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US 6,472,633 B1Granted
Method and system for welding with paralleled power supplies
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorJon O. Reynolds
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for welding with a plurality of welding power supplies connected in parallel. The system includes a first power supply and a second power supply. A reference signal indicative of a welding output of the first power supply is provided to a balancing circuit. The balancing circuit converts the reference signal into a command signal usable by the second power supply. A welding output of the second power supply is responsive to the command signal.
Claims23
An apparatus for paralleling a plurality of welding power supply outputs comprising:
- an input stage configured to receive a reference signal indicative of a welding output of a first power supply;
- an output stage configured to deliver a command signal usable by a second power supply having a welding output responsive to the command signal;
- and
- a balancing circuit connected to receive the reference signal from the input stage and to provide the command signal to the output stage wherein the command signal is a function of the reference signal;
- wherein the apparatus is further configured to provide a contactor control signal to the second power supply in response to the first welding power supply switching on.
2 more elements
An apparatus for paralleling a plurality of welding power supply outputs comprising:
- an input stage configured to receive a reference signal indicative of a welding output of a first power supply;
- an output stage configured to deliver a command signal usable by a second power supply having a welding output responsive to the command signal;
- and
- a balancing circuit connected to receive the reference signal from the input stage and to provide the command signal to the output stage wherein the command signal is a function of the reference signal;
- wherein the apparatus is further configured to provide a contactor control signal to the second power supply in response to the flow of welding current from the first power supply.
2 more elements
A welding system comprising:
- a first power supply having a first welding output, wherein the first welding output is a first welding current;
- a second power supply having a second welding output connected in parallel with the first welding output wherein the second welding output is responsive to a command signal;
- and
- a balancing circuit in electrical communication with the first power supply and the second power supply wherein the balancing circuit receives a reference signal indicative of the first welding output and provides the command signal to the second power supply as a function of the reference signal;
- wherein the welding system is configured to provide a contactor control signal to the second power supply in response to the flow of welding current from the first power supply.
2 more elements
A welding system comprising:
- a first power supply having a first welding output;
- a second power supply having a second welding output connected in parallel with the first welding output wherein the second welding output is responsive to a command signal;
- and
- a balancing circuit in electrical communication with the first power supply and the second power supply wherein the balancing circuit receives a reference signal indicative of the first welding output and provides the command signal to the second power supply as a function of the reference signal;
- wherein the welding system is further configured to provide a contactor control signal to the second power supply in response to the first power supply switching on.
2 more elements
A welding system comprising:
- a first power supply having a first welding output;
- a second power supply having a second welding output connected in parallel with the first welding output wherein the second welding output is responsive to a command signal;
- and
- a balancing circuit in electrical communication with the first power supply and the second power supply wherein the balancing circuit receives a reference signal indicative of the first welding output and provides the command signal to the second power supply as a function of the reference signal,
- wherein both the first power supply and the second power supply are in thermal balance with each other dung normal operation.
2 more elements
A welding system comprising:
- a first power supply having a first welding output;
- a second power supply having a second welding output connected in parallel with the first welding output wherein the second welding output is a function of the first welding output,
- wherein the first power supply operates in a constant voltage mode and the second power supply operates in a constant current mode.
A welding system comprising:
- a first power supply having a first welding output;
- a second power supply having a second welding output connected in parallel with the first welding output, wherein the second welding output is responsive to a second signal;
- and
- a circuit in electrical communication with the first power supply and the second power supply, wherein the circuit receives a first signal as a function of the first welding output and provides the second signal to the second power supply as a function of the first signal,
- wherein both the first power supply and the second power supply are in thermal balance with each other during normal operation.
2 more elements
The welding system of client 18 wherein the first welding output is a first welding current and the first signal is a function of the first welding current.
A welding system for delivering a welding current to a load comprising:
- a first power supply having a welding output connected across the load and operating in a constant voltage mode, wherein the first power supply delivers a portion of the welding current to the load, and further wherein the first power supply has a first maximum rated welding current capacity;
- and
- a second power supply having a welding output connected across the load in parallel with the welding output of the first power supply and operating in a constant current mode, wherein the second power supply delivers a portion of the welding current to the load, and further wherein the second power supply has a second maximum rated welding current capacity, wherein the first and second power supplies each have a maximum rated welding current capacity, and further wherein the first and second power supplies each provide substantially the same amount of welding current to the load relative to their maximum rated welding current capacities.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.