Abstract: An electric arc welder operated to perform a short circuit welding process between an electrode and a workpiece, where the process comprises a succession of alternate short circuit conditions and arc conditions, with a first current waveform during the short circuit condition and a second voltage waveform during the arc condition. A first waveform generator constructs the first waveform from a series of current pulses controlled by a pulse wave modulator operated at a rate greater than 18 kHz and a second waveform generator constructs the second waveform from a series of current pulses controlled by a pulse wave modulator operated at a rate greater than 18 kHz. The second waveform generator has a circuit to generate the second waveform with a generally constant arc parameter, generally voltage.

Abstract: A MIG welder and method of controlling a MIG welder which includes a wire speed selector that is used to generate a control signal which controls both the wire feed speed of a consumable electrode and the output current level of the power supply.

Abstract: A power supply connectable to a source of AC line voltage for AC electric arc welding by an AC arc current across a welding gap between an electrode and a workpiece, the power supply comprises a high capacity transformer that converts said line voltage to an AC output voltage, and a rectifier that converts the AC output voltage to a DC voltage between a positive terminal and a common terminal at generally zero volts and a negative terminal and the common terminal. The power supply has a first switch that connects the positive terminal to the common terminal across the gap when a gate signal is applied to the first switch, a second switch for connecting the negative terminal to the common terminal across the gap when a gate signal is applied to the second switch and a pulse width modulator operated for generating pulses at a frequency of at least about 18 kHz.

Abstract: An electric arc welder for creating a succession of AC waveforms between an electrode and workpiece by a power source comprising an high frequency switching device for creating individual waveforms in the succession of waveforms. Each of the individual waveforms has a profile determined by the magnitude of each of a large number of short current pulses generated at a frequency of at least 18 kHz by a pulse width modulator with the magnitude of the current pulses controlled by a wave shaper. The welder is provided with a profile control network for setting more than one profile parameter selected from the class consisting of frequency, duty cycle, up ramp rate and down ramp rate and a magnitude circuit for adjusting the waveform profile to set total current, voltage and/or power.

Abstract: An apparatus for indicating the wall thickness of a cored welding wire traveling in a given path to determine the percentage of volume of fill. This apparatus comprises a first induction coil surrounding the path; a source of AC current connected across the coil; a second reference coil connected to the AC source where the second reference coil surrounds a fixed section of cored welding wire with a desired wall thickness, and an output device indicating deviation of the wall thickness of the traveling wire from the wall thickness of the fixed section of wire by detecting the inductive reactance of the first coil compared to the second coil.

Abstract: An electric arc welding apparatus comprising at least a first consumable electrode and a second consumable electrode movable in unison along a welding path between the edges of two adjacent, mutually grounded plates, a first power supply for passing a first welding current at a first low frequency between the first electrode and the two plates, a second power supply for passing a second welding current at a second low frequency between the second electrode and the two plates, where each of the power supplies includes a three phase voltage input operated at line frequency, a rectifier to convert the input voltage to a DC voltage link and a high frequency switching type inverter converting the DC voltage link to a high frequency AC current, an output rectifier circuit to provide a positive voltage terminal and a negative voltage terminal, and an output switching network operated at a given low frequency for directing a pulsating welding current at the given low frequency from the two terminals across one of the

Abstract: An electrode position detection system for a welder having a laser that is projected in a lateral plane to laterally cross a welding wire at a location below a contact tip of a welding gun and a receiver that receive the laser bean after crossing the welding wire, and a measuring device that determines one or more parameter of the welding wire based on the received laser beam. Arc voltage measurements can also be used to determine one or more parameter of the welding wire.

Abstract: An electric arc welding apparatus comprising at least a first consumable electrode and a second consumable electrode movable in unison along a welding path between the edges of two adjacent, mutually grounded plates, a first power supply for passing a first welding current at a first low frequency between the first electrode and the two plates, a second power supply for passing a second welding current at a second low frequency between the second electrode and the two plates, where each of the power supplies includes a three phase voltage input operated at line frequency, a rectifier to convert the input voltage to a DC voltage link and a high frequency switching type inverter converting the DC voltage link to a high frequency AC current, an output rectifier circuit to provide a positive voltage terminal and a negative voltage terminal, and an output switching network operated at a given low frequency for directing a pulsating welding current at the given low frequency from the two terminals across one of the

Abstract: An electric arc welding system for creating an AC welding arc between an electrode and a workpiece wherein the system comprises a first controller for a first power supply to cause the first power supply to create an AC current between the electrode and workpiece by generating a switch signal or command with polarity reversing switching points in the first controller, with the first controller operated at first welding parameters in response to first power supply specific parameter signals to the first controller. The system has at least one slave controller for operating a slave power supply to create an AC current between the electrode and workpiece by reversing polarity of the AC current at switching points where the slave controller is operated at second welding parameters in response to second power supply specific parameter signals to the slave controller.

Abstract: A liquid and gas separator to generate a shielding gas from the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. The liquid and gas separator can be a separate portable component or a component that is integrated with the arc welder.

Abstract: A power supply connectable to a source of AC line voltage for AC electric arc welding by an AC arc current across a welding gap between an electrode and a workpiece, the power supply comprises a high capacity transformer that converts said line voltage to an AC output voltage, and a rectifier that converts the AC output voltage to a DC voltage between a positive terminal and a common terminal at generally zero volts and a negative terminal and the common terminal. The power supply has a first switch that connects the positive terminal to the common terminal across the gap when a gate signal is applied to the first switch, a second switch for connecting the negative terminal to the common terminal across the gap when a gate signal is applied to the second switch and a pulse width modulator operated for generating pulses at a frequency of at least about 18 kHz.

Abstract: An electric arc welding system for creating an AC welding arc between an electrode and a workpiece wherein the system comprises a first controller for a first power supply to cause the first power supply to create an AC current between the electrode and workpiece by generating a switch signal or command with polarity reversing switching points in the first controller, with the first controller operated at first welding parameters in response to first power supply specific parameter signals to the first controller. The system has at least one slave controller for operating a slave power supply to create an AC current between the electrode and workpiece by reversing polarity of the AC current at switching points where the slave controller is operated at second welding parameters in response to second power supply specific parameter signals to the slave controller.

Abstract: A portable electric arc welder having a power source creating a DC voltage between two output terminals to drive a welding device and an integrated, internal battery charger with an input stage and an output connectable to a battery to be charged, and a selectable switch having a first position connecting the terminals to the welding device and a second position connecting the terminals to the integrated battery charger.

Abstract: An electric arc welding system for creating an AC welding arc between an electrode and a workpiece wherein the system comprises a first controller for a first power supply to cause the first power supply to create an AC current between the electrode and workpiece by generating a switch signal or command with polarity reversing switching points in the first controller, with the first controller operated at first welding parameters in response to first power supply specific parameter signals to the first controller. The system has at least one slave controller for operating a slave power supply to create an AC current between the electrode and workpiece by reversing polarity of the AC current at switching points where the slave controller is operated at second welding parameters in response to second power supply specific parameter signals to the slave controller.

Abstract: An electric arc welding apparatus comprising at least a first consumable electrode and a second consumable electrode movable in unison along a welding path between the edges of two adjacent, mutually grounded plates, a first power supply for passing a first welding current at a first low frequency between the first electrode and the two plates, a second power supply for passing a second welding current at a second low frequency between the second electrode and the two plates, where each of the power supplies includes a three phase voltage input operated at line frequency, a rectifier to convert the input voltage to a DC voltage link and a high frequency switching type inverter converting the DC voltage link to a high frequency AC current, an output rectifier circuit to provide a positive voltage terminal and a negative voltage terminal, and an output switching network operated at a given low frequency for directing a pulsating welding current at the given low frequency from the two terminals across one of the

Abstract: An electric arc welding apparatus comprising at least a first consumable electrode and a second consumable electrode movable in unison along a welding path between the edges of two adjacent, mutually grounded plates, a first power supply for passing a first welding current at a first low frequency between the first electrode and the two plates, a second power supply for passing a second welding current at a second low frequency between the second electrode and the two plates, where each of the power supplies includes a three phase voltage input operated at line frequency, a rectifier to convert the input voltage to a DC voltage link and a high frequency switching type inverter converting the DC voltage link to a high frequency AC current, an output rectifier circuit to provide a positive voltage terminal and a negative voltage terminal, and an output switching network operated at a given low frequency for directing a pulsating welding current at the given low frequency from the two terminals across one of the

Abstract: A power supply connectable to a source of AC line voltage for AC electric arc welding by an AC arc current across a welding gap between an electrode and a workpiece, the power supply comprises a high capacity transformer that converts said line voltage to an AC output voltage, and a rectifier that converts the AC output voltage to a DC voltage between a positive terminal and a common terminal at generally zero volts and a negative terminal and the common terminal. The power supply has a first switch that connects the positive terminal to the common terminal across the gap when a gate signal is applied to the first switch, a second switch for connecting the negative terminal to the common terminal across the gap when a gate signal is applied to the second switch and a pulse width modulator operated for generating pulses at a frequency of at least about 18 kHz.

Abstract: An electric arc welding apparatus comprising at least a first consumable electrode and a second consumable electrode movable in unison along a welding path between the edges of two adjacent, mutually grounded plates, a first power supply for passing a first welding current at a first low frequency between the first electrode and the two plates, a second power supply for passing a second welding current at a second low frequency between the second electrode and the two plates, where each of the power supplies includes a three phase voltage input operated at line frequency, a rectifier to convert the input voltage to a DC voltage link and a high frequency switching type inverter converting the DC voltage link to a high frequency AC current, an output rectifier circuit to provide a positive voltage terminal and a negative voltage terminal, and an output switching network operated at a given low frequency for directing a pulsating welding current at the given low frequency from the two terminals across one of the

Abstract: An electric arc welding system for creating an AC welding arc between an electrode and a workpiece wherein the system comprises a first controller for a first power supply to cause the first power supply to create an AC current between the electrode and workpiece by generating a switch signal or command with polarity reversing switching points in the first controller, with the first controller operated at first welding parameters in response to first power supply specific parameter signals to the first controller. The system has at least one slave controller for operating a slave power supply to create an AC current between the electrode and workpiece by reversing polarity of the AC current at switching points where the slave controller is operated at second welding parameters in response to second power supply specific parameter signals to the slave controller.

Abstract: A power supply connectable to a source of AC line voltage for AC electric arc welding by an AC arc current across a welding gap between an electrode and a workpiece, the power supply comprises a high capacity transformer that converts said line voltage to an AC output voltage, and a rectifier that converts the AC output voltage to a DC voltage between a positive terminal and a common terminal at generally zero volts and a negative terminal and the common terminal. The power supply has a first switch that connects the positive terminal to the common terminal across the gap when a gate signal is applied to the first switch, a second switch for connecting the negative terminal to the common terminal across the gap when a gate signal is applied to the second switch and a pulse width modulator operated for generating pulses at a frequency of at least about 18 kHz.