Short-time arc-welding system and process for controlling such a system
AssigneeNewfrey LLC
InventorsWolfgang Schmidt, Klaus Gisbert Schmitt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a rapid arc welding system (10) for welding elements (12) onto components (14). The inventive system comprises a welding head (16), a supply device (24) for supplying elements (12) to the component (14) and a control and power device (20). Said control and power device comprises a safety circuit for controlling the safety functions of the welding system (10) which allows an operation that is especially safeguarded from unauthorized use of the system in which an operation disruption is partially cancelled. In this partial operation mode, individual components of the system (10) can be activated selectively, especially for the purpose of maintenance.
Claims38
A short-time arc welding system operable to weld an element to a component, the system comprising:
- a welding head device having a drive device operable to move the element in relation to the component;
- a control and energy device having a plurality of members, including:
- a power supply device operable to supply an electrical power to the welding head device;
- a feed control device operable to control both an element feed and a movement of an individual element relative to the component;
- a central control device operable to coordinate and monitor the members of the control and energy device;
- and
- a safety switch independent of the central control device having a first plurality of control lines and a second plurality of test lines, the safety switch directly connected via individual ones of the plurality of control lines to each of the power supply device, the feed control device and the central control device, the safety switch operable to monitor a plurality of safety functions of the welding system;
- wherein the safety switch defines a first operating state operable to enable at least one welding operation, and at least a second operating state.
A short-time arc welding system operable to weld an element to a component, the system comprising:
- a welding head device having a drive device operable to move the element in relation to the component;
- a control and energy device, including a power supply device operable to supply an electrical power to the welding head device;
- a feed control device operable to control both an element feed and a movement of an individual element relative to the component;
- a control device operable to control the welding system;
- and
- a safety switch operable to monitor a plurality of safety functions of the welding system, the safety switch having a signal output operable to initially delay an output of the power supply device and subseguently disconnect the power supply device;
- wherein the safety switch defines a first operating state operable to enable at least one welding operation, a second operating state having an output voltage of the power supply device operatively blocked, and a third operating state.
A method to control a short-time arc welding system operable to weld an element to a component using electrical power from a control and energy device connected to a drive device, in turn coupled to a welding head, the method comprising:
- moving the element in relation to the component using the drive device;
- supplying an electrical power to the welding head device from a power supply device of the control and energy device;
- controlling both an element feed and a movement of an individual element relative to the component using a feed control device;
- coordinating the arc welding system using a central control device;
- connecting a safety switch independently to each of the power supply device, the feed control device and the central control device, the safety switch operable to send a delaying signal to the power supply device;
- monitoring a plurality of safety functions of the welding system using the safety switch;
- and
- initiating a first operating state operable to enable at least one welding operation and at least one second operating state using the safety switch.
A method for controlling a system to weld a short-time arc welding element, including a metal stud, onto a component, including a metal sheet, using a welding head device operatively moved in relation to the component along an arc, the method comprising:
- monitoring the system for a stop command;
- determining if the stop command is a STOP OPERATION command, operable to partially shut down the system;
- and
- performing the following steps, if the stop command is the STOP OPERATION command:
- delaying both a power supply device for the welding head device and a feed control device operable to control a feeding of the element;
- controlling a movement of the element relative to the component;
- and
- at least subsequently blocking an output voltage of both the power supply device and the feed control device.
A process for controlling a system to weld a short-time arc welding element, including a metal stud, onto a component, including a metal sheet, wherein the element is welded to the component by a welding head device being moved in relation to the component along an arc, the method comprising:
- monitoring the system for a stop command;
- determining if the stop command is a STOP OPERATION command, operable to partially shut down the system;
- if the stop command is the STOP OPERATION command:
- delaying both a power supply device for the welding head device and a feed control device operable to control a feeding of the element;
- controlling a movement of the element relative to the component;
- and
- blocking at least an output voltage of both the power supply device and the feed control device;
- monitoring if a switch securable from an unauthorised actuation emits a switching signal for an operating mode MANUAL OPERATION;
- identifying if a permission sensor emits a sampling signal;
- simultaneously blocking the output voltage of the power supply device if both the switching signal for the operating mode MANUAL OPERATION is received and the sampling signal of the permission sensor is received.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.