Methods and apparatus for welding arc start assist

• Main Authors: Ihde, Jeffery R, Radtke, David Edwin
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 31.01.2023
• Subjects: BLASTING; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTINGELECTRIC POWER; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; COMBUSTION ENGINES; CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; ELECTRICITY; GENERATION; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; LIGHTING; MACHINE TOOLS; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS; WELDING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM

Apparatus and methods are provided for a welding-type power system that includes an engine comprising a starter battery. An electric generator is turned by the engine. A power bus connects an output of the generator to a welding-type output. A sensor measures a power demand on the power bus. A controller is configured to control the engine to adjust speed in response to a measured power demand on the power bus, and to control a converter to connect the starter battery to output power to the power bus in response to the measured power demand.