TIG gun power pin for welding device or system and multi-process welder with a single gas flow path

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10888946-B2
Application number	US-201815893133-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2018
Priority date	Feb 10, 2017
Publication date	Jan 12, 2021
Grant date	Jan 12, 2021

Abstract

A welding system includes a multi-process power supply, a TIG torch, and a TIG power pin for connecting the TIG torch to the multi-process power supply. The multi-process power supply has a power output connection for a MIG torch and a controller. The Controller is configured to command shielding gas and welding current to be provided to the power output connection, and the power output connection is configured to provide the shielding gas and the welding current to a MIG torch when the MIG torch is connected to the power output connection. The TIG power pin connects the TIG torch to the power output connection such that the power output connection is configured to provide the shielding gas and the welding current to the TIG torch. The controller is configured such that at least one of the shielding gas and the welding current is not provided to the TIG torch through the power output connection until a user engages a control member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A welding system, comprising:
a multi-process power supply comprising a power output connection for a MIG torch and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to command shielding gas and welding current to be provided to the power output connection, and wherein the power output connection is configured to provide the shielding gas and the welding current to the MIG torch when the MIG torch is connected to the power output connection;
a TIG torch assembly comprising a TIG torch and a control member for controlling a level of the welding current, wherein the control member is in circuit communication with the controller of the multi-process power supply when the control member is connected to the multi-process power supply;
a TIG power pin for alternatively connecting the TIG torch to the power output connection of the multi-process power supply, such that the power output connection is configured to provide the shielding gas and the welding current to the TIG torch when the TIG power pin connects the TIG torch to the power output connection;
wherein the controller is configured to set the multi-process power supply to a TIG welding mode when at least one of the control member and the TIG power pin is connected to the multi-process power supply such that at least one of the shielding gas and the welding current is not provided to the TIG torch through the power output connection until a user engages the control member,
wherein the power output connection comprises a female connection portion, wherein the TIG power pin comprises an insertion portion that is disposed within the female connection portion when the TIG power pin is connected to the power output connection and a body portion that extends from the female connection portion when the TIG power pin is connected to the power output connection, and wherein the insertion portion comprises at least one flow channel or port that aligns with a gas port of the power output connection when the TIG power pin is connected to the multi-process power supply, and
wherein the TIG power pin comprises a sleeve that covers the body portion when the TIG power pin is connected to the power output connection.

2. The welding system according to claim 1 , wherein the welding current is not provided to the TIG torch through the power output connection until the user engages the control member when the multi-process power supply is set to the TIG welding mode.

3. The welding system according to claim 1 , wherein the shielding gas is not provided to the TIG torch through the power output connection until the user engages the control member when the multi-process power supply is set to the TIG welding mode.

4. The welding system according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-process power supply further comprises a shielding gas path having a solenoid valve, wherein the shielding gas path is in fluid communication with the power output connection, and wherein the solenoid valve is in circuit communication with the controller such that the controller can move the solenoid valve between an open position and a closed position.

5. The welding system according to claim 4 , wherein the multi-process power supply has a feed plate assembly that is in fluid communication with the shielding gas path and the power output connection.

6. The welding system according to claim 1 , wherein the control member comprises a foot pedal.

7. The welding system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller of the multi-process power supply is configured to determine whether the MIG torch or the TIG torch is connected to the power output connection, and wherein the controller is configured to alter one or more user input settings of the multi-process power supply based on whether the MIG torch or the TIG torch is connected to the power output connection.

8. The welding system according to claim 1 , wherein the TIG power pin is attached to the TIG torch.

9. The welding system according to claim 8 , wherein the TIG power pin is removably attached to the TIG torch.

10. The welding system according to claim 1 , wherein the TIG power pin is removable from the TIG torch.

11. A welding system, comprising:
a multi-process power supply comprising a power output connection for a MIG torch and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to command shielding gas and welding current to be provided to the power output connection, and wherein the power output connection is configured to provide the shielding gas and the welding current to the MIG torch when the MIG torch is connected to the power output connection;
a TIG torch;
a TIG power pin for alternatively connecting the TIG torch to the power output connection of the multi-process power supply, such that the power output connection is configured to provide the shielding gas and the welding current to the TIG torch when the TIG power pin connects the TIG torch to the power output connection;
wherein the controller is configured to only provide shielding gas to the TIG torch through the power output connection when an electrode of the TIG torch contacts a workpiece,
wherein the power output connection comprises a female connection portion, and wherein the TIG power pin comprises an insertion portion that is disposed within the female connection portion when the TIG power pin is connected to the power output connection and a body portion that extends from the female connection portion when the TIG power pin is connected to the power output connection, and
wherein the TIG power pin comprises a sleeve that covers the body portion when the TIG power pin is connected to the power output connection.

12. The welding system according to claim 11 , wherein the multi-process power supply further comprises a shielding gas path having a solenoid valve, wherein the shielding gas path is in fluid communication with the power output connection, and wherein the solenoid valve is in circuit communication with the controller such that the controller can move the solenoid valve between an open position and a closed position.

13. The welding system according to claim 12 , wherein the multi-process power supply has a feed plate assembly that is in fluid communication with the shielding gas path and the power output connection.

14. The welding system according to claim 11 , wherein the TIG power pin comprises at least one flow channel or port that aligns with a gas port of the power output connection of the multi-process power supply when the TIG power pin is connected to the power output connection.

15. The welding system according to claim 11 , wherein the insertion portion comprises at least one flow channel or port that aligns with a gas port of the power output connection of the multi-process power supply when the TIG power pin is connected to the multi-process power supply.

16. The welding system according to claim 15 , wherein the body portion comprises a distal face, and wherein the distal face comprises a cavity that is in fluid communication with at least one flow port of the insertion portion.

17. The welding system according to claim 11 , wherein the controller of the multi-process power supply is configured to determine whether the MIG torch or the TIG torch is connected to the power output connection, and wherein the controller is configured to alter one or more user input settings of the multi-process power supply based on whether the MIG torch or the TIG torch is connected to the power output connection.

18. The welding system according to claim 11 , wherein the TIG power pin is atta

Assignees

• Lincoln Global Inc

Inventors

• Crescenze Samuel P
• Turk Brian M
• Mehlman Alexander C
• Rosenberger Jonathan D

Classifications

• B23K9/1056 Primary

  by using digital means (B23K9/1068 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23K9/1068

  Electric circuits for the supply of power to two or more arcs from a single source · CPC title

• B23K9/173

  and of a consumable electrode · CPC title

• B23K9/167

  and of a non-consumable electrode · CPC title

• B23K9/323

  Combined coupling means, e.g. gas, electricity, water or the like · CPC title