# US 11,897,061 B2 · Engine driven welder > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,897,061 B2 - Document ID: US11897061B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/381,400 - Filed: 2021-07-21 - Published: 2023-01-26 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-07-21 - Assignees: Lincoln Global, Inc. - Applicants: Lincoln Global, Inc. - Inventors: Todd E. Kooken; Edward A. Enyedy; Adam M. Hruska; Erik C. Miller; Steven R. Sumner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897061B2 ## CPC - B23K 9/1006: {Power supply} - B23K 9/16: making use of shielding gas - B23K 9/18: Submerged-arc welding - F04C 3/00: Rotary-piston machines or pumps, with non-parallel axes of movement of co-operating members, e.g. of screw type (with the working-chamber walls at least partly resiliently deformable F04C5/00; rotary-piston pumps with non-parallel axes of movement of co-operating members specially adapted for elastic fluids F04C18/48) - F04C 15/0057: {Driving elements, brakes, couplings, transmission specially adapted for machines or pumps (brakes, couplings, transmissions per se F16, B60)} - F16M 5/00: Engine beds, i.e. means for supporting engines or machines on foundations - F16M 7/00: Details of attaching or adjusting engine beds, frames, or supporting-legs on foundation or base; Attaching non-moving engine parts, e.g. cylinder blocks (elastic or equivalent mounting for absorbing vibrations F16F, especially F16F15/04) - F04C 18/16: with helical teeth, e.g. chevron-shaped, screw type {(for non-parallel axes of movement F04C18/48)} - F04C 18/344: with vanes reciprocating with respect to the inner member - F04C 28/08: characterised by varying the rotational speed - F04C 29/005: {Means for transmitting movement from the prime mover to driven parts of the pump, e.g. clutches, couplings, transmissions} - F04C 2210/221: Air - 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 - F04C: ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS (engines F03C); ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS ## Abstract A welding machine includes a welding power supply that generates a welding waveform during a welding operation, an internal combustion engine, and a generator that is operatively connected to the welding power supply to supply electrical energy to the welding power supply. The generator includes a rotor shaft driven by the internal combustion engine, and an end casting located at an end of the generator opposite the internal combustion engine. A rotary screw compressor is mounted to the end casting of the generator. A clutch mechanism couples the rotor shaft to the rotary screw compressor to selectively drive the rotary screw compressor by the rotor shaft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A welding machine, comprising: a welding power supply that generates a welding waveform during a welding operation; an internal combustion engine; a generator operatively connected to the welding power supply to supply electrical energy to the welding power supply, wherein the generator comprises a rotor shaft driven by the internal combustion engine, and an end casting located at an end of the generator opposite the internal combustion engine; a rotary screw compressor mounted to the end casting of the generator; and a clutch mechanism that couples the rotor shaft to the rotary screw compressor to selectively drive the rotary screw compressor by the rotor shaft, wherein the end casting includes a rotor shaft bearing that supports the rotor shaft. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The welding machine of claim 1, further comprising a vibration isolator attached to the end casting that isolates both of the generator and the rotary screw compressor from a chassis structure of the welding machine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The welding machine of claim 1, further comprising a compressor mounting bracket attached to the end casting and the rotary screw compressor, for mounting the rotary screw compressor to the end casting. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The welding machine of claim 1, further comprising a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for adjusting a drive ratio between the rotor shaft and the rotary screw compressor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The welding machine of claim 1, further comprising an oil separator and filter assembly located distal of the end casting of the generator within an enclosure for the welding machine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The welding machine of claim 5, further comprising an aftercooler that cools air discharged from the rotary screw compressor. ### Claim 7 A welding machine, comprising: a chassis structure; a welding power supply that generates a welding waveform during a welding operation; an internal combustion engine; a generator operatively connected to the welding power supply to supply electrical energy to the welding power supply, wherein the generator comprises a rotor shaft driven by the internal combustion engine, and an end casting located at an end of the generator opposite the internal combustion engine; a rotary screw compressor mounted to the end casting of the generator; a selectively engageable pulley that couples the rotor shaft to the rotary screw compressor to selectively drive the rotary screw compressor by the rotor shaft; and a vibration isolator that isolates both of the generator and the rotary screw compressor from the chassis structure, wherein the end casting includes a rotor shaft bearing that supports the rotor shaft, and further wherein the vibration isolator is attached to the end casting. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The welding machine of claim 7, further comprising a compressor mounting bracket attached to the end casting and the rotary screw compressor, for mounting the rotary screw compressor to the end casting. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The welding machine of claim 7, further comprising a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for adjusting a drive ratio between the rotor shaft and the rotary screw compressor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The welding machine of claim 7, further comprising an oil separator and filter assembly located distal of the end casting of the generator within an enclosure for the welding machine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The welding machine of claim 10, further comprising an aftercooler that cools air discharged from the rotary screw compressor. ### Claim 12 A welding machine, comprising: a welding power supply that generates a welding waveform during a welding operation; an internal combustion engine; a generator operatively connected to the welding power supply to supply electrical energy to the welding power supply, wherein the generator comprises a rotor shaft driven by the internal combustion engine, and an end casting located at a distal end of the generator opposite the internal combustion engine, wherein the end casting includes a rotor shaft bearing that supports the rotor shaft; a rotary screw compressor mounted to the end casting of the generator; and a clutch mechanism on the rotary screw compressor that couples the rotor shaft to the rotary screw compressor to selectively drive the rotary screw compressor by the rotor shaft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The welding machine of claim 12, further comprising a vibration isolator attached to the end casting that isolates both of the generator and the rotary screw compressor from a chassis structure of the welding machine. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The welding machine of claim 12, further comprising a compressor mounting bracket attached to the end casting and the rotary screw compressor, for mounting the rotary screw compressor to the end casting. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The welding machine of claim 14, further comprising: a drive belt extending between the clutch mechanism and a pulley attached to the rotor shaft; and a belt tensioner comprising an idler pulley that tensions the drive belt, wherein the belt tensioner is attached to the end casting of the generator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The welding machine of claim 12, further comprising a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for adjusting a drive ratio between the rotor shaft and the rotary screw compressor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The welding machine of claim 12, further comprising an oil separator and filter assembly located distal of the end casting of the generator within an enclosure for the welding machine. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The welding machine of claim 17, further comprising an aftercooler that cools air discharged from the rotary screw compressor.