Welding power source

Claim 2

A power source for a welding machine comprising: means for providing a welding electrical signal, including means for generating a pulse train and means connected to said pulse train generating means for receiving and integrating said pulse train to produce said welding signal, said generating means including means for providing a direct current signal having at least a direct current component, energy storage means for receiving said direct current signal and storing energy to a given level, switching means connected to said energy storage means for switching from a conductive to a non-conductive state and from a non-conductive to a conductive state, and means for alternately causing said switching means to shift from a nonconductive to a conductive state and from said conductive to said non-conductive state to generate said pulse train, a pair of welding electrodes, means connecting said electrodes to said providing means for applying said welding signal to said electrodes, means for sensing both the voltage and current of said welding electrical signal applied to said electrodes, and means connected to said sensing means and responsive to both said sensed welding current and voltage for varying a characteristic of the welding electrical signal as a function of both the sensed current and voltage.

Claim 3

A source as in claim 1 wherein said varying means includes means for varying the frequency of the pulses generated by said generating means in accordance with both said sensed current and voltage.

Claim 4

A power source as in claim 1 wherein said energy storage means includes a first capcitor, and a second capacitor, wherein said switching means includes a first electronic switch connected in a current path with said first capacitor for discharging said first capacitor and a second electronic switch connected in a current path with said second capacitor for discharging said second capacitor so that the discharge of said first and second capacitors forms said pulse train and wherein said causing means includes means for causing said first and second electronic switches to be alternately conductive for a given period of time to generate said pulse train.

Claim 5

A power source as in claim 3 wherein said pulse generating means further includes a transformer having at least a single primary and at least a single secondary winding with said primary winding being connected in the discharge path of both of said capacitors and said secondary connected in a path which includes said integrating means and the welding electrodes.

Claim 6

A power source as in claim 3 further including inductance means connecting said D.C. signal providing means to said first and second capacitors for isolating transients from said D.C. signal providing means.

Claim 7

A power source as in claim 3 wherein said D.C. signal providing means includes means for providing an alternating current signal, and means for rectifying said provided alternating current signal and means for applying said rectified signal to said first and second capacitors.

Claim 8

A power source as in claim 3 wherein said electronic switches are silicon controlled rectifiers.

Claim 9

A power source as in claim 3 wherein said integrating means includes at least a single swinging saturable inductor.

Claim 10

A source as in claim 3 further including means for receiving said pulse train and producing a low current, constant open circuit output, means for receiving said pulse train and producing a high current output and means for combining said outputs and supplying them to said receiving and integrating means.

Claim 11

A power source as in claim 9 wherein said means for receiving said pulse train and producing said high and low current outputs comprises, a transformer having a primary and a first and second secondary winding with said primary winding being connected in the discharge path of both of said capacitors, one of said secondary windings being connected in a first path which includes said integrating means and the welding electrodes to provide said low current output and the other of said secondary windings being connected in a second path which also includes said integrating means and said welding electrodes to provide said high current output.

Claim 12

A power source as in claim 10 wherein said low current output producing means includes inductive means connected in said first path for limiting the current in said first path.

Claim 13

A power source as in claim 3 further including inductive means in said first capacitor discharging path for smoothing the pulses in that path and inductive means in said second capacitor discharging path for smoothing the pulses in that path.

Claim 14

A power source as in claim 3 wherein said energy storage means further includes a first inductance, connected in the currant path of said first capacitor and a second inductance, connected in the current path of said second capacitor.

Claim 15

A power source for a welding machine comprising: means for providing a welding electrical signal, including means for generating a pulse train comprising switching means for switching between a conductive and a non-conductive state and between a non-conductive and a conductive state for providing a pulse train when operated, said providing means further including means for receiving and integrating said pulse train to produce said welding electrical signal, a pair of welding electrodes, means connecting said electrodes to said providing means for applying said welding electrical signal to said electrodes, means for sensing both the voltage and current of said welding electrical signal applied to said electrodes, and means connected to said sensing means and responsive to both said sensed welding current and voltage for varying a characteristic of the welding electrical signal as a function of both the sensed current and voltage including means connected to said sensing means for producing a first signal which varies as a function of current, means connected to said sensing means for producing a second signal which varies as function of voltage, means for receiving said first and second signals and producing a third signal which varies as a function of said first and second signals, astable multivibrator means connected to said third signal producing means for producing an output signal which varies in accordance with said third signal, and blocking oscillator means responsive to said astable multivibrator and connected to said switching means for operating said switching means to generate said pulse train.

Claim 16

A power source for a welding machine comprising: means for providing a welding electrical signal, including means for generating a pulse train comprising switching means for switching between a conductive and a non-conductive state and between a non-conductive and a conductive state for providing a pulse train when operated, said providing means further including means for receiving and integrating said pulse train to produce said welding electrical signal, a pair of welding electrodes, means connecting said electrodes to said providing means for applying said welding electrical signal to said electrodes, means for sensing both the voltage and current of said welding electrical signal applied to said electrodes, and means connected to said sensing means and responsive to both said sensed welding current and voltage for varying a characteristic of the welding electrical signal as a function of both the sensed current and voltage including means connected to said sensing means for producing a first signal which varies as a function of current, means connected to said sensing means for producing a second signal which varies as function of voltage, means for receiving said first and second signals and producing a third signal which varies as a function of said first and second signals, astable multivibrator means connected to said third signal producing means for producing an output signal which varies in accordance with said third signal, and blocking oscillator means responsive to said astable multivibrator and connected to said switching means for operating said switching means to generate said pulse train.

Claim 17

A power source for a welding machine having at least a pair of electrodes comprising: means for providing an electrical voltage signal having a direct current component, a pair of welding electrodes, means connecting said electrodes to said providing means and responsive to said providing means for applying a welding electrical signal to said electrodes comprising, capacitor means connected to said providing means so as to charge to a given voltage, a transformer having a primary coil connected to said capacitor means, and a secondary coil, switching means connecting said capacitor means to said primary coil of said transformer and having a first state in which said capacitor means discharges through said primary coil and a second state in which said sWitching means blocks discharge of said capacitor means through said primary coil, means connected to said secondary coil and to said pair of electrodes for receiving the signal produced in said secondary coil by the passage of current through said primary coil and supplying said welding electrical signal to said pair of electrodes, means for sensing both the voltage and current of said welding electrical signal, and means connected to said sensing means and responsive to both said sensed welding voltage and current for causing said switching means to alternately switch from said first state to said second state and from said second state to said first state such that the signal produced in said secondary coil by the passage of current through said primary coil has a characteristic which varies as a function of the sensed welding electrical signal.

Claim 18

A power source for a welding machine having at least a pair of electrodes comprising: means for providing an electrical voltage signal having a direct current component, a pair of welding electrodes, means connecting said electrodes to said providing means and responsive to said providing means for applying a welding electrical signal to said electrodes comprising, capacitor means connected to said providing means so as to charge to a given voltage, a transformer having a primary coil connected to said capacitor means, and a secondary coil, switching means connecting said capacitor means to said primary coil of said transformer and having a first state in which said capacitor means discharges through said primary coil and a second state in which said sWitching means blocks discharge of said capacitor means through said primary coil, means connected to said secondary coil and to said pair of electrodes for receiving the signal produced in said secondary coil by the passage of current through said primary coil and supplying said welding electrical signal to said pair of electrodes, means for sensing both the voltage and current of said welding electrical signal, and means connected to said sensing means and responsive to both said sensed welding voltage and current for causing said switching means to alternately switch from said first state to said second state and from said second state to said first state such that the signal produced in said secondary coil by the passage of current through said primary coil has a characteristic which varies as a function of the sensed welding electrical signal.

Claim 19

A power source as in claim 15 wherein said capacitor means includes a first capacitor, and a second capacitor, wherein said switching means includes a first electronic switch connected in a current path with said first capacitor and said primary coil and a second electronic switch connected in a current path with said second capacitor and said primary coil and wherein said causing means includes means for causing said first and second electronic switches to be alternately conductive for a given period of time to generate a pulse train.

Claim 20

A power source as in claim 16 wherein said receiving and supplying means includes means for integrating said pulse train to form said welding electrical signal.

Claim 21

A power source for a welding machine having at least a pair of electrodes comprising: means for providing an electrical voltage signal having a direct current component, a pair of welding electrodes, means connecting said electrodes to said providing means and responsive to said providing means for applying a welding electrical signal to said electrodes, comprising capacitor means connected to said providing means so as to charge to a given voltage including a first and second capacitor, first switching means connected in a current path with said first capacitor, second switching means connected in a current path with said second capacitor, a transformer having a primary coil connected in said first and second capacitor paths, and at least one secondary coil, means for alternately causing said first and second switching means to shift from a conductive to a non-conductive state and from said non-conductive to said conductive state to generate a pulse train, and means connected to said at least one secondary coil and to said pair of electrodes for receiving said pulse train produced in said secondary coil by the passage of current through said primary coil, integrating said pulse train and supplying the integrated pulse train to said pair of electrodes.

Claim 22

A power source for a welding machine having at least a pair of electrodes comprising: means for providing an electrical voltage signal having a direct current component, a pair of welding electrodes, means connecting said electrodes to said providing means and responsive to said providing means for applying a welding electrical signal to said electrodes, comprising capacitor means connected to said providing means so as to charge to a given voltage including a first and second capacitor, first switching means connected in a current path with said first capacitor, second switching means connected in a current path with said second capacitor, a transformer having a primary coil connected in said first and second capacitor paths, and at least one secondary coil, means for alternately causing said first and second switching means to shift from a conductive to a non-conductive state and from said non-conductive to said conductive state to generate a pulse train, and means connected to said at least one secondary coil and to said pair of electrodes for receiving said pulse train produced in said secondary coil by the passage of current through said primary coil, integrating said pulse train and supplying the integrated pulse train to said pair of electrodes.

Claim 23

A source as in claim 18 wherein said at least one secondary coil comprises has first and second secondary coils and wherein said receiving, integrating and supplying means comprises, means connected to said first secondary coil for supplying a high voltage, low current output pulse train, means connected to said second secondary coil for supplying a high current output pulse train, and means for integrating the output pulse trains from said high and low current outputs and supplying the integrated pulse trains to said electrodes.