Energy Conservation System, Method, and Apparatus for Use with Welding Equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016354855-A1
Application number	US-201514729291-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 3, 2015
Priority date	Jun 3, 2015
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A welding system comprising a user manipulatable device, a proximity sensor positioned on said user manipulatable device, an engine capable of operation in an energy conservation mode and an operating mode, and a generator operatively coupled to the engine. The generator may provide at least one of (1) a welding current output or (2) an auxiliary power output. The engine may operate (1) in the operating mode when the proximity sensor outputs the first output signal, and (2) in the energy conservation mode when the engine is not operating in the operating mode. The proximity sensor may be configured to output the first output signal when an operator of said welding system is in-range.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A welding system comprising:
a user manipulatable device; a proximity sensor positioned on said user manipulatable device, the proximity sensor being configured to provide a first output signal when an operator of said welding system is in-range; an engine capable of operation in an energy conservation mode and an operating mode,
wherein the engine operates in the operating mode when the proximity sensor provides the first output signal, and
wherein the engine operates in the energy conservation mode when the engine is not operating in the operating mode; and
a generator operatively coupled to the engine, wherein the generator provides at least one of (1) a welding current output or (2) an auxiliary power output.

2 . The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor is configured to provide a second output signal when the operator is out-of-range.

3 . The welding system of claim 2 , wherein the engine operates in the energy conservation mode when the proximity sensor provides the second output signal.

4 . The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor is a touch sensor.

5 . The welding system of claim 4 , wherein the touch sensor is at least one of (1) a capacitance touch switch; (2) a resistance touch switch; (3) an inductive touch switch; or (4) a piezo touch switch.

6 . A welding system comprising:
an engine capable of operation at a first speed and a second speed; a generator operatively coupled to the engine, wherein the generator provides at least one of (1) a welding current output or (2) an auxiliary power output; a proximity sensor, the proximity sensor configured to output a trigger signal; a first engine speed control circuit operatively coupled to said proximity sensor,
wherein the first engine speed control circuit provides a first engine speed control signal to the engine such that the engine operates at the first speed when the proximity sensor outputs the trigger signal; and
a second engine speed control circuit operatively coupled to said first engine speed control circuit,
wherein the second engine speed control circuit provides a second engine speed control signal to the engine such that the engine operates at the second engine speed.

7 . The welding system of claim 6 , wherein the proximity sensor is a touch sensor.

8 . The welding system of claim 6 , wherein the trigger signal indicates that an operator of the welding system is in-range.

9 . The welding system of claim 7 , further comprising a user manipulatable device, wherein the touch sensor is positioned on the user manipulatable device.

10 . The welding system of claim 7 , wherein the touch sensor is a capacitance touch switch.

11 . The welding system of claim 7 , wherein the touch sensor is a resistance touch switch.

12 . The welding system of claim 7 , wherein the touch sensor is an inductive touch switch.

13 . The welding system of claim 7 , wherein the touch sensor is a piezo touch switch.

14 . The welding system of claim 6 , wherein the proximity sensor is an RFID reader.

15 . A system comprising:
a proximity sensor, the proximity sensor being configured to provide a first output signal when an operator of said welding system is in-range; and a power supply,
wherein the power supply provides at least one of (1) a welding current output or (2) an auxiliary power output; and
wherein the power supply is capable of operation in (1) an operating mode when the proximity sensor outputs the first output signal and (2) an energy conservation mode when the power supply is not operating in the operating mode.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the proximity sensor is configured to output a second output signal when the operator is out-of-range.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the power supply operates in the energy conservation mode when the proximity sensor outputs the second output signal.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the proximity sensor is a touch sensor.

19 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising a user manipulatable device, wherein the touch sensor is positioned on the user manipulatable device.

20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the touch sensor is at least one of (1) a capacitance touch switch; (2) a resistance touch switch; (3) inductive touch switch; or (4) a piezo touch switch.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Ulrich Mark

Classifications

• B23K9/1006 Primary

  Power supply · CPC title

• B23K37/00

  Auxiliary devices or processes, not specially adapted for a procedure covered by only one of the other main groups of this subclass · CPC title

• B23K9/1012

  characterised by parts of the process · CPC title

• B23K9/10 Primary

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

• B23K9/0956 Primary

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