# US 2019/0168329 A1 · Torch for electric arc welding system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168329 A1 - Document ID: US20190168329A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/267,607 - Filed: 2019-02-05 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2005-08-25 - Assignees: Lincoln Global, Inc. - Applicants: Lincoln Global, Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey L. Kachline - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168329A1 ## CPC - B23K 9/095: Monitoring or automatic control of welding parameters - B23K 9/067: Starting the arc - B23K 9/1006: {Power supply} - B23K 9/1056: {by using digital means (B23K9/1068 takes precedence)} - B23K 9/28: Supporting devices for electrodes - 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 A torch for connection to an electric arc welding system having a wire feeder, a power source and a weld process controller for the power source. The torch being connected to the front end of a welding gun, which gun has a rear end with a first unique component of a connector. The welding system has a second component of the connector matching the first component. The gun has a communication channel extending from the torch to the first component for transmitting data to the welding system through the connector. The torch has a memory with an identification code outputted on the communication channel to the first component and the system has a decoder circuit connected to the second component and responsive to a selected identification code. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A welding apparatus, comprising: a welding gun configured to store an identification code which identifies the welding gun; and a welding system coupled to the welding gun, the welding system comprising: a waveform generator configured to generate a welding waveform, and a decoder which is coupled to the welding gun and the waveform generator, wherein the waveform generator is configured to only generate the welding waveform when the decoder detects the identification code of the welding gun. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The welding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identification code uniquely identifies the welding gun. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The welding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the welding waveform is part of a special welding process not available to the welding apparatus when the identification code is not detected by the decoder. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The welding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the decoder is configured to generate an enabling signal to enable the waveform generator to generate the welding waveform. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The welding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the welding system further comprises a monitoring device including at least one accumulator configured to determine an accumulated total of a use factor of the welding gun. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The welding apparatus of claim 5, wherein the use factor is related to one of a wire feed speed and a welding current. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The welding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the welding gun further comprises a current sensor and a wire feed speed sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The welding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the welding gun further comprises at least one index device configured to control an operation of the welding system by progressing through a menu by index commands. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The welding apparatus of claim 5, wherein the welding system includes a controller configured to compare the accumulated total of the use factor with a limit value for the use factor, and wherein the welding system further comprises a display device configured to display an indication of when the accumulated total of the use factor is determined to have exceeded the limit value. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The welding apparatus of claim 5, wherein the welding system includes a controller configured to compare the accumulated total of the use factor with a limit value for the use factor, and wherein the welding gun further comprises a display device configured to display an indication of when the accumulated total of the use factor is determined to have exceeded the limit value. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The welding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the welding system further comprises a monitoring device including a first accumulator configured to determine an accumulated total of a welding current use factor of the welding gun and a second accumulator configured to determine an accumulated total of a wire feed speed use factor of the welding gun. ### Claim 12 A welding apparatus, comprising: a welding torch configured to store an identification code that is used to identify the welding torch; and a welding system coupled to the welding torch and having a controller, where the welding system is configured to generate a welding output signal which is directed to the welding torch, wherein the welding system provides a special weld procedure, and wherein the controller enables the special weld procedure only when the controller detects the identification code from the welding torch. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The welding apparatus of claim 12, wherein the identification code uniquely identifies the welding torch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The welding apparatus of claim 12, wherein the welding output signal is part of the special weld procedure not available to the welding apparatus when the identification code is not detected by the controller. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The welding apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller includes a decoder configured to generate an enabling signal when the identification code is detected. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The welding apparatus of claim 12, wherein the welding system further comprises a monitoring device including at least one accumulator configured to determine an accumulated total of a use factor of the welding gun. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The welding apparatus of claim 16, wherein the use factor is related to one of a wire feed speed and a welding current. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The welding apparatus of claim 12, wherein the welding torch further comprises a current sensor and a wire feed speed sensor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The welding apparatus of claim 12, wherein the welding gun further comprises at least one index device configured to control an operation of the welding system by progressing through a menu by index commands. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The welding apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to compare the accumulated total of the use factor with a limit value for the use factor, and wherein the welding system further comprises a display device configured to display an indication of when the accumulated total of the use factor is determined to have exceeded the limit value. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The welding apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to compare the accumulated total of the use factor with a limit value for the use factor, and wherein the welding gun further comprises a display device configured to display an indication of when the accumulated total of the use factor is determined to have exceeded the limit value. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The welding apparatus of claim 12, wherein the welding system further comprises a monitoring device including a first accumulator configured to determine an accumulated total of a welding current use factor of the welding gun and a second accumulator configured to determine an accumulated total of a wire feed speed use factor of the welding gun.