Weld cell system with communication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11077513-B2
Application number	US-201816109124-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2018
Priority date	Dec 29, 2010
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power is disclosed and includes a means for communicating.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of locating a distal end of a weld cable having a proximal end connected to a welding-type power supply, the method comprising:
receiving an identifying signal at the proximal end of the weld cable that is connected to the welding-type power supply, the weld cable configured to conduct electrical power that is output by the welding-type power supply from the proximal end of the weld cable to the distal end of the weld cable;
transmitting the identifying signal through the weld cable to the distal end of the weld cable;
detecting the identifying signal at the distal end of the weld cable via an output device of the weld cable; and
providing a visual output via the output device of the weld cable in response to the identifying signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises an electrical light.

3. A method of locating a first distal end of a first cable having a proximal end connected to a welding-type power supply, the method comprising:
reading, via a first reader, a first cable identifier off the proximal end of the first cable connected to the welding-type power supply;
storing, in the welding-type power supply, the first cable identifier;
receiving, at the welding-type power supply, a second cable identifier;
comparing the first cable identifier to the second cable identifier; and
providing a signal indicative of the result of the comparison.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
reading, via a second reader, the second cable identifier off the first distal end of the first cable or a second distal end of a second cable; and
transmitting the second cable identifier to the welding-type power supply.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein reading the first cable identifier comprises reading a first RFID tag or a first bar code on the proximal end of the first cable, and reading the second cable identifier comprises reading a second RFID tag or a second bar code on the first distal end of the first cable or the second distal end of the second cable.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second reader comprises a pendant or smartphone.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein transmitting includes transmitting a wireless signal and receiving includes receiving a wireless signal.

8. The method of claim 3 further comprising binding a wire feeder to the welding-type power supply in response to the signal indicative of the result of the comparison.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein a binding module of the welding-type power supply or wire feeder binds the wire feeder to the welding-type power supply.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein a first binding module of the welding-type power supply and a second binding module of the wire feeder binds the wire feeder to the welding-type power supply.

11. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second cable identifier is received via user input.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a plurality of lights.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a fiber optic strand.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a plurality of fiber optic strands.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the output device comprises a plurality of LEDs.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the visual output comprises illumination of some or all of the plurality of LEDS.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual output comprises an emission of light pulses.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual output comprises an emission of colored light.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Temby Timothy N
• Rappl James F
• Feldhausen Joseph E
• Holverson Todd E
• Novak Michael H
• Ihde Jeffery R
• Schneider Joseph C
• Albrecht Bruce P
• Bunker Thomas A
• Byron Clay A

Classifications

• H01B7/36

  with distinguishing or length marks · CPC title

• H02G1/00

  Methods or apparatus specially adapted for installing, maintaining, repairing or dismantling electric cables or lines · CPC title

• B23K9/10

  Other electric circuits therefor; Protective circuits; Remote controls · CPC title

• B23K9/32

  Accessories · CPC title

• B23K9/095 Primary

  Monitoring or automatic control of welding parameters · CPC title