides a warning signal to the operator, wherein the warning signal is indicative of the pending fault condition. Shutdown apparatus is provided which has a sensor input, a logic system to detect a fault condition, and a shutdown system that selectively shuts the arc processing system down a predetermined time period after fault detection.
61 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A warning system for providing advance warnings to an operator of an arc processing system, said warning system comprising:
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an input operatively coupled with a sensor associated with said arc processing system to receive a sensor signal indicative of an operational condition of said arc processing system; a logic system operatively coupled with said input, said logic system being operable to detect a pending fault condition according to said sensor signal; a pending fault signaling system operatively coupled with said logic system to selectively provide a warning signal to an operator of said arc processing system, said warning signal being indicative of said pending fault condition; and a shutdown system operatively coupled to said pending fault signaling system and to said arc processing system, said shutdown system being operable to selectively shut down said arc processing system according to a controlled shutdown sequence, said shutdown system is operable to selectively shut down said arc processing system a predetermined time period after said pending fault signaling system provides said warning signal to said operator, and said shutdown system is operable to selectively allow a new welding cycle to start after detection of said pending fault condition if said new welding cycle will complete before said predetermined time period will expire, and to selectively prevent said new welding cycle from starting if said predetermined time period will expire before said new welding cycle will complete. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of indicating a pending fault condition to an operator of an arc processing system, said method comprising:
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monitoring a sensor signal indicative of an operational condition of said arc processing system; detecting a pending fault condition according to said sensor signal; providing a warning signal to said operator, said warning signal being indicative of said pending fault condition; and selectively shutting down said arc processing system according to a controlled shutdown sequence, said selectively shutting down said arc processing system begins at a predetermined time period after said warning signal is provided to said operator, and said selectively shutting down said arc processing system comprises selectively allowing a new welding cycle to start after detection of said pending fault condition if said new welding cycle will complete before said predetermined time period will expire, and selectively preventing said new welding cycle from starting if said predetermined time period will expire before said new welding cycle will complete. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification