Systems for energy harvesting using welding subsystems
An energy harvesting system including an energy harvesting device configured to draw electrical energy from a welding process without direct electrical contact with a weld cable. The energy harvesting system also includes energy harvesting circuitry coupled to the energy harvesting device and configured to process the electrical energy for use by a welding-related device.
1. A welding system, comprising:
an energy harvester configured to draw electrical energy from a welding process without direct electrical contact with a source of the electrical energy, wherein the energy harvester is disposed on a welding torch and comprises a weight configured to rotate about a stationary body due to manipulation of the welding torch; and
a welding-related device configured to receive and use the electrical energy, wherein the welding-related device comprises a sensor disposed on a welding torch configured to perform the welding process, the sensor configured to measure conditions of the welding process.
2. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the welding-related device further comprises an energy storage and processing circuitry, the energy harvester configured to direct the electrical energy to the energy storage or to the welding-related device based on direction received from the processing circuitry.
3. The welding system of claim 2 , wherein the energy storage is configured to provide operational energy to the welding-related device.
4. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the energy harvester is integrated with the welding-related device.
5. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the energy harvester is configured to supply operational energy to a wireless communication device of the welding-related device.
6. A welding system, comprising:
a welding power supply configured to supply a weld current for use in a welding operation;
a welding-related device configured to perform at least part of the welding operation, wherein the welding power supply monitors and controls the welding-related device, wherein the welding-related device comprises a sensor configured to measure conditions of the welding operation; and
an energy harvester configured to draw electrical energy from the welding operation without direct electrical contact with a source of the electrical energy, and to at least partially power the welding-related device, wherein the energy harvester is disposed on a welding torch and comprises a weight configured to rotate about a stationary body due to manipulation of the welding torch.
7. The welding system of claim 6 , wherein the sensor is coupled to the welding torch.
8. The welding system of claim 6 , wherein the energy harvester comprises wireless circuitry configured to send and receive signals to communicate with the welding power supply.
9. The welding system of claim 6 , wherein the welding-related device comprises an energy storage configured to receive and store electrical energy from the energy harvester.
10. The welding system of claim 6 , wherein the stationary body is coupled to the welding torch.
11. The welding system of claim 10 , wherein the weight is configured to rotate about the stationary body on a track disposed about the stationary body.