IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,369,668
Granted Patent B2
US 10,369,668 · App. 15/180,597 · Granted Aug 6, 2019

Welding system

Inventors: Christopher Jack (San Diego, CA); Stephen Cole (Chula Vista, CA)
Assignee: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
B23K37/0229B23K9/0026B23K9/0282B23K9/16B23K10/00B23K26/282B23K26/38B23K37/0276B23K37/0538B23K2101/04B23K2101/06B23K2101/10B26F3/004
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,369,668
App. No.
15/180,597
Granted
Aug 6, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A welding system is disclosed that includes a power supply, a controller in communication with the power supply, and a welder in communication with the controller. The controller detects a configuration of the welder that includes at least a 1G configuration. Upon the controller detecting the 1G configuration, the controller inverts a height adjustment and automatically calculates a contact tip to work distance.

Claims (39)

1. A welding system comprising:

a power supply;

a controller in communication with the power supply;

a welder in communication with the controller, wherein the welder is configurable to an angular configuration and a fixed configuration, wherein the fixed configuration comprises a 1G configuration;

wherein the controller is configured to:

detect a configuration of the welder,

upon detection of the fixed configuration, invert a height adjustment and automatically calculate a contact tip to work distance, wherein the contact tip to work distance comprises a distance between a contact tip of the welder and a workpiece; and

adjust at least one of the contact tip to work distance or an arc current level based on the inverted height adjustment.

2. The welding system of claim 1 , further comprising a positioner connectable to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to convert a travel position of the welder into a motion of the positioner upon detection of the fixed configuration.

3. The welding system of claim 2 , wherein the positioner comprises a chuck mounted on a drive shaft of a motor, and wherein the motion of the positioner set by the controller is a revolutions per minute value.

4. The welding system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to coordinate movement of the positioner with operation of the welder in the fixed configuration.

5. The welding system of claim 2 , wherein the positioner is configured to move a workpiece relative to the welder.

6. The welding system of claim 5 , wherein the positioner is further configured to rotate the workpiece relative to the welder.

7. The welding system of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface connected to the controller, wherein the user interface includes a display configured to convey at least the configuration of the welder.

8. The welding system of claim 7 , wherein the user interface further comprises a user input.

9. The welding system of claim 8 , wherein the user input allows the user to set welder parameters including at least one of a travel speed and a workpiece diameter.

10. The welding system of claim 1 , further comprising a positioner assembly including a first positioner and a second positioner, wherein the first positioner is configured to define a first workstation and the second positioner is configured to define a second workstation.

11. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to detect if the welder is in an inverted configuration.

12. The welding system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

invert the height adjustment if the controller detects that the welder is in the inverted configuration; and

calibrate the welder for orbital operation if the controller does not detect that the welder is in the inverted configuration.

13. A welding system for welding a workpiece comprising:

a power supply;

a controller in communication with the power supply;

a positioner assembly in communication with the controller, the positioner assembly including at least a first positioner, the first positioner including a chuck, the chuck being mounted on a drive shaft and driven by a drive motor to rotate the chuck;

a welder in communication with the controller; and

a support configured to hold the welder in an inverted configuration; wherein the controller is configured to:

detect the inverted configuration of the welder;

upon detection of the inverted configuration, invert a height adjustment and automatically calculate a contact tip to work distance, wherein the contact tip to work distance comprises a distance between a contact tip of the welder and a workpiece; and

adjust at least one of the contact tip to work distance or an arc current level based on the inverted height adjustment.

14. The welding system of claim 13 , further comprising a user interface connected to the controller.

15. The welding system of claim 14 , wherein the support is moveable in a vertical direction to set a height of the welder relative to the chuck.

16. A method comprising:

detecting, by a controller, an inverted configuration of a welder;

inverting, by the controller, a height adjustment control of the welder and automatically calculating a contact tip to work distance, in response to detection of a first configuration, wherein the contact tip to work distance comprises a distance between a contact tip of the welder and a workpiece; and

adjusting at least one of the contact tip to work distance or an arc current level based on the inverted height adjustment.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising automatically calculating a contact tip to work distance in response to the detection of the first configuration.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first configuration comprises a fixed, inverted configuration.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising, upon detection of a second configuration, calibrating the welder for orbital operation, wherein the second configuration comprises a non-inverted configuration.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2016
From: JACK, CHRISTOPHER; COLE, STEPHEN
To: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 038903/0774 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62188441 · Jul 2, 2015
Related Publication 20170001268A1 · Jan 5, 2017