Diagnostic system for a weld controller
AssigneeSquare D Company
InventorsLarry A. Dew, William B. Davidson, Timothy E. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A weld controller is coupled to a communications network which has an operator interface unit for monitoring and controlling the weld controller and other weld controllers on the network. A time of day clock provides a chronological reference to tag weld current and voltage data and other data when it occurs for storage in its memory which is also accessible by the operator interface unit for storing in said system database. A memo pad in the weld controller is also accessible to the network for storing data for diagnostic purposes, said data including faults, events, and other operational data. The data can then be displayed, edited, and stored by the operator interface's program.
Claims24
A weld controller system for controlling the operation of a welder including a weld transformer and at least one pair of contact tips that apply current to create heat between at least two workpieces, the weld controller system comprising:
- A. a microprocessor;
- B. welder power means controlled by a weld program operating by the microprocessor and operatively connected to the weld transformer for supplying weld current to the contact tips to create said heat in said workpiece, said weld program for increasing the weld heat in increments following a predetermined weld schedule having a plurality of weld cycles to provide compensation for deterioration and wear of said contact tips;
- C. a current sensor for sensing current supplied by said welder power means to said weld transformer, said current sensor for providing weld current data for use by said weld program;
- D. a voltage sensor for sensing input voltage supplied to said weld power means, said voltage sensor for providing weld voltage data for use by said weld program;
- E. a memory for storing said program, weld current data, and voltage data;
- F. a first communication port for coupling said weld controller system to a communications network, said network including at least one system operator interface unit, said system operator interface unit including a system database for storing said weld current data and voltage data for use in monitoring, controlling, and editing said weld controller system;
- G. a time of day clock for providing a chronological reference to tag the weld current and voltage data and other data when it occured for storage in said memory and accessible by said system operator interface unit for storing in said system database;
- and
- H. a memo pad accessible to the network for storing data for diagnostic purposes, said data including faults, events, and other operational data.
A weld controller system for controlling the operation of a welder including a weld transformer and at least one pair of contact tips that apply weld current to create heat between at least two workpiece said system comprising:
- A. a microprocessor;
- B. a weld program operating in said microprocessor, said program for increasing said weld heat in increments following a predetermined weld schedule having a plurality of weld cycles;
- C. a current sensor for sensing current supplied by said welder power means to said weld transformer, said current sensor for providing weld current data for use by said weld program;
- D. a voltage sensor for sensing input voltage supplied to said weld power means, said voltage sensor for providing weld voltage data for use by said weld program;
- E. a memory for storing said weld program, weld current data, and voltage data;
- F. a first communication port for coupling said weld controller system to a to a dedicated operator interface unit, said operator interfaceunit for use in creating and editing said weld program;
- G. a time of day clock for providing a chronological reference to tag the weld current and voltage data and other weld data when it occured for storage in said memory and accessible by said data entry unit;
- and
- H. a memo pad for storing data for diagnostic purposes, said data including faults, events, and other operational data and said memo pad accessible to said data entry unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.