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US 10,369,649 B2Granted
Circuits for improved welding performance
AssigneeLincoln Global, Inc.
InventorsRobert L. Dodge, George B. Koprivnak, Steven R. Peters
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Welding circuits including superposition elements that charge and discharge to assist with re-establishing a welding arc between an electrode and a workpiece after the arc is extinguished when a welding output current polarity changes are described.
Claims14
A system, comprising:
- a welding power conversion circuit configured to convert an input current to an output current;
- a plurality of switches and corresponding current paths including at least:
- a positive polarity main switch on a positive polarity current main path, the positive polarity current main path includes a welding path from an electrode to a workpiece,
- a positive polarity auxiliary switch on a positive polarity current auxiliary path and a polarity transition auxiliary path,
- a negative polarity main switch on a negative polarity current main path, the negative polarity current main path includes the welding path from the workpiece to the electrode,
- a negative polarity auxiliary switch on a negative polarity current auxiliary path and the polarity transition auxiliary path, and
- an independent discharge control switch on an independent discharge control current path;
- a controller that controls operations of at least one of the plurality of switches;
- and
- a superposition element configured to discharge stored energy in response to a polarity change in the output current, the superposition element configured to charge at least when current flows through the polarity transition auxiliary path,
- wherein the independent discharge control switch is operatively connected to the superposition element to control the discharge of the stored energy through the independent discharge control current path to the welding path, and
- wherein the superposition element discharges once per polarity cycle in response to the polarity change in the output current, and the polarity change is a negative to positive polarity change in the output current.
9 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a welding power conversion circuit configured to convert an input current to an output current;
- a plurality of switches and corresponding current paths including at least:
- a positive polarity main switch on a positive polarity current main path, the positive polarity current main path includes a welding path from an electrode to a workpiece,
- a positive polarity auxiliary switch on a positive polarity current auxiliary path,
- a negative polarity main switch on a negative polarity current main path, the negative polarity current main path includes the welding path from the workpiece to the electrode,
- a negative polarity auxiliary switch on a negative polarity current auxiliary path, and
- a controller that controls operations of at least one of the plurality of switches;
- and
- a superposition capacitor configured to discharge stored energy in response to a polarity change in the output current, the superposition capacitor configured to charge by current flow through a polarity transition auxiliary path,
- wherein the superposition capacitor discharges once per polarity cycle in response to the polarity change in the output current, and the polarity change is a negative to positive polarity change in the output current.
7 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a welding power conversion circuit configured to convert an input current to an output current;
- a plurality of switches and corresponding current paths including at least:
- a positive polarity main switch on a positive polarity current main path, the positive polarity current main path includes a welding path from an electrode to a workpiece,
- a positive polarity auxiliary switch on a positive polarity current auxiliary path,
- a negative polarity main switch on a negative polarity current main path, the negative polarity current main path includes the welding path from the workpiece to the electrode,
- a negative polarity auxiliary switch on a negative polarity current auxiliary path, and
- an independent discharge control switch on an independent discharge control current path;
- a controller that controls operations of at least one of the plurality of switches;
- and
- a superposition capacitor configured to discharge stored energy in response to a polarity change in the output current, the superposition capacitor configured to charge by current flow through a polarity transition auxiliary path,
- wherein the independent discharge control switch is operatively connected to the superposition capacitor to control the discharge of the stored energy through the independent discharge control current path to the welding path, and
- wherein the superposition capacitor discharges once per polarity cycle in response to the polarity change in the output current, and the polarity change is a negative to positive polarity change in the output current.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.