Power supply for resistance welding units

• US 8,178,816 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2005
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bosch Rexroth AG (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Bosch Rexroth AG (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Stellwag, Dieter, Klinger, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, SANG YEOP
• Application Number:
  US11/289,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20060138095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,360 Days
• Field of Search: 219/108, 219/111, 219/115, 219/116, 307/82, 901/42
• US Class Current: 219/108
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/241 Electric supplies B23K11/248 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 11/243 Multiple welding installations fed by one source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks

Abstract

A device for resistance welding includes a welding clamp housing, a welding transformer, a welding clamp, a welding clamp drive for operating the welding clamp and a power supply using alternating supply voltage. The device may be built as small as possible and may be simple to expand. The power supply is implemented by a main converter and by drive and welding converters. The output of the main converter is connected to the inputs of the drive and welding converters. The inputs of the drive and welding converters are connected to one another. These connections are implemented by an a.c. voltage intermediate circuit.

Claims

1. A resistance welding device, comprising:

a main converter;

at least one auxiliary converter; and

a power supply including the main converter and the at least one auxiliary converter, the main converter and the at least one auxiliary converter being connected with one another via an A.C. voltage intermediate circuit;

wherein the at least one auxiliary converter includes a first auxiliary converter arranged as a drive converter for a first electrical drive and a second auxiliary converter arranged as a welding converter for a welding clamp,

wherein the main converter and the first auxiliary converter arranged as a drive converter are adapted to convert an input voltage with respect to at least one of (a) phase or (b) frequency, the welding converter arranged as a load power control,

wherein the load power control is arranged as a phase-angle control,

wherein the at least one auxiliary converter includes third and fourth auxiliary converters arranged as drive converters for second and third electrical drives, and a welding clamp drive includes the third and fourth auxiliary converters and the second and third electrical drives, the third and fourth auxiliary converters arranged as drive converters using a common D.C. voltage intermediate circuit, and

wherein the welding clamp drive includes only one tap on the A.C. voltage intermediate circuit for the third and fourth auxiliary converters arranged as drive converters.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of (a) a welding clamp housing and (b) a welding transformer housing includes at least one of (a) the drive converters, (b) the welding converter and (c) a welding control.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of (a) the main converter and (b) a welding control is adapted to monitor a total power to be generated by the main converter for loads connected to at least one of (a) the drive converters and (b) the welding converter.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein a total power limit control is adapted to perform the monitoring, wherein loads are managed for operation in accordance with management instructions, such that a requested power of all loads connected to the main converter does not exceed a permitted peak load.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the main converter includes a device adapted to influence harmonic waves.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a device adapted to at least one of (a) pneumatically operate and (b) hydraulically operate the welding clamp.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of (a) a welding clamp housing and (b) a welding transformer housing includes at least one of (a) the drive converters, (b) the welding converter and (c) a welding control, and wherein at least one of (a) the main converter and (b) a welding control is adapted to monitor a total power to be generated by the main converter for loads connected to at least one of (a) the drive converter and (b) the welding converter.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein a total power limit control is adapted to perform the monitoring, wherein loads are managed for operation in accordance with management instructions, such that a requested power of all loads connected to the main converter does not exceed a permitted peak load.

9. The device according to claim 8, further comprising:

a device adapted to at least one of (a) pneumatically operate and (b) hydraulically operate the welding clamp;

wherein the main converter includes a device adapted to influence harmonic waves.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of (a) the main converter and (b) a welding control is adapted to monitor a total power to be generated by the main converter for loads connected to at least one of (a) the drive converters and (b) the welding converter.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein a total power limit control is adapted to perform the monitoring, wherein loads are managed for operation in accordance with management instructions, such that a requested power of all loads connected to the main converter does not exceed a permitted peak load.

12. The device according to claim 11, further comprising:

a device adapted to at least one of (a) pneumatically operate and (b) hydraulically operate the welding clamp;

wherein the main converter includes a device adapted to influence harmonic waves.

13. A robot, comprising:

a power supply, which includes a main converter and at least one auxiliary converter; and

a resistance welding device including the power supply;

wherein the main converter and the at least one auxiliary converter connected with one another via an A.C. voltage intermediate circuit,

wherein the at least one auxiliary converter includes a first auxiliary converter arranged as a drive converter for a first electrical drive and a second auxiliary converter arranged as a welding converter for a welding clamp,

wherein the main converter and the first auxiliary converter arranged as a drive converter are adapted to convert an input voltage with respect to at least one of (a) phase or (b) frequency, the welding converter arranged as a load power control,

wherein the load power control is arranged as a phase-angle control,

wherein the at least one auxiliary converter includes third and fourth auxiliary converters arranged as drive converters for second and third electrical drives, and a welding clamp drive includes the third and fourth auxiliary converters and the second and third electrical drives, the third and fourth auxiliary converters arranged as drive converters using a common D.C. voltage intermediate circuit, and

wherein the welding clamp drive includes only one tap on the A.C. voltage intermediate circuit for the third and fourth auxiliary converters arranged as drive converters.

14. The robot according to claim 13, wherein at least one of (a) a welding clamp housing and (b) a welding transformer housing includes at least one of (a) the drive converters, (b) the welding converter and (c) a welding control.

15. The robot according to claim 13, wherein at least one of (a) the main converter and (b) a welding control is adapted to monitor a total power to be generated by the main converter for loads connected to at least one of (a) the drive converters and (b) the welding converter.

16. The robot according to claim 15, wherein a total power limit control is adapted to perform the monitoring, wherein loads are managed for operation in accordance with management instructions, such that a requested power of all loads connected to the main converter does not exceed a permitted peak load.

17. The robot according to claim 13, wherein the main converter includes a device adapted to influence harmonic waves.

18. The robot according to claim 13, further comprising:

a device adapted to at least one of (a) pneumatically operate and (b) hydraulically operate the welding clamp.

19. The robot according to claim 13, wherein at least one of (a) a welding clamp housing and (b) a welding transformer housing includes at least one of (a) the drive converters, (b) the welding converter and (c) a welding control, and wherein at least one of (a) the main converter and (b) a welding control is adapted to monitor a total power to be generated by the main converter for loads connected to at least one of (a) the drive converter and (b) the welding converter.

20. The robot according to claim 19, wherein a total power limit control is adapted to perform the monitoring, wherein loads are managed for operation in accordance with management instructions, such that a requested power of all loads connected to the main converter does not exceed a permitted peak load.

21. The robot according to claim 20, further comprising:

a device adapted to at least one of (a) pneumatically operate and (b) hydraulically operate the welding clamp;

wherein the main converter includes a device adapted to influence harmonic waves.

22. The robot according to claim 13, wherein a total power limit control is adapted to perform the monitoring, wherein loads are managed for operation in accordance with management instructions, such that a requested power of all loads connected to the main converter does not exceed a permitted peak load.

23. The robot according to claim 22, further comprising:

a device adapted to at least one of (a) pneumatically operate and (b) hydraulically operate the welding clamp;

wherein the main converter includes a device adapted to influence harmonic waves.