Method and apparatus for providing welding type power

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10625360-B2
Application number	US-201615196825-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2016
Priority date	Jul 23, 2012
Publication date	Apr 21, 2020
Grant date	Apr 21, 2020

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power includes receiving an input that may be either a single or a three phase input voltage. Three power modules, each having a single phase boost power circuit, and an output circuit process the input power. A weld output circuit receives and combines the outputs of the three power modules. An input power distribution module connects the three power modules such that each receives a unique single phase power signal. A controller controls the three power modules and the input power distribution module.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A welding-type system, for receiving an input that may be either a single or a three phase input voltage, comprising:
a first power module comprising a first pair of input connections, a first single phase boost power circuit, and a first output circuit receiving an output of the first single phase boost power circuit, and wherein the first output circuit provides a first output;
a second power module comprising a second pair of input connections, a second single phase boost power circuit, and a second output circuit receiving an output of the second single phase boost power circuit, and wherein the second output circuit provides a second output;
a third power module comprising a third pair of input connections, a third single phase boost power circuit, and a third output circuit receiving an output of the third single phase boost power circuit, and wherein the third output circuit provides a third output;
a weld output circuit, disposed to receive and combine the first, second and third outputs into a welding output;
an input power distribution module, configurable to connect the first, second and third pair of input connections to the input such that when the input is single phase at least one of the first, second and third pair of input connections receive the single phase input, and when the input is three phase the first pair of input connections receive a first single phase power signal of the three phase input voltage, and the second pair of input connections receive a second single phase power signal of the three phase input voltage, and the third pair of input connections receive a third single phase power signal of the three phase input voltage such that each of the first, second and third pair of input connections receive a unique single phase power signal; and
a controller, connected to control the first, second and third power modules, and further connected to control the input power distribution module.

2. The welding-type system of claim 1 , wherein the first output circuit includes a conductor on that carries the first output and the first, second and third outputs are substantially equal.

3. A welding-type system, for receiving an input that may be either a single or a three phase input voltage, comprising:
a first power module comprising a first pair of input connections, a first single phase boost power circuit, and a first output circuit receiving an output of the first single phase boost power circuit, and wherein the first output circuit provides a first output;
a second power module comprising a second pair of input connections, a second single phase boost power circuit, and a second output circuit receiving an output of the second single phase boost power circuit, and wherein the second output circuit provides a second output;
a third power module comprising a third pair of input connections, a third single phase boost power circuit, and a third output circuit receiving an output of the third single phase boost power circuit, and wherein the third output circuit provides a third output;
a weld output circuit, disposed to receive and combine the first, second and third outputs into a welding output;
an input power distribution module, configurable to connect the first, second and third pair of input connections to the input such that when the input is single phase at least one of the first, second and third pair of input connections receive the single phase input, and when the input is three phase each of the first, second and third pair of input connections receive a unique single phase power signal; and
a controller, connected to control the first, second and third power modules, and further connected to control the input power distribution module;
wherein the input power distribution module comprises:
a first power switch disposed to connect and disconnect the first power input and a one of the first pair of input connections;
a connection between the second power input and another of the first pair of input connections;
a second power switch disposed to connect and disconnect the second power input and a one of the second pair of input connections;
a third power switch disposed to connect and disconnect the first power input and a one of the third pair of input connections;
a first relay disposed to selectively connect one of the second and third power inputs to another of the third pair of input connection; and
a second relay disposed to selectively connect one of the first and third power inputs to another of the second pair of input connection;
wherein the controller is connected to control the first and second relays.

4. The welding-type system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a first precharge relay disposed between the first power switch and either of the first pair of input connections;
a second precharge relay disposed between the first relay and either of the second pair of input connections; and
a third precharge relay disposed between the second relay and either of the third pair of input connections;
wherein the controller is connected to control the first, second and third precharge relays.

5. The welding-type system of claim 1 , wherein the input power distribution module comprises:
a first power switch connected to the first power input;
a second power switch connected to the second power input;
a third power switch connected to third power input;
a first, second and third relay, each disposed to uniquely connect one of a unique two of the first, second and third power inputs to a one of the first, second and third pair of input connections; and
a fourth, fifth and sixth relay, each disposed to uniquely connect one of a unique two of the first, second and third power inputs to a second of the first, second and third pair of input connections;
wherein the controller is connected to control the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth relays.

6. The welding-type system of claim 1 , wherein the input power distribution module comprises:
a first, second and third relay, each disposed to uniquely connect one of a unique two of the first, second and third power inputs to a one of the first, second and third pair of input connections; and
a fourth, fifth and sixth relay, each disposed to uniquely connect one of a unique two of the first, second and third power inputs to a second of the first, second and third pair of input connections;
a first power switch connected to one of the first pair of input connections;
a second power switch connected to one of the second pair of input connections;
a third power switch connected to one of the third pair of input connections;
wherein the controller is connected to control the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth relays.

7. The welding-type system of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes:
a first boost control module having a control output that is connected to control the first single phase boost power circuit;
a second boost control module having a control output that is connected to control the second single phase boost power circuit; and
a third boost control module having a control output that is connected to control the third single phase boost power circuit.

8. The welding-type system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is connected to a user input and provides a control signal in response to the user input to each of the first, second and third boost control modules.

9. The welding-type system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is distributed such that the first boost control module is located with the first power module, the second boost control module is located with the s

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Schartner Quinn W

Classifications

• H02M1/4216

  operating from a three-phase input voltage (H02M1/4233 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23K9/1075 Primary

  Parallel power supply, i.e. multiple power supplies or multiple inverters supplying a single arc or welding current · CPC title

• B23K9/1006

  Power supply · CPC title

• A01K1/0356

  Feeding or drinking devices associated with cages (for poultry A01K31/005, A01K31/17, A01K39/00; for birds A01K31/06) · CPC title

• A01K1/0047

  Air-conditioning, e.g. ventilation, of animal housings (Laboratory cage ventilation A01K1/0313; Cat or dog houses with climate control means A01K1/0335) · CPC title