Torch indicator apparatus and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11213910-B2
Application number	US-201916575596-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2019
Priority date	Sep 19, 2019
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a welding or plasma cutting system is provided that includes a torch having a torch body. Located on or in the torch body are one or more status indicators that provide, for example, a status of a process parameter (e.g. current data, pressure data, etc.) and/or of an operating mode of the torches. Control circuitry coupled to the one or more status indicators is configured to activate the one or more status indicators prior to a carrying out of a welding or plasma cutting operation through use of the torch and to deactivate the one or more status indicators during a time when the welding or plasma cutting operation is being carried out by the torch. An associated method of operating the torch includes activating the one or more status indicators prior to a carrying out of a welding or plasma cutting operation by use of the torch, and during a time when the welding or plasma cutting operation is being carried out by use of the torch, deactivating the one or more status indicators.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A welding or plasma cutting system comprising:
a torch having a torch body;
one or more status indicators located on or in the torch body; and
control circuitry coupled to the one or more status indicators, the control circuitry being configured to:
activate the one or more status indicators prior to a carrying out of a welding or plasma cutting operation through a use of the torch when a recognized interchangeable torch component is installed on the torch or when an unrecognized interchangeable torch component is installed on the torch; and
subsequent to an activation, deactivate the one or more status indicators during a time when the welding or plasma cutting operation is being carried out by the use of the torch.

2. The welding or plasma cutting system according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry includes a switch that is transitional between an open position and a closed position, the welding or plasma cutting operation being carried out when the switch is in the closed position.

3. The welding or plasma cutting system according to claim 2 , further comprising a trigger operable by a user of the torch, the trigger being moveable between a first position and a second position, the trigger being operatively coupled to the switch in a manner that causes the switch to assume the open position when the trigger is in the first position and to assume the closed position when the trigger is in the second position.

4. The welding or plasma cutting system according to claim 3 , wherein the trigger is continuously urged towards the first position.

5. The welding or plasma cutting system according to claim 2 , wherein the switch is located inside the torch body.

6. The welding or plasma cutting system according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to reactivate the one or more status indicators upon the welding or plasma cutting operation being terminated.

7. The welding or plasma cutting system according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more status indicators is selected from the group consisting essentially of an illuminator or display indicative of whether the welding or plasma cutting system is operating in an automatic mode or a manual mode, an illuminator or display indicative of whether or not an interchangeable torch component is properly installed on the torch, an illuminator or display indicative of whether or not one or more interchangeable torch components fixed to the torch are genuine, an illuminator or display indicative of a process parameter of a utility being delivered to the torch, and combinations thereof.

8. The welding or plasma cutting system according to claim 1 , wherein the torch body is operative and configured to removably receive one or more interchangeable torch components including one or more markings, the control circuitry including:
one or more imaging devices positioned to optically acquire an image of or image data representative of the one or more markings included on the one or more interchangeable torch components;
a memory; and
an image processor that executes instructions stored in the memory so that the image processor activates at least one of the one or more status indicators based on the acquired image of or image data.

9. The welding or plasma cutting system according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to cause the one or more status indicators to deactivate prior to active welding power or arc starting power being supplied to the torch and to maintain the one or more status indicators deactivated while the welding or plasma cutting operation is being carried out.

10. A method of operating a torch of a welding or plasma cutting system, the torch including one or more status indicators, the method comprising:
activating the one or more status indicators prior to a carrying out of a welding or plasma cutting operation by a use of the torch when a recognized interchangeable torch component is installed on the torch or when an unrecognized interchangeable torch component is installed on the torch; and
subsequent to an activation, deactivating the one or more status indicators during a time when the welding or plasma cutting operation is being carried out by the use of the torch.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the one or more status indicators are activated prior to a delivery of active welding power or arc starting power to the torch.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the welding or plasma cutting system is caused to operate in a manual operating mode when the one or more status indicators is activated.

13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the welding or plasma cutting system is caused to operate in an automatic operating mode when the one or more status indicators is activated.

14. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the torch includes a switch transitional between an open position and a closed position, the welding or plasma cutting operation being carried out when the switch is in the closed position.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the torch includes a trigger operable by a user of the torch, the trigger being moveable between a first position and a second position, the trigger being operatively coupled to the switch in a manner that causes the switch to assume the open position after the trigger enters the first position.

16. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising re-activating the one or more status indicators upon the welding or plasma cutting operation being terminated.

17. A welding or plasma cutting system comprising:
a torch having a torch body;
one or more status indicators located on or in the torch body; and
control circuitry coupled to the one or more status indicators, the control circuitry being configured to activate the one or more status indicators prior to a carrying out of a welding or plasma cutting operation through a use of the torch and to deactivate the one or more status indicators during a time when the welding or plasma cutting operation is being carried out by the use of the torch,
wherein the one or more status indicators are selected from the group consisting essentially of an illuminator or display indicative of whether the welding or plasma cutting system is operating in an automatic mode or a manual mode, an illuminator or display indicative of whether or not an interchangeable torch component is properly installed on the torch, an illuminator or display indicative of whether or not one or more interchangeable torch components fixed to the torch are genuine, an illuminator or display indicative of a process parameter of a utility being delivered to the torch, and combinations thereof.

18. The welding or plasma cutting system according to claim 17 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
cause the one or more status indicators to activate when a fully recognized interchangeable torch component or a partially unrecognized interchangeable torch component is installed on the torch; and
depending on a level of component recognition, cause the welding or plasma cutting system to operate in a manual operating mode or an automatic operating mode during the time when the welding or plasma cutting operation is being carried out by the use of the torch.

19. The welding or plasma cutting system according to claim 17 , wherein the torch comprises:
a switch transitional between an open position and a closed position, the welding or plasma cutting operation being carried out when the switch is in the closed position; a

Assignees

• Esab Group Inc

Inventors

• Nadler Michael
• Lynaugh Ryan

Classifications

• H05H1/36 Primary

  Circuit arrangements (H05H1/38, H05H1/40 take precedence) · CPC title

• H05H1/34

  Details, e.g. electrodes, nozzles · CPC title

• B23K10/02

  Plasma welding · CPC title

• B23K10/006 Primary

  Control circuits therefor · CPC title

• H05H1/3494

  Means for controlling discharge parameters · CPC title