Systems and methods for detecting welding and cutting parameters

• US 9,669,484 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Holverson, Todd Earl, Leiteritz, Nathan Gerald, Schroeder, Jeffery P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Geoffrey S
• Application Number:
  US13/770,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20130277345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0953 using computing means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0956 using sensing means, e.g. optical
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/0503 Connection between two cable ends

Abstract

A system for detecting welding, and cutting parameters is provided. One embodiment of the system includes an input terminal configured to receive signals corresponding to welding or cutting parameters from a first welding or cutting device. None of the signals carry welding power. The system also includes an output terminal configured to provide the signals to a second welding or cutting device. The system includes conductors coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal and configured to carry the signals between the input terminal and the output terminal. The system also includes control circuitry configured to detect the welding or cutting parameters from the signals.

Claims

1. A system for detecting welding parameters, plasma cutting parameters, or carbon arc gouging parameters, comprising:

an input terminal configured to receive a plurality of signals corresponding to welding parameters, plasma cutting parameters, or carbon arc gouging parameters from a first welding device of a welding system, a first plasma cutting device of a plasma cutting system, or a first carbon arc gouging device of a carbon arc gouging system, wherein none of the plurality of signals carry welding power, plasma cutting power, or carbon arc gouging power;

an output terminal configured to provide the plurality of signals to a second welding system of the welding system, a second plasma cutting device of the plasma cutting system, or a second carbon arc gouging device of the carbon arc gouging system;

a first plurality of conductors coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal and configured to carry the plurality of signals between the input terminal and the output terminal;

a second plurality of conductors, each conductor of the second plurality of conductors coupled to a respective conductor of the first plurality of conductors; and

control circuitry coupled to the second plurality of conductors and configured to detect the welding parameters, plasma cutting parameters, or carbon arc gouging parameters from the plurality of signals via the second plurality of conductors.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to store the detected welding parameters, plasma cutting parameters, or carbon arc gouging parameters.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to provide the detected welding parameters, plasma cutting parameters, or carbon arc gouging parameters to a remote device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to analyze the detected welding parameters, plasma cutting parameters, or carbon arc gouging parameters to generate data relating to a welding application, a plasma cutting application, or a carbon arc gouging application.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to modify at least one of the plurality of signals by issuing a command, interrupting a signal, adjusting a signal, or some combination thereof, based on the detected welding parameters, plasma cutting parameters, or carbon arc gouging parameters, or based on data received by the control circuitry.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to detect the welding parameters, the plasma cutting parameters, or the carbon arc gouging parameters from the plurality of signals via the second plurality of conductors without altering the plurality of signals.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of signals are configured to power the control circuitry.

8. A method for detecting welding parameters, plasma cutting parameters, or carbon arc gouging parameters, comprising:

receiving, at an input terminal of a welding monitoring device, a plasma cutting monitoring device, or a carbon arc gouging monitoring device, a plurality of signals from a first welding device, a first plasma cutting device, or a first carbon arc gouging device, wherein the plurality of signals correspond to welding parameters, plasma cutting parameters, or carbon arc gouging parameters, and none of the plurality of signals carry welding power, plasma cutting power, or carbon arc gouging power;

detecting, via a plurality of detection conductors connected to control circuitry of the welding monitoring device, the plasma cutting monitoring device, or the carbon arc gouging monitoring device, the welding parameters, the plasma cutting parameters, or the carbon arc gouging parameters from the received plurality of signals; and

providing, at an output terminal of the welding monitoring device, the plasma cutting monitoring device, or the carbon arc gouging monitoring device, the received plurality of signals to a second welding device, a second plasma cutting device, or a second carbon arc gouging device;

wherein the plurality of detection conductors are connected to pass-through conductors coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal of the welding monitoring device, the plasma cutting monitoring device, or the carbon arc gouging monitoring device.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising providing the welding parameters from the welding monitoring device to a remote device, providing the plasma cutting parameters from the plasma cutting monitoring device to the remote device, or providing the carbon arc gouging parameters from the carbon arc gouging monitoring device to the remote device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the plurality of signals from the first welding device comprises receiving the plurality of signals from a welding power supply, receiving the plurality of signals from the first plasma cutting device comprises receiving the plurality of signals from a plasma cutting power supply, or receiving the plurality of signals from the first carbon arc gouging device comprises receiving the plurality of signals from a carbon arc gouging power supply.

11. The method of claim 8, comprising storing the welding parameters on the welding monitoring device, storing the plasma cutting parameters on the plasma cutting monitoring device, or storing the carbon arc gouging parameters on the carbon arc gouging monitoring device.

12. The method of claim 8, comprising storing the welding parameters on a remote device, storing the plasma cutting parameters on the remote device, or storing the carbon arc gouging parameters on the remote device.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein providing the received plurality of signals to the second welding device comprises providing the received plurality of signals to a wire feeder.

14. A device for detecting welding parameters, plasma cutting parameters, or carbon arc gouging parameters, comprising:

a first connector;

a second connector;

a first plurality of conductors coupled between the first connector and the second connector, wherein each conductor of the first plurality of conductors is configured to carry a signal between the first connector and the second connector, and none of the first plurality of conductors carry welding power, plasma cutting power, or carbon arc gouging power;

a second plurality of conductors, each conductor of the second plurality of conductors coupled to a respective conductor of the first plurality of conductors; and

control circuitry coupled to the second plurality of conductors and configured to detect welding parameters, plasma cutting parameters, or carbon arc gouging parameters from the first plurality of conductors via the second plurality of conductors.

15. The device of claim 14, comprising a battery coupled to the control circuitry and configured to power the control circuitry.

16. The device of claim 14, comprising a wireless transmitter coupled to the control circuitry and configured to provide the detected welding parameters, the plasma cutting parameters, or the carbon arc gouging parameters to a remote device.

17. The device of claim 14, comprising a communication port coupled to the control circuitry and configured to enable communication with a network.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the first connector and the second connector each comprise a 14-pin connector.

19. The device of claim 14, comprising a universal serial bus port coupled to the control circuitry and configured to enable communication with an external storage device for storage of the detected welding parameters, the plasma cutting parameters, or the carbon arc gouging parameters.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive data from a sensor in a welding system, a plasma cutting system, or a carbon arc gouging system, and to provide the detected welding parameters, the plasma cutting parameters, or the carbon arc gouging parameters and the sensor data to a remote device.