PORTABLE GENERATOR AND BATTERY CHARGER VERIFICATION CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20140299589A1
• Filed: 06/23/2014
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Fosbinder, Daniel C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,576,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/133
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/10 Other electric circuits therefor; Protective circuits; Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/1006 Power supply

Abstract

A system, in one embodiment, may include a portable welding unit having an engine, a generator coupled to the engine, a compressor coupled to the engine, and a smart battery charger coupled to the generator. A system, in another embodiment, may include a battery charger, wherein the battery charger is configured to monitor a temperature of a battery, an ambient temperature, a battery charge time, or a combination thereof. A system, in a further embodiment, may include at least one circuit having a welding control circuit and a battery charge circuit. The battery charge circuit may be configured to adjust an output based on a battery type, a battery voltage rating, a sensed feedback, a battery test, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A portable welding unit, comprising:

an engine;

a generator coupled to the engine and configured to generate a weld output; and

a smart battery charger coupled to the generator, wherein the smart battery charger is configured to operate in a battery charge mode to charge a battery connected to the smart battery charger, and wherein the smart battery charger is configured to operate in a jump start mode to jump start a device having the battery.

2. The portable welding unit of claim 1, comprising a control panel having a switch, wherein the switch enables selection between the battery charge mode and the jump start mode.

3. The portable welding unit of claim 1, comprising a control panel having one or more user input controls, wherein the one or more user input controls enable selection between the battery charge mode, the jump start mode, and a welding mode during which the weld output is generated.

4. The portable welding unit of claim 3, wherein the one or more user input controls enable selection between a constant current battery charge mode, a constant voltage battery charge mode, and a floating current and voltage battery charge mode.

5. The portable welding unit of claim 1, wherein the device is a vehicle.

6. The portable welding unit of claim 1, wherein the smart battery charger is configured to perform a battery verification procedure on the battery prior to charging the battery or jump starting the device.

7. The portable welding unit of claim 6, wherein the smart battery charger indicates a grade of the battery, indicates specific problems with the battery, and indicates a degree of chargeability of the battery during the battery verification procedure.

8. The portable welding unit of claim 6, wherein the battery verification procedure comprises determining whether a voltage of the battery is within a voltage range.

9. The portable welding unit of claim 8, wherein the battery verification procedure comprises applying a test charge current to the battery, and determining if the voltage of the battery increases in response to the applied test charge current.

10. The portable welding unit of claim 9, wherein the battery verification procedure comprises determining if the voltage of the battery decreases after a duration of time elapses since the test charge current is applied.

11. The portable welding unit of claim 1, wherein the smart battery charger is configured to recondition or delsulphate the battery.

12. A portable welding unit, comprising:

an engine;

a generator coupled to the engine and configured to generate a weld output; and

a smart battery charger coupled to the generator, wherein the smart battery charger is configured to jump start a device connected to the smart battery charger, and wherein the smart battery charger is configured to perform a battery verification procedure on a battery of the device prior to jump starting the device.

13. The portable welding unit of claim 12, wherein the smart battery charger indicates a grade of the battery, indicates specific problems with the battery, and indicates a degree of chargeability of the battery during the battery verification procedure.

14. The portable welding unit of claim 12, wherein the battery verification procedure comprises determining whether a voltage of the battery is within a voltage range.

15. The portable welding unit of claim 14, wherein the battery verification procedure comprises reading the voltage of the battery from a radio frequency identification tag (RFID) tag disposed on the battery.

16. The portable welding unit of claim 14, wherein the battery verification procedure comprises applying a test charge current to the battery, and determining if the voltage of the battery increases in response to the applied test charge current.

17. The portable welding unit of claim 16, wherein the battery verification procedure comprises determining if the voltage of the battery decreases after a duration of time elapses since the test charge current is applied.

18. The portable welding unit of claim 12, wherein the smart battery charger is configured to recondition or delsulphate the battery.

19. The portable welding unit of claim 12, wherein the device is a vehicle.

20. A portable welding unit, comprising:

an engine;

a generator coupled to the engine and configured to generate a weld output; and

a smart battery charger coupled to the generator, wherein the smart battery charger is configured to operate in a battery charge mode to charge a battery connected to the smart battery charger, wherein the smart battery charger is configured to operate in a jump start mode to jump start a device having the battery, and wherein the smart battery charger is configured to perform a battery verification procedure on the battery prior to charging the battery or jump starting the device.