Alternative power for engine driven welder

• US 9,770,776 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Farah, Samir F., Hruska, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): JENNISON, BRIAN W
• Application Number:
  US14/091,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20150069037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1006 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1081 Arc welding by means of accumulated energy

Abstract

The invention described herein generally pertains to a system and method for a welding device and, in particular, a hybrid welding device, that leverages a renewable energy source for a source of electrical current. The welding device can include one or more renewable energy kits that harvest renewable energy sources for performing a welding operation or a powering at least one of a device or component external to the welding device. The welding device includes renewable energy component that collects an input to convert to an electrical current that can be used as a replacement current, a supplemental current, or a complimentary current.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a welding device operable to perform a welding operation, the welding device includes;

an engine-driven generator having a stator with at least a first electromagnet, the stator houses a rotor having at least a second electromagnet, the rotor is coupled to a shaft rotatable through operation of the engine to generate a first electric current; and

an energy storage device configured to store electrical energy;

a portable renewable energy device detachably coupled to the welding device that generates a second electric current from a renewable energy source; and

a controller configured to select at least one of the energy storage device, the engine-driven generator, or the renewable energy device as a power source for the welding operation based on at least one of a fuel amount contained within the welding device, a cost of fuel for the welding device, a fuel consumption efficiency for the welding device, or a duration of time the engine-driven generator operates.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the welding device further comprises a user-operable switch to select the renewable energy device as the power source for the welding operation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the renewable energy device is a solar panel that converts sunlight to electrical energy.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the solar panel is coupled to a housing of the welding device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the renewable energy device is a wind turbine configured to convert kinetic energy of wind to electrical energy.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the wind turbine is coupled to a housing of the welding device.

7. The welding device of claim 1, wherein the renewable energy device is a hydropower component configured to convert kinetic energy of water to electrical energy.

8. A welding system, comprising:

a welding device operable to perform a welding operation, the welding device includes;

a motor-driven generator including an engine configured to rotate a shaft, a rotor coupled to the shaft and having at least one electromagnet, and a stator, having at least one electromagnet, that houses the rotor such that rotation of the shaft rotates the rotor with respect to the stator to generate a first electric current;

an energy storage device configured to store electrical energy; and

a renewable energy kit configured to generate a second electric current from a renewable energy source, the renewable energy kit is portable and detachably coupled to the welding device and configured to deliver the second electric current to the welding device; and

a controller configured to select at least one of the energy storage device, the motor-driven generator, or the renewable energy kit as a power source for the welding operation based on at least one of a welding voltage, a welding current, a waveform used for the welding operation, a wire feed speed, a type of weld, or a workpiece composition.

9. A welding device, comprising:

a welding torch;

a power source configured to provide a welding output to the welding torch to produce an arc between the welding torch and a workpiece;

an engine-driven generator configured to generate a first electric current;

an energy storage device configured to store electrical energy and to discharge stored energy to generate a second electric current;

a connector for detachably coupling to a renewable energy device to receive a third electric current, the renewable energy device is portable and detachable from the welding device and is configured to convert energy from a renewable energy source into electrical energy; and

a controller configured to select at least one of the energy storage device, the engine-driven generator, or the connector to provide electrical current to the power source, as a basis for the welding output provided to the welding torch, based on at least one of a geographic location of the welding device, a temperature at a location of the welding device, a barometer reading at the location of the welding device, a humidity level at the location of the welding device, an altitude at the location of the welding device, a wind speed at the location of the welding device, an amount of cloud cover at the location of the welding device, an amount of precipitation at the location of the welding device, or a weather forecast for the location of the welding device.

10. The welding device of claim 9, further comprising a user-operable switch to select the renewable energy device as input to the power source for a welding operation.

11. The welding device of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first electric current from the engine-driven generator or the third electric current received from the renewable energy device is utilized to charge the energy storage device.

12. The welding device of claim 9, wherein the renewable energy device is configured to obtain solar energy to generate the third electric current.

13. The welding device of claim 12, wherein a solar panel is attached to a housing of the welding device.

14. The welding device of claim 9, wherein the renewable energy device is a hydropower component configured to convert kinetic energy of water to electrical energy.

15. The welding device of claim 9, wherein the renewable energy device is a wind turbine configured to convert kinetic energy of wind to electrical energy.