Welding system and methodology providing multiplexed cell control interface
AssigneeLincoln Global, Inc.
InventorsEdward Dennis Hillen, George Daryl Blankenship
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a welding system and methodology to facilitate communications and control. The system includes a cell controller to control one or more welders over a control network. An interface module associated with the cell controller and the control network communicates with the welders and employs a communications protocol adapted to the interface module to facilitate communications and control between the cell controller and the one or more welders over the control network.
Claims26
A welding system, comprising:
- a cell controller to control two or more welders over a control network, thereby facilitating separate control of the two or more welders;
- a singular communication interface module associated with the cell controller and the control network to communicate with the one or more welders;
- and
- a communications protocol adapted to the interface module to facilitate communications and control between the cell controller and the two or more welders Over the control network.
The system of violin 1, the one or more welders configured in a redundant configuration having an active welder and a standby welder.
A welding communications method, comprising:
- communicating and controlling two or more welders over a control network, thereby facilitating separate control of two or more welders;
- adapting a singular interface to the control network to communicate and control the one or more welders;
- mid providing a protocol with the interface to facilitate communications and control of the two or more welders over the control network.
A welding system, comprising:
- means for communicating to two or more welders over a control network, thereby facilitating separate control of the two or more welders;
- means for interfacing to the control network to communicate with the one or more welders;
- and
- means for adapting a protocol to facilitate communications with the one or more welders over the control network.
A tandem welding system, comprising:
- a cell controller to control coordinated welders over a control network;
- a singular communications interface module associated with the cell controller and the control network to communicate with the coordinated welders;
- and
- a command protocol adapted to the interface module to facilitate communications and control between the cell controller and the coordinated welders over the control network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.