Capacitive discharge welding power supply and capacitive discharge welder using the same
AssigneeAmada Miyachi America, Inc.
InventorsKevin Gunning, Stanley Levy, Glen Holt Humphrey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A capacitive discharge (CD) welder includes a charging circuit, a capacitor bank, an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), a pulse transformer and a secondary circuit. The charging circuit takes incoming electricity and charges a capacitor bank. The capacitor bank stores energy. The IGBT electrically connects and disconnects the capacitor bank to the pulse transformer. The pulse transformer reduces voltage from that stored in the capacitor bank to the desired welding voltage. The secondary circuit electrically connected to the pulse transformer provides a welding current corresponding to the output to the material being welded.
Claims20
A capacitive discharge welder comprising:
- a capacitor bank for storing energy;
- a pulse transformer for converting a first voltage stored in the capacitor bank to a second voltage;
- an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) for selectively electrically connecting the capacitor bank to the pulse transformer;
- and
- a secondary circuit electrically connected to the pulse transformer, the secondary circuit for supplying a welding current corresponding to an output having the second voltage of the pulse transformer to a part to be welded.
A method of welding a part using a capacitive discharge welder comprising a pulse transformer, the method comprising:
- applying a current to the part;
- and
- turning off the current prior to a saturation of the pulse transformer.
A capacitive discharge welder comprising:
- a capacitor bank for storing energy;
- a pulse transformer for converting a first voltage stored in the capacitor bank to a second voltage;
- an semiconductor switching device for selectively electrically connecting the capacitor bank to the pulse transformer, the semiconductor switching device configured to electrically disconnect the capacitor bank from the pulse transformer prior to near depletion of energy stored in the capacitor bank in response to a control signal;
- a controller for providing the control signal to the semiconductor switching device;
- and
- a secondary circuit electrically connected to the pulse transformer, the secondary circuit for supplying a welding current corresponding to an output having the second voltage of the pulse transformer to a part to be welded.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.