Methods and apparatus to switch a weld power output

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12377488-B2
Application number	US-202318500703-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2023
Priority date	Mar 7, 2016
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to communicate via a weld cable are disclosed. An example welding accessory includes a first port to receive input power via a first weld cable, a power converter to convert the input power to output power, a second port to output the input power via a second weld cable, and one or more output switches to selectively divert the input power from the power converter to the second port.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A welding system, comprising:
a welding power supply configured to output welding power; and
a first welding accessory configured to receive the welding power from the welding power supply and comprising:
a power converter configured to consume the welding power;
one or more pass-through ports configured to connect the first welding accessory to a second welding accessory;
first and second switching devices configured to direct the welding power to the power converter or to the second welding accessory; and
a controller configured to:
monitor the welding power from the welding power supply; and
control the first and second switching devices to direct the welding power to the power converter or the one or more pass-through ports based on at least a change of impedance or voltage at the pass-through ports.

2. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the welding power supply is configured to output the welding power via first and second cables.

3. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the second welding accessory is configured to provide the welding power to the first welding accessory via the one or more pass-through ports.

4. The welding system of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to:
measure a temperature information of a workpiece; and
transmit the temperature information to the first welding accessory, wherein the first and second switching devices direct the welding power to the power converter if the temperature information meets a temperature threshold.

5. The welding system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to communicate with the temperature sensor by one or both of wired communication or wireless communication.

6. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the second welding accessory comprises a current monitoring device for measuring a current of the welding power and a voltage monitoring device for measuring the voltage of the welding power.

7. The welding system of claim 6 , wherein one or both of the measured current or measured voltage is stored in one or both of a memory device or a storage device.

8. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the change of impedance or the voltage at the pass-through ports is an attempt by the second welding accessory to draw power.

9. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the directing of the welding power in response to the change of impedance or the voltage and based on whether the power converter or the second welding accessory has a higher priority to receive the welding power.

10. The welding system of claim 9 , wherein the controller communicates an error message to the second welding accessory when the power converter has the higher priority to receive the welding power.

11. The welding system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface configured to be used to enter information regarding welding of a workpiece.

12. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the first welding accessory is a wire feeder.

13. A welding system, comprising:
a welding power supply configured to output welding power;
a first welding accessory connected to the welding power supply via input ports and connected to a second welding accessory via one or more pass-through ports and comprising:
a power converter configured to consume the welding power;
a controller configured to monitor the welding power from the welding power supply; and
one or more switching devices configured to:
direct the welding power to the power converter; and
divert the welding power to the one or more pass-through ports when a signal is received.

14. The welding system of claim 13 , wherein the signal is an attempt to draw power by the first welding accessory or a temperature signal from a sensor.

15. The welding system of claim 13 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to:
measure a temperature information of a workpiece; and
transmit the temperature information to the second welding accessory, wherein the one or more switching devices direct the welding power to the power converter if the temperature information meets a temperature threshold.

16. The welding system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to monitor the welding power by measuring a current of the welding power or a voltage of the welding power.

17. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the welding power supply is configured to output the welding power via first and second cables.

18. A welding system, comprising:
a welding power supply configured to output welding power via first and second cables;
a heater comprising a power converter and configured to:
receive the welding power from the welding power supply;
monitor the welding power from the welding power supply;
consume the welding power; and
divert the welding power to one or more pass-through ports when a signal is received from the one or more pass-through ports, wherein the one or more pass-through ports are connected to a wire feeder.

19. The welding system of claim 18 , wherein the signal is an attempt to draw power by the wire feeder or a temperature signal from a sensor.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Ryan Joseph Robert
• Byrne James Andrew
• Achtner Richard Mark
• Salsich Anthony Van Bergen

Classifications

• B23K9/32

  Accessories · CPC title

• B23K9/1056

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

• B23K9/1006

  Power supply · CPC title

• B23K9/0956 Primary

  using sensing means, e.g. optical · CPC title

• H05B6/04

  Sources of current · CPC title