Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
In a welding apparatus, an improved DC power supply system connected to a consumable or non-consumable electrode adapted for welding a work piece, said power supply comprising: plural inverter units adapted to convert a first direct current into an alternating current and to rectify the alternating current to produce an output of a second direct current; a circuit connecting the output terminals of said inverter units in parallel relation; a detection circuit for detecting the total output current of said inverter units; and a circuit for varying the number of operating inverter units according to the value of the detected total output current such that a ripple component of said total output current is minimized.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
In a welding apparatus, an improved DC power supply system connected to a consumable or non-consumable electrode adapted for welding a work piece, said power supply comprising: plural inverter units adapted to convert a first direct current into an alternating current and to rectify the alternating current to produce an output of a second direct current; a circuit connecting the output terminals of said inverter units in parallel relation; a detection circuit for detecting the total output current of said inverter units; and a circuit for varying the number of operating inverter units according to the value of the detected total output current such that a ripple component of said total output current is minimized.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
A DC welding power supply system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said circuit for varying the number of operating inverter units comprises: a load current detector; a current indexer with a preset current value lower than an output current equivalent to the total rated output current of said inverter units; and a comparator for comparing the output signals of said load current detector and current indexer and to produce an output signal if said load current is lower than said predetermined current value, thereby deactuating a selected inverter unit or units.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A DC welding power supply system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a phase control means for controlling said inverter units to produce respective of said alternating currents having a predetermined phase lag with respect to each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
99 words
A DC welding power supply system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said phase control means comprises: a triangular wave generator for generating plural triangular waves of different phases; an indexing means for setting a predetermined value; a load detector for detecting the level of a load; an error amplifier for producing an output signal corresponding to the difference between the output signals of said indexing means and said load detector; and comparators provided for the respective triangular waves to determine a respective pulse width by comparing a corresponding triangular wave with the output of said error amplifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A DC welding power supply system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said indexing means comprises a voltage indexer presetting a value corresponding to a predetermine maximum total output voltage of said inverter units; said load detector comprises a voltage detector monitoring the total output voltage of said inverter units; and said error emplifier is operated on the basis of the output signals of said voltage indexer and said voltage detector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A DC welding power supply system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said indexing means comprises a current indexer presetting a value corresponding to a predetermined maximum total output current of said inverter units; said load detector is a current detector monitoring the total output current of said inverter units; and said error amplifier is operated on the basis of said current indexer and current detector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
162 words
A DC welding power supply system as set forth in claim 3, wherein said phase control means comprises: a triangular wave generator for generating plural triangular waves of different phases; a voltage detector for detecting the voltage at an output terminal connecting said inverter units in parallel relation; a voltage error amplifier for producing an output signal corresponding to the difference between the value of voltage detected by said voltage detector and the preset value of said voltage indexer; a current detector for detecting the current at said output terminal connecting said inverter units in parallel relation; a current error amplifier for producing an output corresponding to the difference between the value of current detected by said current detector and the preset value of said current indexer; a logical sum circuit connected to the output terminals of said voltage error amplifier and current error amplifier; and plural comparators for comparing the respective triangular waves with the output of said logical sum circuit.