Alternative power for engine driven welder
AssigneeLincoln Global, Inc.
InventorsSamir F. Farah, Adam Hruska
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims19
A welding device, comprising:
- an engine-driven generator having a stator and a rotor coupled to a shaft rotatable through operation of an engine to generate a first electric current;
- an energy storage device configured to store electrical energy and output a second electric current;
- a renewable energy device that generates a third electric current based on a renewable energy source;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- select at least one of the engine-driven generator, the energy storage device, or the renewable energy device as a power source for a welding operation;
- and
- select at least one of the engine-driven generator or the renewable energy device as a source to charge the energy storage device based on a fuel amount available for the engine-driven generator and a fuel efficiency of the engine.
A welding system, comprising:
- a renewable energy device that generates a first electric current based on a renewable energy source;
- and
- a welding device operable to perform a welding operation, the welding device includes:
- an engine-driven generator that generates a second electric current;
- an energy storage device configured to store electrical energy and output a third electric current;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- select a power source for the welding operation, wherein the power source selected includes at least one of the renewable energy device, the engine-driven generator, or the energy storage device;
- and
- select a charging source for the energy storage device, wherein the charging source selected includes at least one of the renewable energy device or the engine-driven generator.
A welding device, comprising:
- a welding torch;
- a power supply configured to provide a welding output to the welding torch for a welding operation;
- 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 generated from a renewable energy source;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- select at least one of the engine-driven generator, the energy storage device, or the renewable energy device as input to the power supply for the welding operation;
- and
- select at least one of the engine-driven generator or the renewable energy device as a charging source to charge the energy storage device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.