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US 10,376,980 B2Granted
Arc welding with synchronized high frequency assist arc initiation
AssigneeLincoln Global, Inc.
InventorSteven R. Peters
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of and system for controlling high frequency arc initiation in a power supply is provided. The power supply includes an output circuit that outputs at least one of a voltage waveform and a current waveform. High frequency, high voltage pulses are induced across a gap between an electrode and a workpiece to create an arc. The method and system further include monitoring at least one of a voltage reading and a current reading across the gap to determine a condition of the arc and controlling the high frequency, high voltage pulses based on the condition of the arc and the type of process, which can be, e.g., SMAW, GTAW, GMAW, FCAW, etc.
Claims11
A power supply with synchronized high frequency arc assist, said power supply comprising:
- an output circuit that is configured to output at least one of a voltage waveform and a current waveform to a torch;
- an ignition circuit that is connected to the torch between the output circuit and the torch and that is configured to initiate high frequency, high voltage pulses across a gap, wherein said high frequency, high voltage pulses are superimposed on said at least one of a voltage waveform and a current waveform;
- a monitoring circuit that is configured to monitor at least one of a voltage across said gap and a current passing through said gap;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to said output circuit to regulate said at least one of a voltage waveform and a current waveform based on a desired process,
- wherein said controller is configured to select an ignition operation for said high frequency, high voltage pulses based on said desired process,
- wherein said controller is operatively connected to said monitoring circuit and is configured to determine a condition of an arc across said gap based on said at least one of said voltage across said gap and said current passing through said gap,
- wherein said controller is configured to control said ignition circuit based on said selected ignition operation and said arc condition,
- wherein the output circuit includes both a center-tapped output choke and a superposition circuit for re-igniting the arc, and the ignition circuit is connected between a center tap of the output choke and the torch,
- wherein said controller is configured to activate said high frequency, high voltage pulses after determining that said condition of said arc is off based on said at least one of said voltage across said gap and said current passing through said gap being at a respective predetermined value for a predetermined period of time, and
- wherein said predetermined period of time is in a range of 0.1 ms to 0.5 ms.
8 more elements
A power supply with synchronized high frequency arc assist, said power supply comprising:
- an output circuit that is configured to output at least one of a voltage waveform and a current waveform to a torch;
- an ignition circuit that is connected to the torch between the output circuit and the torch and that is configured to initiate high frequency, high voltage pulses across a gap, wherein said high frequency, high voltage pulses are superimposed on said at least one of a voltage waveform and a current waveform;
- a monitoring circuit that is configured to monitor at least one of a voltage across said gap and a current passing through said gap;
- a control unit comprising a state based programmable controller, said state based controller comprising at least one state based program defining a welding operation based on at least one of a welding waveform type, an arc starting method, a diameter of a consumable, and weld material type;
- wherein a desired program is selected from said at least one state based program and said control unit is operatively connected to said output circuit to regulate said at least one of a voltage waveform and a current waveform based on said desired program,
- wherein said control unit is configured to select an ignition operation for said high frequency, high voltage pulses based on said desired program,
- wherein said control unit is operatively connected to said monitoring circuit and is configured to determine a condition of an arc across said gap based on said at least one of said voltage across said gap and said current passing through said gap,
- wherein said control unit is configured to control said ignition circuit based on said selected ignition operation and said arc condition,
- wherein the output circuit includes both a center-tapped output choke and a superposition circuit for re-igniting the arc, and the ignition circuit is connected between a center tap of the output choke and the torch,
- wherein said control unit is configured to activate said high frequency, high voltage pulses after determining that said condition of said arc is off based on said at least one of said voltage across said gap and said current passing through said gap being at a respective predetermined value for a predetermined period of time, and
- wherein said predetermined period of time is in a range of 0.1 ms to 0.5 ms.
8 more elements
A system for providing high frequency arc assist, said system comprising:
- an electrode;
- a workpiece;
- and
- a power supply, said power supply comprising,
- an output circuit that is configured to output at least one of a voltage waveform and a current waveform to at least one of said electrode and said workpiece;
- an ignition circuit that is connected to the electrode through an ignition transformer between the output circuit and the electrode, and that is configured to initiate high frequency, high voltage pulses across a gap between said electrode and said workpiece to create an arc, wherein said high frequency, high voltage pulses are superimposed on said at least one of a voltage waveform and a current waveform;
- a monitoring circuit that is configured to monitor at least one of a voltage reading and a current reading across said gap;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to said output circuit to regulate said at least one of said voltage waveform and said current waveform based on a desired process,
- wherein said controller is configured to select an ignition operation for said high frequency, high voltage pulses based on said desired process,
- wherein said controller is operatively connected to said monitoring circuit and is configured to determine a condition of said arc across said gap based on said at least one of a voltage reading and a current reading across said gap,
- wherein said controller is configured to control said ignition circuit based on said selected ignition operation and said arc condition,
- wherein the output circuit includes both a center-tapped output choke and a superposition circuit for re-igniting the arc, and the ignition circuit is connected through the ignition transformer between a center tap of the output choke and the torch,
- wherein said controller is configured to activate said high frequency, high voltage pulses after determining that said condition of said arc is off based on said at least one of said voltage across said gap and said current passing through said gap being at a respective predetermined value for a predetermined period of time, and
- wherein said predetermined period of time is in a range of 0.1 ms to 0.5 ms.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.