Incremental hybrid welding systems and methods
First Claim
1. A welding system, comprising:
- an engine configured to drive a generator to produce a first power output, wherein the engine is rated below approximately 25 horsepower;
an energy storage device configured to discharge energy to produce a second power output;
a charger coupled to the energy storage device and to the engine and configured to receive power from the engine and to charge the energy storage device with the received power; and
a controller configured to control access to power from the energy storage device to produce the second power output when a commanded output is less than or equal to a first threshold, to control access to power from the engine to produce the first power output when the commanded output is between the first threshold and a second threshold, and to control access to power from both the energy storage device to produce the second power output and the engine to produce the first power output when the commanded output is greater than or equal to the second threshold.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of a welding power supply include an engine adapted to drive a generator to produce a first power and a energy storage device adapted to discharge energy to produce a second power. The welding power supply also includes control circuitry adapted to detect a commanded output. The control circuitry is adapted to meet the commanded output by controlling access to power from the energy storage device to produce the second power when the commanded output is below a first predetermined load level. The control circuitry is further adapted to meet the commanded output by controlling access to power from the engine and the energy storage device to produce the first power and the second power when the commanded output is above a second predetermined load level.
58 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A welding system, comprising:
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an engine configured to drive a generator to produce a first power output, wherein the engine is rated below approximately 25 horsepower; an energy storage device configured to discharge energy to produce a second power output; a charger coupled to the energy storage device and to the engine and configured to receive power from the engine and to charge the energy storage device with the received power; and a controller configured to control access to power from the energy storage device to produce the second power output when a commanded output is less than or equal to a first threshold, to control access to power from the engine to produce the first power output when the commanded output is between the first threshold and a second threshold, and to control access to power from both the energy storage device to produce the second power output and the engine to produce the first power output when the commanded output is greater than or equal to the second threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A welding power supply, comprising:
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an engine configured to drive a generator to produce a first power output; an energy storage device configured to discharge energy to produce a second power output; and control circuitry configured to detect a commanded output and to meet the commanded output by controlling access to power from the energy storage device to produce the second power output when the commanded output is below a first predetermined level and, when the commanded output is equal to or above the first predetermined level, to meet the commanded output by controlling access to power from the engine to produce the first power output at a substantially constant level and from the energy storage device to produce the second power output at a level equal to the difference between the commanded output and the substantially constant level produced by the engine. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification