Methods and systems for support of low-power operation in training modes in welding machines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12296415-B2
Application number	US-202117511112-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2021
Priority date	Oct 30, 2020
Publication date	May 13, 2025
Grant date	May 13, 2025

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for support of low-power operation in training modes in welding machines.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A welding-type system, comprising:
a user interface (UI) component configured for one or both of providing output to a user of the welding-type system and receiving input from the user of the welding-type system;
a power supply component configured for operating at primary power, for providing power in the welding-type system during welding operations, using a high-voltage source that provides power at a first voltage level;
a receptacle configured for receiving a connector, wherein the connector provides or operates at secondary power that is different from the primary power at least in being at a second voltage level that is lower than the first voltage level; and
one or more circuits;
wherein the weld-type system is configurable to operate in a plurality of modes, the plurality of operating modes comprising, at least, a normal operation mode and a training mode; and
wherein the one or more circuits are configured to, in response to the weld-type system transitioning to the training mode from another one of the plurality of modes:
discontinue use of the power supply component;
obtain power from the connector, via the receptacle; and
operate, using the power obtained from the connector, at least one component of the welding-type system during operation in the training mode, the at least one component comprising the user interface (UI) component.

2. The welding-type system 1 , wherein the one or more circuits are configured to block one or both of power and signals received from the connector via the receptacle from passing to at least one component of the welding-type system.

3. The welding-type system 2 , wherein the at least one component comprises a main controller component.

4. The welding-type system 1 , wherein the one or more circuits are configured to, in response to transitioning to the normal operation mode, bypass one or both of signals power and signals received from the connector via the receptacle.

5. The welding-type system 1 , wherein the receptacle is configured for supporting receiving universal serial bus (USB) based connectors.

6. The welding-type system 1 , wherein the first voltage level is approximately 230V.

7. The welding-type system 1 , wherein the second voltage level is approximately between 3V-6V.

8. The welding-type system 1 , wherein the connector is configured to obtain power from a demo source.

9. The welding-type system 8 , wherein the demo source that provides power at a third voltage level that is lower than the first voltage level and higher than the second voltage level.

10. The welding-type system 9 , wherein the first voltage level is approximately 230V and the third voltage level is approximately 115V.

11. The welding-type system 9 , wherein the connector comprises or is connected to a power conversion component that is configured to convert power supplied from the demo source from the third voltage level to the second voltage level.

12. The welding-type system 11 , wherein the power conversion component comprises a wall wart plug configured for engaging the demo source.

13. The welding-type system 11 , wherein the secondary power is different from the power supplied from the demo source in type, and wherein the power conversion component is configured to convert type of power.

14. The welding-type system 13 , wherein type of secondary power is direct current (DC) and type of the power supplied from the demo source is alternating current (AC) power, and wherein the power conversion component is configured to convert power from AC power to DC power.

15. The welding-type system 1 , wherein the one or more circuits are configured to transition the welding-type system to the training mode in response to user input.

16. The welding-type system 1 , wherein the one or more circuits are configured to transition the welding-type system to the training mode automatically.

17. The welding-type system 16 , wherein the one or more circuits are configured to transition the welding-type system to the training mode automatically in response to engaging the connector into the receptacle.

18. A welding-type system, comprising:
a user interface (UI) component configured for one or both of providing output to a user of the welding-type system and receiving input from the user of the welding-type system;
a power supply component configured for supplying power within the welding-type system during welding operations based on a first power profile; and
one or more circuits;
wherein the welding-type system is configurable to operate in a plurality of modes, the plurality of operating modes comprising, at least, a normal operation mode and a training mode; and
wherein the one or more circuits are configured to, in response to the weld-type system transitioning to the training mode from another one of the plurality of modes, adjust operation of the power supply component in accordance with a second power profile, wherein:
the second power profile accounts for requiring less power in the welding-type system than when operating based on the first power profile; and
the second power profile allows for operating at least one component of the welding-type system during operation in the training mode, the at least one component comprising the user interface (UI) component.

19. The welding-type system 18 , wherein the one or more circuits are configured to, when adjusting the operation of the power supply component, to: shut down the power supply component, disable power supply from the power supply component, or adjust power supply from the power supply component.

20. The welding-type system 18 , wherein the one or more circuits are configured to transition the welding-type system to the training mode based on one or more criteria, the one or more criteria comprises connecting the welding-type system to a local external power source that provide power having one or more characteristics different than power supplied based on the first power profile.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Roehl Chris J
• Prochnow Gregg
• Manthe Alan
• Brock Maxwell Bode
• Erdmann Jeremy John
• Dessart Nicholas James
• Rozmarynowski Scott Ryan

Classifications

• G09B19/24

  Use of tools · CPC title

• B23K26/21

  by welding · CPC title

• B23K13/01

  by induction heating · CPC title

• B23K11/00

  Resistance welding; Severing by resistance heating · CPC title

• B23K10/00

  Welding or cutting by means of a plasma · CPC title