# US 11,027,356 B2 · Welder generator engine speed control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,356 B2 - Document ID: US11027356B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/209,268 - Filed: 2018-12-04 - Published: 2019-04-11 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-27 - Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Applicants: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Inventors: Randall J. DuVal; Daniel C. Fosbinder; Nathan J. Jochman; Christopher Wierschke; John C. Leisner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027356B2 ## CPC - B23K 9/1006: {Power supply} - B23K 9/095: Monitoring or automatic control of welding parameters - B23K 9/32: Accessories - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM ## Abstract An engine-driven welder generator is controlled based upon power draw for welding and other applications. Once a welding arc is initiated, the power draw is monitored. The engine speed, and therefore the power output of the generator, may be increased or maintained based upon the power draw. The power draw may include both welding power draw and auxiliary power draw. The engine speed is increased in increments. The initial engine speed and subsequent increments may depend upon particular welding processes or regimes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A welding system comprising: an engine-driven generator comprising an engine drivingly coupled to a generator; power conversion circuitry coupled to the generator and configured to convert power output by the generator to welding power; control circuitry configured to: command increases in engine speed in increments based at least in part upon a voltage or current relating to the welding power following initiation of a welding arc using the welding power; and command reduction in engine speed after initiation of the welding arc. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine a power draw on the generator based at least in part upon the voltage or current. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The welding system of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry is configured to combine welding power draw and auxiliary power draw to determine the power draw. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to command operation of the engine at a first speed prior to increasing the engine speed in increments. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, wherein the increments comprise approximately 400 RPM steps. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry implements successive steps of power calculation and commands the engine speed to remain at a determined level or to increase based at least in part upon the voltage or current. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The welding system of claim 6, wherein the control circuitry is configured to command increases in engine speed based at least in part upon the voltage or current following initiation of a welding arc, but to command reduction in engine speed only following termination of the welding arc. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured to implement different engine control regimes for different welding processes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The welding system of claim 8, wherein an initial engine speed differs between at least two of the different welding processes. ### Claim 10 A welding system comprising: an engine-driven generator comprising an engine drivingly coupled to a generator; power conversion circuitry coupled to the generator and configured to convert power output by the generator to welding power; and control circuitry configured to: command increases in engine speed in increments based at least in part upon a voltage or current relating to the welding power following initiation of a welding arc using the welding power; determine a power draw on the engine-driven generator based at least in part upon the voltage or current; and command reduction in engine speed after initiation of the welding arc based at least in part upon the determined power draw. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The welding system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is configured to combine welding power draw and auxiliary power draw to determine the power draw. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The welding system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is configured to command operation of the engine at a first speed prior to increasing the engine speed in increments. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The welding system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry implements successive steps of power calculation and commands the engine speed to remain at a determined level or to increase based at least in part upon the voltage or current. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The welding system of claim 10, wherein the increments comprise approximately 400 RPM steps. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The welding system of claim 10, wherein the control circuitry is configured to implement different engine control regimes for different welding processes, wherein an initial engine speed differs between at least two of the different welding processes. ### Claim 16 A method for controlling a welding system, comprising: generating welding power via an engine-driven generator; initiating a welding arc for a welding operation using the welding power; increasing engine speed in increments based at least in part upon a voltage or current relating to the welding power following initiation of the welding arc; and reducing the engine speed after initiation of the welding arc. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein an initial engine speed is commanded upon initiation of the welding arc, and wherein engine speed is increased or maintained during the welding operation but not decreased until termination of the welding arc. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, comprising monitoring a power draw on the engine-driven generator, and increasing the engine speed based at least in part upon the power draw following initiation of the welding arc. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, comprising monitoring a welding power draw and an auxiliary power draw, and increasing the engine speed based at least in part upon the welding power draw and the auxiliary power draw following initiation of the welding arc. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, wherein the engine speed increases by a first increment of a first number of RPMs, and increases by a second increment of a second number of RPMs different than the first number of RPMs. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, wherein the engine speed increases by a plurality of increments having different magnitudes or different beginning and ending points.