Portable welding wearable wire feed and control system and method

• US 9,156,104 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Diedrick, Michael G., Baeten, Gregory C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ross, Dana
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYE, AYUB A
• Application Number:
  US12/201,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20100051595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,601 Days
• Field of Search: 219/136, 219/137.2, 219/137.31
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/124 Circuits or methods for feeding welding wire
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/125 Feeding of electrodes for stabilising arc B23K9/073
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/133 Means for feeding electrodes, e.g. drums, rolls, motors
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/173 and of a consumable electrode

Abstract

A welding system is provided that includes a wearable wire feeder. The wearable wire feeder includes a control unit configured to generate a control signal and a wire drive responsive to the control signal. Another welding system is provided that includes a wearable wire feeder that includes a wire drive, a circuit configured to control a welding parameter, and a battery coupled to the circuit, the wire drive, or a combination thereof. In another embodiment, a welding system is provided that includes a wire drive, a control unit configured to control the wire drive and a gas control configured to control flow of a gas. A method is also provided that includes generating a control signal within a wearable wire feeder and driving a welding wire within the wearable wire feeder in response to the control signal.

Claims

1. A welding system comprising:

a wearable wire feeder, comprising;

a wire drive;

a control unit configured to control the wire drive; and

a gas control configured to control flow of a gas; and

a gas source.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wearable wire feeder comprises the gas source.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the gas source comprises a carbon dioxide recipient.

4. A method comprising:

generating a control signal within a wearable wire feeder;

driving a welding wire within the wearable wire feeder in response to the control signal; and

delivering a shielding gas to a welding torch from a gas supply mounted on the wearable wire feeder or an operator.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein generating comprises controlling a wire drive within the wearable wire feeder without external control.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein driving the welding wire comprises receiving the welding wire from a spool within the wearable wire feeder and delivering the welding wire to a welding gun outside of the wearable wire feeder.

7. The method of claim 4, comprising channeling the welding wire from the wearable wire feeder at a waist of an operator to a welding gun in hand of the operator.