IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,498,147
Granted Patent B2
US 11,498,147 · App. 15/968,464 · Granted Nov 15, 2022

Single phase input detection and power source protection

Inventors: Adam E. Anders (Oshkosh, WI); Randy Decoster (Appleton, WI); Andrew D. Nelson (Appleton, WI); Bernard J. Vogel (Troy, OH)
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
B23K9/1062
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,498,147
App. No.
15/968,464
Granted
Nov 15, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A welding-type power supply that receives alternating current (AC) input power and converts the AC input power to direct current (DC) power to provide power for welding tools. The welding-type power supply is configured to detect whether single phase AC power or three-phase AC power is connected to the input of welding-type power supply. Single phase input power may be detected by sampling ripple voltage of the DC power, either synchronously with the AC input power or synchronously with a signal generated by an output of the welding-type power supply.

Claims (36)

1. A welding-type power supply, comprising:

an input configured to receive three-phase alternating current (AC) power;

a rectifier circuit configured to convert the three-phase AC power received at the input to direct current (DC) power at a DC power bus; and

a processor configured to:

monitor a ripple voltage of the DC power at the DC power bus; and

identify one or more voltage samples of the ripple voltage;

detect whether a single-phase AC power source or a three-phase power source is coupled to the input based on the one or more voltage samples of the ripple voltage of the DC power using a voltage sampling timing based on a frequency and voltage of AC power connected to the input.

2. The welding-type power supply of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to compare voltage differences between the one or more voltage samples of the DC power bus to detect whether a single-phase AC power source or a three-phase power source is coupled to the input.

3. The welding-type power supply of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:

detect zero-crossings of at least one leg of the AC input power; and

monitor the one or more voltage samples of the DC power bus at predetermined periods of time after detecting a zero-crossing.

4. The welding-type power supply of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to power down the welding-type power supply in response to detecting that a single-phase AC power source is coupled to the input.

5. The welding-type power supply of claim 1 , further comprising a power inverter configured to convert the DC power at the DC power bus to output power, wherein the processor is configured to shut down the power inverter in response to detecting that a single-phase AC power source is coupled to the input.

6. The welding-type power supply of claim 1 , further comprising a power inverter configured to convert the DC power at the DC power bus to output power, wherein the processor is configured to limit one of the output current or duty cycle of the power inverter in response to detecting that a single-phase AC power source is coupled to the input.

7. The welding-type power supply of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to signal an alarm in response to detecting that a single-phase AC power source is coupled to the input.

8. A welding-type power supply, comprising:

an input configured to receive three-phase alternating current (AC) power;

a rectifier circuit configured to convert the AC power received at the input to direct current (DC) power at a DC power bus; and

a processor configured to:

monitor a frequency of the AC power received at the input;

sample, synchronously with the frequency of the AC power received at the input, one or more pairs of voltage measurements of a ripple voltage on the DC power bus, each pair comprising:

a first measured voltage of the DC power bus; and

a second measured voltage of the DC power bus, the second measured voltage of the DC power bus sampled a first period of time after the first measured voltage, the first period of time based on the frequency of the AC power received at the input;

determine voltage differences for the sampled one or more pairs of voltage measurements;

compute a filtered voltage difference between the sampled one or more pairs of voltage measurements; and

compare the filtered voltage difference to a threshold voltage difference; and

determine that a single-phase AC power source is coupled to the input if the filtered voltage difference is above the threshold voltage difference, and determine that a three-phase AC power source is coupled to the input if the filtered voltage difference is below the threshold voltage difference.

9. The welding-type power supply of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to detect a period of the AC power received at the input, and wherein the first time period is one sixth of the period of the AC power received at the input.

10. The welding-type power supply of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to monitor the AC power received at the input via monitoring one leg of the AC power received at the input.

11. The welding-type power supply of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to:

detect zero-crossings of the monitored leg of the AC power received at the input; and

for each sampled pair of voltage measurements, sample the first measured voltage a second period of time after detecting a corresponding one of the zero-crossings.

12. The welding-type power supply of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to power down the welding-type power supply in response to detecting that a single-phase AC power source is coupled to the input.

13. The welding-type power supply of claim 8 , further comprising a power inverter configured to convert the DC power at the DC power bus to output power, wherein the processor is configured to shut down the power inverter in response to detecting that a single-phase AC power source is coupled to the input.

14. The welding-type power supply of claim 8 , further comprising a power inverter configured to convert the DC power at the DC power bus to output power, wherein the processor is configured to limit one of the output current or duty cycle of the power inverter in response to detecting that a single-phase AC power source is coupled to the input.

15. The welding-type power supply of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to signal an alarm in response to detecting that a single-phase AC power source is coupled to the input.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2018
From: ANDERS, ADAM E.; DECOSTER, RANDY; NELSON, ANDREW D.; VOTEL, BERNARD
To: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
Reel/Frame 046115/0444 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190337081A1 · Nov 7, 2019