Power selection and protection circuit for inverter power supply

Claim 2

A welding power source of the type that is capable of receiving an AC voltage signal at one of a plurality of voltage levels and automatically determines the one of the plurality of voltage levels and automatically configures itself in a higher voltage mode or a lower voltage mode, using at least one configuration switch, to receive the one of the plurality of voltage levels, the improvement comprising: the configuration switch is a dual contactor output switch having a first and second contactor, wherein the first contactor is energized when the power source is in the higher voltage mode and the second contactor is energized when the power source is in the lower voltage mode, and further wherein the dual contactors are mechanically interlocked such that only one of the first and second contactors may be energized at any one time.

Claim 3

The power source of claim 1 wherein the power source includes a control board and a DC power source for the control board, the improvement further comprising: wherein the switch is an AC switch, and the current that energizes the switch is derived from the DC power source.

Claim 4

A welding power source, comprising: rectifier means for receiving an AC voltage signal at one of a plurality of voltage levels, and providing a DC voltage; inverter means for receiving the DC voltage and providing an AC voltage output; output rectifier means for receiving the AC output voltage and providing a DC output voltage; configuration means for determining the one of the plurality of voltage levels and configuring the inverter means for the one of the plurality of voltage levels wherein the configuration means includes a dual, AC, contactor output switch; and a control board, and a DC power source for the control board, and wherein the current that energized the switch is derived from the dc power source.

Claim 5

A welding power source, comprising: rectifier means for receiving an AC voltage signal at one of a plurality of voltage levels, and providing a DC voltage; inverter means for receiving the DC voltage and providing an AC voltage output; output rectifier means for receiving the AC output voltage and providing a DC output voltage; configuration means for determining the one of the plurality of voltage levels and configuring the inverter means for the one of the plurality of voltage levels wherein the configuration means includes a dual, AC, contactor output switch; and a control board, and a DC power source for the control board, and wherein the current that energized the switch is derived from the dc power source.

Claim 6

The power source of claim 3 wherein the dual contactors are mechanically interlocked whereby only one of the dual contactors can be energized at any one time.

Claim 7

The source of claim 3 wherein the configuration means includes a sense circuit which receives a signal indicative of voltage level and produces a control signal, the control signal affecting the dual contactor switch so that the inverter means is arranged for the voltage level.

Claim 8

An inverter circuit for power applications, comprising: a rectifier that receives an AC voltage and produces a DC voltage, the AC voltage being one of a plurality of voltage levels; and a power switching circuit, including a dual contactor output switch, coupled to the rectifier, the power switching circuit generating an AC signal, the power switching circuit including a first tank circuit and a second tank circuit, the first tank circuit and second tank circuit being coupled in series or parallel in response to the level of the AC voltage, wherein the dual contactors are mechanically interlocked such that only one of the first and second contactors may be energized at any one time.

Claim 9

An inverter circuit for power applications, comprising: a rectifier that receives an AC voltage and produces a DC voltage, the AC voltage being one of a plurality of voltage levels; and a power switching circuit, including a dual contactor output switch, coupled to the rectifier, the power switching circuit generating an AC signal, the power switching circuit including a first tank circuit and a second tank circuit, the first tank circuit and second tank circuit being coupled in series or parallel in response to the level of the AC voltage, wherein the dual contactors are mechanically interlocked such that only one of the first and second contactors may be energized at any one time.

Claim 10

The inverter of claim 6 wherein the inverter includes a control board and a DC power source for the control board, and wherein the switch is an AC switch, and the current that energizes the switch is derived from the DC power source.

Claim 11

An inverter power supply for use with welding, cutting, or heating apparatus, the power supply comprising: an AC input; an AC voltage sense circuit coupled to the AC input, the sense circuit generating a sense signal representing the voltage level of the AC input; a dual, AC, contactor output switch; a DC rectifier circuit coupled to the AC input, the rectifier circuit producing a DC output; a switching circuit coupled to the rectifier circuit and receiving the DC output, the switching circuit coupled to the sense circuit and receiving the sense signal, the switching circuit including first and second switching circuits coupled to the DC output, the first switch and second switching circuits being arranged serially or in parallel by the dual contactor switch in response to the sense signal, the first and second switching circuits producing a pulsing output; a control board and a DC power source for the control board, and wherein the current that energizes the switch is derived from the DC power source; a transformer coupled to the switching circuit and receiving the pulsing output and providing a second output; and an output rectifier receiving the second output and providing a power supply output.

Claim 12

An inverter power supply for use with welding, cutting, or heating apparatus, the power supply comprising: an AC input; an AC voltage sense circuit coupled to the AC input, the sense circuit generating a sense signal representing the voltage level of the AC input; a dual, AC, contactor output switch; a DC rectifier circuit coupled to the AC input, the rectifier circuit producing a DC output; a switching circuit coupled to the rectifier circuit and receiving the DC output, the switching circuit coupled to the sense circuit and receiving the sense signal, the switching circuit including first and second switching circuits coupled to the DC output, the first switch and second switching circuits being arranged serially or in parallel by the dual contactor switch in response to the sense signal, the first and second switching circuits producing a pulsing output; a control board and a DC power source for the control board, and wherein the current that energizes the switch is derived from the DC power source; a transformer coupled to the switching circuit and receiving the pulsing output and providing a second output; and an output rectifier receiving the second output and providing a power supply output.

Claim 13

The power supply of claim 8 wherein the dual contactors are mechanically interlocked whereby only one of the first and second contactors may be energized at any one time.

Claim 14

The power supply of claim 8 wherein the first and second switching circuits are semiconductor devices.

Claim 15

The power supply of claim 10 wherein the first and second switching circuits are insulated gate bipolar transistors.

Claim 16

The power supply of claim 8 wherein the sense circuit comprises a control transformer coupled to the AC input.

Claim 17

An inverter for use in a power source for use in welding, heating or cutting applications, the inverter comprising: a first tank circuit coupled to a supply of DC power, the first tank circuit including a switch circuit that can generate a first AC signal; a second tank circuit, coupled to the supply of DC power, the second tank circuit including a switch circuit that can generate a second AC signal; a coupling circuit, including a dual contactor output switch, and coupled to the first tank circuit, and the second tank circuit, wherein the dual contactors are mechanically interlocked such that only one of the first and second contactors may be energized at any one time; and a sense circuit which senses a voltage level associated with the supply and generates a control signal; wherein the coupling circuit couples the first and second tank circuits in serial or in parallel in response to the control signal.

Claim 18

An inverter for use in a power source for use in welding, heating or cutting applications, the inverter comprising: a first tank circuit coupled to a supply of DC power, the first tank circuit including a switch circuit that can generate a first AC signal; a second tank circuit, coupled to the supply of DC power, the second tank circuit including a switch circuit that can generate a second AC signal; a coupling circuit, including a dual contactor output switch, and coupled to the first tank circuit, and the second tank circuit, wherein the dual contactors are mechanically interlocked such that only one of the first and second contactors may be energized at any one time; and a sense circuit which senses a voltage level associated with the supply and generates a control signal; wherein the coupling circuit couples the first and second tank circuits in serial or in parallel in response to the control signal.

Claim 19

The power source of claim 13 wherein the power source includes a control board and a DC power source for the control board, and wherein the switch is an AC switch, and the current that energizes the switch is derived from the DC power source.

Claim 20

A welding power source, comprising: a rectifier that receives an AC voltage and provides a DC voltage, the AC voltage being one of a plurality of voltage levels; a power switching circuit coupled to the rectifier, the power switching circuit providing an AC signal, the power switching circuit including a first inverter circuit and a second inverter circuit, the first inverter circuit and second inverter circuit being coupled in series in response to a first predetermined voltage level of the AC voltage or in parallel by an, AC, dual contactor output switch in response to a second distinct predetermined voltage level of the AC voltage; a control board and a DC power source for the control board, wherein the current that energizes the switch is derived from the DC power source; and an output rectifier that receives the AC signal and provides a DC output.

Claim 21

A welding power source, comprising: a rectifier that receives an AC voltage and provides a DC voltage, the AC voltage being one of a plurality of voltage levels; a power switching circuit coupled to the rectifier, the power switching circuit providing an AC signal, the power switching circuit including a first inverter circuit and a second inverter circuit, the first inverter circuit and second inverter circuit being coupled in series in response to a first predetermined voltage level of the AC voltage or in parallel by an, AC, dual contactor output switch in response to a second distinct predetermined voltage level of the AC voltage; a control board and a DC power source for the control board, wherein the current that energizes the switch is derived from the DC power source; and an output rectifier that receives the AC signal and provides a DC output.

Claim 22

The power source of claim 15 wherein the dual contactors are mechanically interlocked such that only one of the first and second contactors may be energized at any one time.