GB2316244A - Battery powered electric arc welder - Google Patents
Battery powered electric arc welder Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2316244A GB2316244A GB9616881A GB9616881A GB2316244A GB 2316244 A GB2316244 A GB 2316244A GB 9616881 A GB9616881 A GB 9616881A GB 9616881 A GB9616881 A GB 9616881A GB 2316244 A GB2316244 A GB 2316244A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- battery
- transistor
- switch
- welding
- inductor
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K9/00—Arc welding or cutting
- B23K9/10—Other electric circuits therefor; Protective circuits; Remote controls
- B23K9/1081—Arc welding by means of accumulated energy
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Arc Welding Control (AREA)
Abstract
An arc welder has a switch mode power supply with a control circuit 14 which repeatedly turns a transistor T on and off, so that an inductor L stores energy from a rechargeable battery 10 when the transistor T is on and then discharges the stored energy to welding electrodes 12, 16 when the transistor T is off. The circuit 14 may be responsive to a feedback signal from a current sensing resistor R and may operate the transistor T at a switching frequency of 10KHz. The duration of each ON period of transistor may be adjusted by a manually operated power setting control. Additional controls may set voltage and short circuit power. The controls may be located on a hand-held unit (24, Fig.2) which incorporates the welding electrode 16 and may also have a welding wire feeding speed controller. The battery 10 may be a lead acid battery charged from a mains supply or from a vehicle alternator, a pedal or hand-powered alternator/dynamo, or a solar unit. The battery charging current may be increased during welding.
Description
Electrical Weldinq Apparatus
The present invention relates to an electrical welding apparatus.
Hitherto, electrical welding apparatus have been powered from the mains, because the transformer/rectifier arrangements which they employ need to be capable of providing full power at all times.
We have now devised an electrical welding apparatus which avoids the above drawback.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an electrical welding apparatus which comprises a rechargeable battery, means for recharging the battery, a charge storage means, an electronic switch and control means for periodically turning the switch on to charge said charge storage means and then turning the switch off so that the charge storage means discharges through electrodes connected across the charge storage means.
The apparatus accordingly uses a switch mode power supply, which uses the charge storage means to provide a voltage which is boosted, relative to the battery voltage, to a level required for welding.
The apparatus avoids the use of a transformer and also avoids the use of a high power on/off switch (which is an expensive component).
Preferably the electronic switch is a power transistor which is controlled by a circuit which supplies a train of pulses. Preferably a manual power control is provided, to vary the duration of each pulse (the ON time of the switch).
Preferably a feedback circuit is provided, and further controls the duration of each pulse in accordance with the charging current which flows when the switch is ON, to regulate that current.
Preferably the charge storage means comprises an inductor having one end connected to a first terminal of the battery and its other end connected via a rectifier to a first electrode. A second electrode is connected to the first terminal of the battery. The switch is connected from the junction between the inductor and diode, to the second terminal of the battery. When the switch is ON, current passes from the battery, through the inductor and switch, and so charges the inductor: at this time however, the rectifier is reversebiassed. When the switch turns OFF, the inductor discharges, developing a boosted voltage which forward-biasses the rectifier and a high discharge current passes from the inductor, through the diode and workpiece and returns to the first terminal of the battery.
An embodiment of electrical welding apparatus will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURE 1 is a circuit diagram of a welding apparatus in accordance with the invention; and
FIGURE 2 is a schematic view of the apparatus.
Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown an electrical welding apparatus which is powered from a 12 volt rechargeable battery (e.g. a lead-acid battery) 10. The positive terminal of the battery 10 is connected to one end of an inductor L, the other end of which is connected via a diode
D to a terminal 12. A transistor switch T is connected from the junction between the inductor L and diode D, to the negative terminal of the battery 10. A control circuit 14 controls the switch T. A feedback signal is developed across a resistor R in the emitter circuit of the switch T and applied to the control circuit 14. A welding electrode 16 is connected to the positive terminal of the battery 10.
In use of the apparatus, the terminal 12 is connected to the workpiece W, and the welding arc is struck between the welding electrode 16 and the workpiece W. The control circuit 14 provides a train of pulses for switching the transistor switch T on and off. Each time switch T is switched on, current passes from the battery 10, through inductor L and the switch T, so storing energy in the inductor L: at this time, should the electrode 16 touch the workpiece W, the cathode of the diode D is held effectively at 12 volts, via the workpiece
W, electrode 16 and the line to the positive terminal of the battery, such that the diode is reverse biassed and no current passes through it. Then when the transistor T is switched off, the energy stored in the inductor L dissipates, the voltage at the junction between the inductor L and diode D rapidly rising (typically to 36 volts) such that a high current (typically of the order of 150 amps) flows from the inductor L, through the diode D, the workpiece W and via the arc to electrode 16 and back to the positive terminal of the battery.
The apparatus further comprises an arrangement for recharging the battery 10. This recharger may be powered from the mains, vehicle alternators/dynamos, pedal or handle-powered alternators/dynamos, or solar power for example.
Typically, the control circuit may provide switching pulses at a repetition frequency of 10kHz. A power control setting may be included, to set the time duration for which the transistor T is ON each time. The feedback signal developed across resistor R is a measure of the current flowing through the transistor, and is compared with a value, selected by the power control setting, to regulate the duration of each control pulse applied to the transistor. Additional controls can be provided to set the voltage, short circuit power and pulsing flexibility.
It will be appreciated that the transistor T is conductive for very short time durations. When the transistor
T is OFF, current flows only whilst the inductor L discharges.
it will be further appreciated that the circuit avoids the use of a high power transformer and further avoids the use of an
ON/OFF switch. The apparatus is smaller and tighter than conventional welders of comparable power rating. A further feature of the circuit is that it is fail-safe.
As shown in Figure 2, the battery 10 and power electronic circuit may be contained within a housing 20, typically provided with a handle 22 so that it is readily portable. A hand-held unit 24, incorporating the welding electrode 16, is coupled to the housing 20 by a flexible pipe 26. Preferably the power control setting and other manual controls are incorporated in the hand unit.
In the case of a lead-acid battery, then if this recharges too quickly, hydrogen gas will be vented off. The apparatus incorporates a charge monitor which monitors, and controls, the charge current such that the venting of hydrogen is minimised. Further the charge current can be linked to the weld current such that the charge current is increased during welding and decreased to a safe limit (approximately 10% of the battery rating) during quiescent periods. Optionally the apparatus will also incorporate a voltage monitor to shut down the welder if the battery goes below a certain, preset, voltage and will only allow its use again once the battery has been recharged to a preset value.
The housing 20 also includes a ventilating fan arrangement for cooling the power electronics and for preventing any hydrogen building up to an explosive level.
The welding apparatus which has been described is suited to gasless MIG welding, in which a wire which incorporates flux is fed, motor-driven, from within the housing 20, through the pipe 26 and to the hand-held unit 24. It may instead be used for gas-mode MIG welding, in which the wire does not include flux but an inert gas is fed through the pipe 26 to emerge from a nozzle of the hand held unit 24: in this case however, changeover terminals (indicated at 18 in Figure 1) must be used. The motor for the welding wire is preferably of variable speed, with its manual speed-controller preferably included in the hand-held unit 24.
Claims (6)
1) An electrical welding apparatus comprising a rechargeable battery, means for recharging said battery, a charge storage means, an electronic switch and control means for periodically turning said switch on to charge said charge storage means and then turning said switch off so that said charge storage means discharges through electrodes connected across said charge storage means.
2) An electrical welding apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said electronic switch is a power transistor which is controlled by a circuit which supplies a train of pulses.
3) An electrical welding apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, comprising a manual power control for varying the duration of each pulse.
4) An electrical welding apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, comprising a feedback circuit for controlling the duration of each pulse in accordance with the charging current which flows when the switch is ON, to regulate that current.
5) An electrical welding apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said charge storage means comprises an inductor having one end connected to a first terminal of the battery and its other end connected via a rectifier to a first electrode, a second electrode being connected to the first terminal of the battery, and said switch being connected from the junction between said inductor and said rectifier to a second terminal of said battery.
6) An electrical welding apparatus, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9616881A GB2316244B (en) | 1996-08-10 | 1996-08-10 | Electrical welding apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9616881A GB2316244B (en) | 1996-08-10 | 1996-08-10 | Electrical welding apparatus |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB9616881D0 GB9616881D0 (en) | 1996-09-25 |
GB2316244A true GB2316244A (en) | 1998-02-18 |
GB2316244B GB2316244B (en) | 2000-08-09 |
Family
ID=10798349
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB9616881A Expired - Fee Related GB2316244B (en) | 1996-08-10 | 1996-08-10 | Electrical welding apparatus |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2316244B (en) |
Cited By (19)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6111215A (en) * | 1998-10-23 | 2000-08-29 | Lilly; Leslie G. | Minature battery powered arc welder |
US6512201B2 (en) | 1999-12-08 | 2003-01-28 | Lincoln Global, Inc. | Fuel cell operated welder |
US6747246B2 (en) * | 2002-03-04 | 2004-06-08 | Crandell, Iii John O. | Integrated mobile tool and welder power supply system |
US6825435B1 (en) * | 2002-03-12 | 2004-11-30 | Lyndon Brown | Power supply and control equipment for a resistance welding machine |
EP1535691A2 (en) * | 2003-11-26 | 2005-06-01 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Portable welding-type apparatus with interchangeable energy storage device |
US6982398B2 (en) | 2004-06-01 | 2006-01-03 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Fuel saving engine driven welding-type device and method of use |
WO2007142876A2 (en) | 2006-05-31 | 2007-12-13 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Battery powered welder system utilizing vehicle powered ac inverter |
US7339134B2 (en) * | 2004-04-01 | 2008-03-04 | Lincoln Global, Inc. | Extension lift truck modification |
US7615719B2 (en) | 2006-09-11 | 2009-11-10 | Hypertherm, Inc. | Autonomous plasma cutting system |
WO2011029113A1 (en) | 2009-09-10 | 2011-03-17 | Fronius International Gmbh | Energy conversion method and apparatus, and welding device |
WO2011029117A1 (en) | 2009-09-10 | 2011-03-17 | Fronius International Gmbh | Energy conversion method and apparatus, and welding device |
US8080761B2 (en) | 2004-08-17 | 2011-12-20 | Lincoln Global, Inc. | Hybrid powered welder |
US8350182B2 (en) | 2006-09-11 | 2013-01-08 | Hypertherm, Inc. | Portable autonomous material processing system |
AT513230A1 (en) * | 2012-08-10 | 2014-02-15 | Fronius Int Gmbh | PORTABLE WELDING ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A PORTABLE WELDING ASSEMBLY |
US9522438B2 (en) | 2012-11-09 | 2016-12-20 | Hypertherm, Inc. | Battery-controlled plasma arc torch system |
US9533367B2 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2017-01-03 | Black & Decker Inc. | Cordless welding machine and plasma cutter |
US9550251B2 (en) | 2014-03-28 | 2017-01-24 | Hypertherm, Inc. | Power supply assembly for a plasma arc torch system |
US10099308B2 (en) | 2006-02-09 | 2018-10-16 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Method and apparatus for welding with battery power |
US10736204B2 (en) | 2016-10-21 | 2020-08-04 | Hypertherm, Inc. | Plasma power tool |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN107052542B (en) * | 2016-11-28 | 2019-10-29 | 徐海恩 | A kind of novel portable energy conservation welder |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1242947A (en) * | 1969-04-11 | 1971-08-18 | Continental Can Co | Direct current electrical resistance welding system |
GB1480102A (en) * | 1975-04-14 | 1977-07-20 | Grundy & Partners Ltd | Welding or soldering apparatus |
US4182949A (en) * | 1976-07-21 | 1980-01-08 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Self-contained, portable underwater stud welder |
GB1574880A (en) * | 1976-11-01 | 1980-09-10 | Shinko Electric Co Ltd | High frequency arc welding |
US4310744A (en) * | 1979-07-26 | 1982-01-12 | Osaka Transformer Co., Ltd. | A.C. Arc welder |
EP0449467A1 (en) * | 1990-03-26 | 1991-10-02 | Powcon Incorporated | Apparatus employing a welding power supply for powering a plasma cutting torch |
US5237153A (en) * | 1991-05-06 | 1993-08-17 | Gilliland Malcolm T | Transformer and power supply for pulse-arc welding station |
GB2301495A (en) * | 1995-04-05 | 1996-12-04 | Countertone Limited | Power supply for electrical welding apparatus |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH0523849A (en) * | 1991-07-24 | 1993-02-02 | Sawafuji Electric Co Ltd | Battery welding machine |
-
1996
- 1996-08-10 GB GB9616881A patent/GB2316244B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1242947A (en) * | 1969-04-11 | 1971-08-18 | Continental Can Co | Direct current electrical resistance welding system |
GB1480102A (en) * | 1975-04-14 | 1977-07-20 | Grundy & Partners Ltd | Welding or soldering apparatus |
US4182949A (en) * | 1976-07-21 | 1980-01-08 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Self-contained, portable underwater stud welder |
GB1574880A (en) * | 1976-11-01 | 1980-09-10 | Shinko Electric Co Ltd | High frequency arc welding |
US4310744A (en) * | 1979-07-26 | 1982-01-12 | Osaka Transformer Co., Ltd. | A.C. Arc welder |
EP0449467A1 (en) * | 1990-03-26 | 1991-10-02 | Powcon Incorporated | Apparatus employing a welding power supply for powering a plasma cutting torch |
US5237153A (en) * | 1991-05-06 | 1993-08-17 | Gilliland Malcolm T | Transformer and power supply for pulse-arc welding station |
GB2301495A (en) * | 1995-04-05 | 1996-12-04 | Countertone Limited | Power supply for electrical welding apparatus |
Cited By (37)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6111215A (en) * | 1998-10-23 | 2000-08-29 | Lilly; Leslie G. | Minature battery powered arc welder |
US6512201B2 (en) | 1999-12-08 | 2003-01-28 | Lincoln Global, Inc. | Fuel cell operated welder |
US6653596B2 (en) | 1999-12-08 | 2003-11-25 | Lincoln Global, Inc. | Fuel cell operated welder |
US6747246B2 (en) * | 2002-03-04 | 2004-06-08 | Crandell, Iii John O. | Integrated mobile tool and welder power supply system |
US6825435B1 (en) * | 2002-03-12 | 2004-11-30 | Lyndon Brown | Power supply and control equipment for a resistance welding machine |
US7183517B2 (en) | 2003-11-26 | 2007-02-27 | Illinois Tool Works, Inc. | Portable welding-type apparatus with interchangeable energy storage device |
EP1535691A3 (en) * | 2003-11-26 | 2005-06-08 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Portable welding-type apparatus with interchangeable energy storage device |
EP1535691A2 (en) * | 2003-11-26 | 2005-06-01 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Portable welding-type apparatus with interchangeable energy storage device |
EP2279822A1 (en) * | 2003-11-26 | 2011-02-02 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Portable welding-type apparatus with interchangeable energy storage device |
US7339134B2 (en) * | 2004-04-01 | 2008-03-04 | Lincoln Global, Inc. | Extension lift truck modification |
US6982398B2 (en) | 2004-06-01 | 2006-01-03 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Fuel saving engine driven welding-type device and method of use |
US10661375B2 (en) | 2004-06-01 | 2020-05-26 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Hybrid welding-type power source |
US9925614B2 (en) | 2004-06-01 | 2018-03-27 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Power source with rechargeable energy storage device |
US9278403B2 (en) | 2004-06-01 | 2016-03-08 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Power source with rechargeable energy storage device |
US8841583B2 (en) | 2004-06-01 | 2014-09-23 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Hybrid welder |
US7838797B2 (en) | 2004-06-01 | 2010-11-23 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Fuel saving engine driven welding-type device and method of use |
US8791388B2 (en) | 2004-06-01 | 2014-07-29 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Hybrid welding-type power source |
US8080761B2 (en) | 2004-08-17 | 2011-12-20 | Lincoln Global, Inc. | Hybrid powered welder |
US10099308B2 (en) | 2006-02-09 | 2018-10-16 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Method and apparatus for welding with battery power |
US9533367B2 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2017-01-03 | Black & Decker Inc. | Cordless welding machine and plasma cutter |
WO2007142876A2 (en) | 2006-05-31 | 2007-12-13 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Battery powered welder system utilizing vehicle powered ac inverter |
US7777447B2 (en) | 2006-05-31 | 2010-08-17 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Battery powered welder system utilizing vehicle powered AC inverter |
WO2007142876A3 (en) * | 2006-05-31 | 2008-04-03 | Illinois Tool Works | Battery powered welder system utilizing vehicle powered ac inverter |
US7615719B2 (en) | 2006-09-11 | 2009-11-10 | Hypertherm, Inc. | Autonomous plasma cutting system |
US8203096B2 (en) | 2006-09-11 | 2012-06-19 | Hypertherm, Inc. | Wearable autonomous material processing system |
US8350182B2 (en) | 2006-09-11 | 2013-01-08 | Hypertherm, Inc. | Portable autonomous material processing system |
US8890021B2 (en) | 2006-09-11 | 2014-11-18 | Hypertherm, Inc. | Portable autonomous material processing system |
WO2011029113A1 (en) | 2009-09-10 | 2011-03-17 | Fronius International Gmbh | Energy conversion method and apparatus, and welding device |
US9481048B2 (en) | 2009-09-10 | 2016-11-01 | Fronius International Gmbh | Energy conversion method and apparatus, and welding device |
US9254534B2 (en) | 2009-09-10 | 2016-02-09 | Fronius International Gmbh | Energy conversion method and apparatus, and welding device |
AT508693B1 (en) * | 2009-09-10 | 2015-05-15 | Fronius Int Gmbh | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ENERGY CONVERSION AND WELDING DEVICE |
WO2011029117A1 (en) | 2009-09-10 | 2011-03-17 | Fronius International Gmbh | Energy conversion method and apparatus, and welding device |
AT513230A1 (en) * | 2012-08-10 | 2014-02-15 | Fronius Int Gmbh | PORTABLE WELDING ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A PORTABLE WELDING ASSEMBLY |
US10688584B2 (en) | 2012-08-10 | 2020-06-23 | Fronius International Gmbh | Portable welding arrangement and method for operating a portable welding arrangement, said arrangement comprising a storage battery controlled in accordance with the operating mode of welding apparatus |
US9522438B2 (en) | 2012-11-09 | 2016-12-20 | Hypertherm, Inc. | Battery-controlled plasma arc torch system |
US9550251B2 (en) | 2014-03-28 | 2017-01-24 | Hypertherm, Inc. | Power supply assembly for a plasma arc torch system |
US10736204B2 (en) | 2016-10-21 | 2020-08-04 | Hypertherm, Inc. | Plasma power tool |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB9616881D0 (en) | 1996-09-25 |
GB2316244B (en) | 2000-08-09 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20001109 |