Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
In an arc welding system for supplying direct current power from an alternating current power source to a welding station having a common weld terminal, a positive weld terminal and a negative weld terminal, the improvement comprising a welding power supply including a transformer having a primary winding connected to the power source and a pair of secondary windings, said transformer being a constant potential transformer having said primary winding close-coupled to said secondary windings, a first full wave rectifier connected to one of said secondary windings and having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and a second full wave rectifier connected to the other of said secondary windings and having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, said rectifiers establishing a pair of direct current outputs; and a selector switch having a first position for connecting the positive output terminal of said first rectifier and the negative polarity output terminal of said second rectifier to the common weld terminal, the negative terminal of said first rectifier to the negative weld terminal and the positive terminal of said second rectifier to the second weld terminal, whereby a reverse polarity arc can be established at the positive weld terminal and a straight polarity arc can be established at the negative weld terminal simultaneously, said selector switch having a second position connecting said rectifier in parallel between the positivE weld terminal and the negative weld terminal and disconnecting the common weld terminal from said rectifiers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
In an arc welding system for supplying direct current power from an alternating current power source to a welding station having a common weld terminal, a positive weld terminal and a negative weld terminal, the improvement comprising a welding power supply including a transformer having a primary winding connected to the power source and a pair of secondary windings, said transformer being a constant potential transformer having said primary winding close-coupled to said secondary windings, a first full wave rectifier connected to one of said secondary windings and having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and a second full wave rectifier connected to the other of said secondary windings and having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, said rectifiers establishing a pair of direct current outputs; and a selector switch having a first position for connecting the positive output terminal of said first rectifier and the negative polarity output terminal of said second rectifier to the common weld terminal, the negative terminal of said first rectifier to the negative weld terminal and the positive terminal of said second rectifier to the second weld terminal, whereby a reverse polarity arc can be established at the positive weld terminal and a straight polarity arc can be established at the negative weld terminal simultaneously, said selector switch having a second position connecting said rectifier in parallel between the positivE weld terminal and the negative weld terminal and disconnecting the common weld terminal from said rectifiers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
175 words
In an arc welding system supplying direct current power to a weld station having a common weld terminal, a positive weld terminal and a negative weld terminal, the improvement comprising an arc welding power supply comprising a transformer having a primary winding and a pair of secondary windings, first and second full wave rectifiers each having a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal and each being connected to one of said secondary windings to establish a pair of direct current outputs, and a selector switch having a first position for connecting the negative output terminal of said first rectifier and the positive output terminal of said second rectifier to the common weld terminal and for connecting the positive output terminal of said first rectifier to the positive weld terminal and the negative output terminal of said second rectifier to the negative weld terminal, said switch having a second position connecting said rectifiers in parallel between the positive weld terminal and the negative weld terminal and disconnecting the common weld terminal from said rectifiers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
175 words
In an arc welding system supplying direct current power to a weld station having a common weld terminal, a positive weld terminal and a negative weld terminal, the improvement comprising an arc welding power supply comprising a transformer having a primary winding and a pair of secondary windings, first and second full wave rectifiers each having a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal and each being connected to one of said secondary windings to establish a pair of direct current outputs, and a selector switch having a first position for connecting the negative output terminal of said first rectifier and the positive output terminal of said second rectifier to the common weld terminal and for connecting the positive output terminal of said first rectifier to the positive weld terminal and the negative output terminal of said second rectifier to the negative weld terminal, said switch having a second position connecting said rectifiers in parallel between the positive weld terminal and the negative weld terminal and disconnecting the common weld terminal from said rectifiers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The arc welding power supply of claim 2 wherein said transformer is a constant potential transformer having the primary winding close coupled to said secondary windings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
The welding power supply according to claim 2 wherein said switch comprises a double pole-double throw switch having a first contact arm connected to the positive terminal of said first rectifier and a pair of associated contacts one of which is connected to the common weld terminal and the second of which is connected to the positive terminal of said second rectifier; and a second contact arm connected to the negative terminal of said second rectifier and a pair of associated contacts one of which is connected to the common weld terminal and the second of which is connected to the negative terminal of said first rectifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The arc welding power supply of claim 2 wherein said transformer is a three-phase constant potential transformer, said rectifiers being three-phase full wave diode rectifiers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
122 words
The arc welding power supply of claim 5 wherein said switch comprises a double pole double throw switch having a first contact arm connected to the positive terminal of said first rectifier and a pair of associated contacts one of which is connected to the common weld terminal and the second of which is connected to the positive terminal of said second rectifier and to the positive weld terminal, said switch having a second contact arm connected to the negative terminal of said second rectifier and a pair of associated contacts one of which is connected to the common weld terminal and the second of which is connected to the negative terminal of said first rectifier and to the negative weld terminal.