US 5,315,089 A · System and method for converting an AGTAW welder into an AGMAW welder

Abstract

Both a system and a method for converting two AGTAW welders into a AGMAW welder is provided. The system generally comprises a MIG weldhead for replacing the TIG weldhead of one of the AGTAW welders, a pulser multiplier circuit for increasing the frequency of the power supply output current from 10 to between 300 and 800 pulses per second, and a wire feed motor and motor control circuit capable of feeding weld wire at a rate compatible with a AGMAW welding operation. In the method of the invention, the control circuit assembly of one of the AGTAW welders is connected in parallel to the power supplies of both of the two AGTAW welders, and the outputs of these power supplies are likewise connected in parallel. The TIG weldhead of one of the AGTAW welders is replaced with the MIG weldhead, and the pulser multiplier circuit is selectively connected to the current pulser of the single control circuit assembly which controls both power supplies. Next, the existing wire feed motor and motor control circuit of one of the AGTAW welders is replaced with the high-feed rate motor and control circuit of the system. Finally, the upslope and downslope circuit and the arc voltage response circuit which are normally present in the programmer of the control circuit assembly of one of the AGTAW welders is converted into a AGMAW burnback circuit in order to prevent weld wire from the wire feeder from fusing into the weld puddle.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A system for converting a AGTAW welder into a AGMAW welder, said AGTAW welder being of the type that includes a power supply having an output, a TIG weldhead connected to the output of the power supply, and a constant current type control circuit assembly having a current pulser for pulsing the power supply output current at a frequency of up to 9.9 times per second, comprising:

a MIG weldhead connected to the output of the AGTAW welder power supply for replacing said TIG weldhead,
a pulser multiplier circuit connected to said current pulser for increasing the frequency of the power supply output current to a rate compatible with an AGMAW welding operation,
a wire feed means connected to the AGTAW control circuit assembly for feeding wire through said MIG weldhead during a AGMAW welding operation at a AGMAW welding rate, and
a burnback circuit connected to the AGTAW control circuit assembly for burning said wire back from a weld puddle at the termination of said AGMAW welding operation.

1 more element

A system for converting first and second AGTAW welders into an AGMAW welder, wherein each of said AGTAW welders is of the type that includes a power supply, a TIG weldhead connected to the output of the power supply, and a constant current type control circuit assembly including a programmer and having a current pulser for pulsing the power supply output current at a frequence of up to 9.9 times per second, comprising:

means for selectively connecting the outputs of the power supplies of said first and second AGTAW welders in parallel, wherein the combined output of said power supplies is sufficient to conduct an AGMAW welding operation;
means for selectively connecting the control circuit assembly of said first AGTAW welder in parallel with the power supply of said second AGTAW welder such that said control circuit assembly of said first AGTAW welder controls the output of the power supplies of both of said AGTAW welders;
a MIG weldhead connected to the combined output of the power supplies of said first and second AGTAW welders for replacing the TIG weldhead of said first AGTAW welder, and
a pulser multiplier circuit connected to to the current pulser of the control circuit assembly of said first AGTAW welder for increasing the frequency of the power supply output to at least 200 pulses per second.

1 more element

A method for converting first and second AGTAW welders into an AGMAW welder, wherein each of said AGTAW welders is of the type that includes a power supply having an output, a TIG weldhead connected to the output of the power supply, and a constant current type control circuit assembly having a programmer for pulsing the power supply output current at a selected frequency, comprising the steps of:

replacing the weldhead of the first AGTAW welder with a MIG weldhead;
connecting the output of the power supplies of said first and second AGTAW welders in parallel;
connecting the control circuit assembly of said first AGTAW welder to the power supply of the second AGTAW welder such that said control assembly controls the power supplies of both of said welders;
and
connecting a pulser multiplier circuit to the current pulser of the control circuit assembly of said first AGTAW welder to increase the frequency of the combined outputs of said power supplies.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for converting an AGTAW welder into an AGMAW welder

Life of this patent

System and method for converting an AGTAW welder into an AGMAW welder

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25