Hybrid welding supply

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016303677-A1
Application number	US-201514689357-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 17, 2015
Priority date	Apr 17, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A power source for an implement used to perform a welding or cutting operation, the power source including an engine component including a generator and a rectifier electrically connected to the generator and adapted to convert alternating current provided by the generator to a direct current, the engine component being switchable between an on condition and an off condition; at least one battery, wherein the engine component and at least one battery are electrically connected to a chopper bus; and a controller in communication with the generator, chopper bus, operation chopper, and the charging switch; an auxiliary power converter including at least one of a DC to AC and a DC to DC converter, the auxiliary power converter being electrically connected to the operation chopper and the at least one battery.

First claim

1 . A power source for an implement used to perform a welding or cutting operation, the power source comprising:
an engine component including a generator and a rectifier electrically connected to the generator and adapted to convert alternating current provided by the generator to a direct current, the engine component being switchable between an on condition and an off condition; at least one battery, wherein the engine component and at least one battery are electrically connected to a chopper bus; and a controller in communication with the generator, chopper bus, operation chopper, and the charging switch; an auxiliary power converter including at least one of a DC to AC and a DC to DC converter, the auxiliary power converter being electrically connected to the operation chopper and the at least one battery.

2 . The power source of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary power converter is connected to a peripheral, wherein the auxiliary power converter provides power to the peripheral when the engine component is in the off condition.

3 . The power source of claim 2 , wherein the peripheral is an interface, wherein the interface has an on condition, wherein the interface is selectively in the on condition while the engine component is in the off condition.

4 . The power source of claim 3 , wherein the interface includes an output, the output including a display.

5 . The power source of claim 4 , wherein the interface further includes an input.

6 . The power source of claim 2 , wherein the peripheral device is a grinder.

7 . The power source of claim 2 , wherein the auxiliary power converter includes at least one of a DC to DC supply and a DC to AC supply.

8 . The power source of claim 7 further comprising an outlet, the outlet being electrically connected to the auxiliary power converter.

9 . The power source of claim 1 , wherein the at least one battery is adapted to provide the power output sufficient to perform the operation when the engine component is in the off condition.

10 . The power source of claim 1 , further comprising a charging chopper electrically connected to the generator and the battery, wherein the charging chopper includes a buck regulator that provides a selected charging voltage to the at least one battery;
a charging switch between the charging chopper and the battery, wherein when the charging switch is activated power from the generator is routed through the charging chopper to the at least one battery, wherein the controller selectively closes the charging switch to connect the charging chopper to the at least one battery.

11 . The power source of claim 10 wherein the controller deactivates power output to the implement when the charging chopper is connected to the battery.

12 . The power source of claim 10 further comprising a battery monitor in communication with the controller and the battery, wherein the battery monitor is adapted to determine the charge level of the battery and report the charge level to the controller.

13 . The power source of claim 1 further comprising a boost converter connected to the battery, wherein the boost circuit is operable to increase power provided by the engine component with power from the battery.

14 . The power source of claim 1 , wherein the engine component is operable in a quiet mode, wherein the engine component is operated to produce a selected noise level.

15 . The power source of claim 13 , wherein the selected noise level is less than 90 dB.

16 . The power source of claim 13 , wherein the selected noise level corresponds to operating the engine component at a selected revolutions per minute.

17 . A power source for an implement performing a welding or cutting operation comprising:
an engine component including a generator and a rectifier electrically connected to the generator and adapted to convert alternating current provided by the generator to a direct current, the engine component being switchable between an on condition and an off condition; at least one battery, wherein the engine component and at least one battery are electrically connected to a chopper bus; a charging chopper electrically connected to the generator and the battery, wherein the charging chopper provides a selected power to the at least one battery; a charging switch between the charging chopper and the battery, wherein when the charging switch is activated power from the generator is routed through the charging chopper to the at least one battery; a battery boost converter electrically connected to the at least one battery; an auxiliary power converter being electrically connected to the chopper bus, the auxiliary power converter including at least one of a DC to AC and a DC to DC converter; a controller in communication with the generator, chopper bus, auxiliary power converter and the charging switch, wherein the controller selectively varies power output from the engine component and battery via the chopper bus and battery boost converter to provide power sufficient to perform the operation.

18 . The power source of claim 17 further comprising a housing, wherein the auxiliary power converter is electrically connected to at least one outlet supported on the housing.

19 . The power source of claim 17 further comprising an interface, the interface being in communication with the controller, wherein the interface includes an input and an output.

20 . The power source of claim 19 , wherein the interface includes a touch screen display.

21 . The power source of claim 20 , wherein the input includes at least one button and the output includes a display.

22 . The power source of claim 19 , wherein the output includes a contribution display that visually displays the relative contribution of the engine component and the battery.

23 . The power source of claim 19 , wherein the input includes a contributory input that signals the control to vary the contribution of the engine component relative to the battery.

Assignees

• Lincoln Global Inc

Inventors

• Furman Edward
• Meckler Andreu

Classifications

• B23K9/1081 Primary

  Arc welding by means of accumulated energy · CPC title

• B23K9/1043

  characterised by the electric circuit (B23K9/1012 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02M7/219 Primary

  in a bridge configuration · CPC title

• B23K9/1087

  Arc welding using remote control · CPC title

• B23K9/1075 Primary

  Parallel power supply, i.e. multiple power supplies or multiple inverters supplying a single arc or welding current · CPC title