Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090042072 | ON-DEMAND HYDROGEN GAS GENERATION DEVICE WITH PRESSURE-REGULATING SWITCH - The present disclosure generally relates to an on-demand hydrogen gas generation device, suitable for use in a fuel cell, which utilizes water electrolysis, and more particularly galvanic cell corrosion, and/or a chemical hydride reaction, to produce hydrogen gas. The present disclosure additionally relates to such a device that comprises a switching mechanism that has an electrical current passing therethrough and that repeatedly and reversibly moves between a first position and a second position when exposed to pressure differential resulting from hydrogen gas generation, in order to (1) alter the rate at which hydrogen gas is generated, such that hydrogen gas is generated on an as-needed basis for a fuel cell connected thereto, and/or (2) ensure a substantially constant flow of hydrogen gas is released therefrom. The present disclosure additionally or alternatively relates to such an on-demand hydrogen gas generation device that comprises a gas management system designed to maximize the release or evolution of hydrogen gas, and in particular dry hydrogen gas, therefrom once it has been formed, thus maximizing hydrogen gas output. The present disclosure is still further directed to a fuel cell comprising such an on-demand hydrogen gas generation device, and in particular a fuel cell designed for small-scale applications. | 02-12-2009 |
20090078568 | ON-DEMAND HYDROGEN GAS GENERATION DEVICE HAVING GAS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - The present disclosure generally relates to an on-demand hydrogen gas generation device, suitable for use in a fuel cell, which utilizes water electrolysis, and more particularly galvanic cell corrosion, and/or a chemical hydride reaction, to produce hydrogen gas. The present disclosure additionally relates to such a device that comprises a switching mechanism that has an electrical current passing therethrough and that repeatedly and reversibly moves between a first position and a second position when exposed to pressure differential resulting from hydrogen gas generation, in order to (1) alter the rate at which hydrogen gas is generated, such that hydrogen gas is generated on an as-needed basis for a fuel cell connected thereto, and/or (2) ensure a substantially constant flow of hydrogen gas is released therefrom. The present disclosure additionally or alternatively relates to such an on-demand hydrogen gas generation device that comprises a gas management system designed to maximize the release or evolution of hydrogen gas, and in particular dry hydrogen gas, therefrom once it has been formed, thus maximizing hydrogen gas output. The present disclosure is still further directed to a fuel cell comprising such an on-demand hydrogen gas generation device, and in particular a fuel cell designed for small-scale applications. | 03-26-2009 |
20090081497 | ON-DEMAND HIGH ENERGY DENSITY HYDROGEN GAS GENERATION DEVICE - The present disclosure generally relates to an on-demand hydrogen gas generation device, suitable for use in a fuel cell, which utilizes water electrolysis, and more particularly galvanic cell corrosion, and/or a chemical hydride reaction, to produce hydrogen gas. The present disclosure additionally relates to such a device that comprises a switching mechanism that has an electrical current passing therethrough and that repeatedly and reversibly moves between a first position and a second position when exposed to pressure differential resulting from hydrogen gas generation, in order to (1) alter the rate at which hydrogen gas is generated, such that hydrogen gas is generated on an as-needed basis for a fuel cell connected thereto, and/or (2) ensure a substantially constant flow of hydrogen gas is released therefrom. The present disclosure additionally or alternatively relates to such an on-demand hydrogen gas generation device that comprises a gas management system designed to maximize the release or evolution of hydrogen gas, and in particular dry hydrogen gas, therefrom once it has been formed, thus maximizing hydrogen gas output. The present disclosure is still further directed to a fuel cell comprising such an on-demand hydrogen gas generation device, and in particular a fuel cell designed for small-scale applications. | 03-26-2009 |
20090081501 | ON-DEMAND HYDROGEN GAS GENERATION DEVICE - The present disclosure generally relates to an on-demand hydrogen gas generation device, suitable for use in a fuel cell, which utilizes water electrolysis, and more particularly galvanic cell corrosion, and/or a chemical hydride reaction, to produce hydrogen gas. The present disclosure additionally relates to such a device that comprises a switching mechanism that has an electrical current passing therethrough and that repeatedly and reversibly moves between a first position and a second position when exposed to pressure differential resulting from hydrogen gas generation, in order to (1) alter the rate at which hydrogen gas is generated, such that hydrogen gas is generated on an as-needed basis for a fuel cell connected thereto, and/or (2) ensure a substantially constant flow of hydrogen gas is released therefrom. The present disclosure additionally or alternatively relates to such an on-demand hydrogen gas generation device that comprises a gas management system designed to maximize the release or evolution of hydrogen gas, and in particular dry hydrogen gas, therefrom once it has been formed, thus maximizing hydrogen gas output. The present disclosure is still further directed to a fuel cell comprising such an on-demand hydrogen gas generation device, and in particular a fuel cell designed for small-scale applications. | 03-26-2009 |
20100112431 | SEPARATORS FOR ALKALINE ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS - The present invention relates to a high capacity electrochemical cell having a cathode containing an oxide of copper as an active material, as well as an anode, an electrolyte, and separators for use with the cathodes of the invention in an alkaline electrochemical cell. | 05-06-2010 |
20140315075 | Feedthrough Device - In a feedthrough device and method of assembly thereof, a body has longitudinally spaced first and second end faces and an inner surface defining a longitudinally extending opening. A conductor extends within the opening and an insulator extends within the opening transversely intermediate the conductor and the inner surface of the body to insulate the conductor from the body. The body has at least one indentation formed longitudinally into at least one of the first and second end faces, with a portion of the inner surface of the body being displaced transversely against the insulator in correspondence with the at least one longitudinal indentation to crimp the insulator and conductor within the opening of the body and maintain a hermetic seal across the feedthrough device. | 10-23-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100314371 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DIAGNOSING SECONDARY WELD ERRORS - A controller for a welding system adapted to determine a value of a weld secondary parameter across a weld secondary component based on a sensed parameter is provided. The controller may also be adapted to compare the determined value to a reference value range and to alert a user to a presence and location of a weld secondary error when the determined value is outside the referenced value range. | 12-16-2010 |
20110114612 | Method and Apparatus For Welding - A method and apparatus for welding include initiating a pulse welding process includes initiating a welding arc by providing CC type welding power, maintaining the arc by providing CV type power. Then, pulse type welding power is provided. The method and system can be used to start short circuit, or other welding processes by providing short circuit power, or welding power of a given mode, instead of providing pulse power. Also, in one alternative, a method and system of initiating a pulse, short circuit, or given welding process includes initiating a welding arc by providing CC type welding power at least until a pseudo-equilibrium for the arc is established. Then, providing welding power in a pulse, short circuit, or the given mode. | 05-19-2011 |
20110163080 | Method and Apparatus For Welding With Limited Term Software - A method and apparatus for welding uses a power circuit and a controller connected to the power circuit. The controller included a welding program having a limited term. The program may be part of a system, or a stand alone program. The controller has a data port and the welding program and/or an authorization is received by the controller on the data port in one embodiment. The welding program includes a limited time module, a limited time in use module, a limited arc start module, a controlled short circuit program, and/or a pulse program in various embodiments. A second welding program, without a limited term module, may be provided. | 07-07-2011 |
20110198329 | WELD BANK DATA STRUCTURES FOR WELDING APPLICATIONS - A data structure for weld programs associates configuration data for a welding system with a plurality of weld programs and weld sequence data. The data structure allows the welding system to be configured for a particular part, operator, or stage in a welding process, and to be easily reconfigured when the part, operator, or stage changes, providing improved efficiency and flexibility in operation. | 08-18-2011 |
20110246395 | Method and Apparatus For Welding Cost Calculator - A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power is disclosed and includes a cost calculator. | 10-06-2011 |
20120061362 | Method and Apparatus For Welding With Short Clearing Prediction - A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power is disclosed and includes a short clearing prediction module that uses the second derivative with respect to time of the output voltage, or an error between a measured output voltage and an output voltage predicted using the first derivative with respect to time of the output voltage. | 03-15-2012 |
20120095941 | Method and Apparatus For Welding Cost Calculator - A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power is disclosed and includes a cost calculator. | 04-19-2012 |
20120248080 | WELDING ELECTRODE STICKOUT MONITORING AND CONTROL - Stickout of a welding electrode wire from a welding torch is determined during welding, and based upon a welding parameter, such as welding current. Different relationships are used for the determination depending upon whether the welding wire is in a short-circuit condition or an arc condition. The stickout may be converted to a standardized unit of measure to make it readily understandable to an operator. The stickout may be logged and associated with other parameters and information, such as workpiece, operator, welding system, date and time. The stickout may be used as the basis for an alarm or a disabling operation. Moreover, the stickout may be provided on a readout for the operator. It may also be used as a basis for controlling a wire feeding apparatus that retracts the welding wire to a desired stickout following a weld. | 10-04-2012 |
20130112676 | HYBRID PULSED-SHORT CIRCUIT WELDING REGIME - Welding power is generated by first generating two different current waveforms, and comparing the waveform values for control intervals to select which waveform provides the greater current. The waveforms are for different transfer modes, such as one for a pulsed arc portion, and another for a short-circuit transfer mode or for short-circuit clearing. The waveforms may be programmed by settings in a state machine. A balance or relative prioritization in the comparison may be influenced by user inputs. The resulting hybrid process has aspects of both spray transfer and short-circuit transfer modes. | 05-09-2013 |
20130126499 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DIAGNOSING SECONDARY WELD ERRORS - A controller for a welding system adapted to determine a value of a weld secondary parameter across a weld secondary component based on a sensed parameter is provided. The controller may also be adapted to compare the determined value to a reference value range and to alert a user to a presence and location of a weld secondary error when the determined value is outside the referenced value range. | 05-23-2013 |
20130270245 | Method and Apparatus For Welding - A method and apparatus for welding include initiating a pulse welding process includes initiating a welding arc by providing CC type welding power, maintaining the arc by providing CV type power. Then, pulse type welding power is provided. The method and system can be used to start short circuit, or other welding processes by providing short circuit power, or welding power of a given mode, instead of providing pulse power. Also, in one alternative, a method and system of initiating a pulse, short circuit, or given welding process includes initiating a welding arc by providing CC type welding power at least until a pseudo-equilibrium for the arc is established. Then, providing welding power in a pulse, short circuit, or the given mode. | 10-17-2013 |
20140048517 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DIAGNOSING SECONDARY WELD ERRORS - A controller for a welding system adapted to determine a value of a weld secondary parameter across a weld secondary component based on a sensed parameter is provided. The controller may also be adapted to compare the determined value to a reference value range and to alert a user to a presence and location of a weld secondary error when the determined value is outside the referenced value range. | 02-20-2014 |
20140069901 | Method and Apparatus For Welding With CV Control - A method and apparatus for welding is disclosed. The output is preferably a cyclical CV MIG output, and each cycle is divided into segments. An output parameter is sampled a plurality of times within one or more of the segments. The CV output is controlled within the at least one segment in response to the sampling. The parameter is output power, a resistance of the load, an output current, an output voltage, or functions thereof in various embodiments. The control loop is preferably a PI or PID loop. The loop may be applied only within a window. The set point may be taught or fixed. The system can be used to weld with a controlled arc length. | 03-13-2014 |
20140076862 | WELD BANK DATA STRUCTURES FOR WELDING APPLICATIONS - A data structure for weld programs associates configuration data for a welding system with a plurality of weld programs and weld sequence data. The data structure allows the welding system to be configured for a particular part, operator, or stage in a welding process, and to be easily reconfigured when the part, operator, or stage changes, providing improved efficiency and flexibility in operation. | 03-20-2014 |
20140076871 | WAVEFORM COMPENSATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SECONDARY WELD COMPONENT RESPONSE - A method includes receiving data corresponding to a weld waveform that is generated during a welding operation and determining, based on the received data corresponding to the weld waveform, an overshoot voltage for the welding operation that exceeds an expected voltage level. The method further includes receiving data corresponding to a measured stud voltage and calculating, based on the overshoot voltage and the measured stud voltage, a stud voltage for the welding operation. The method also includes controlling at least one parameter of the welding operation based on the stud voltage for the welding operation. | 03-20-2014 |
20140158669 | DABBING PULSED WELDING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A pulsed welding regime includes a peak phase in which energy is added to an electrode and a weld puddle, and a molten ball begins to detach from the electrode, followed by a dabbing phase in which current is significantly reduced to place the ball in the weld puddle with addition of little or no energy. The resulting short circuit clears and the system proceeds to a background phase. The current in the dabbing phase is lower than the current during the background phase. The process may be specifically adapted for particular welding wires, and may be particularly well suited for use with cored wires. The dabbing phase allows for lower energy to be transferred to the sheath of such wires, and resets the arc length after each pulse cycle. | 06-12-2014 |
20140175074 | Method and Apparatus For Pulse Welding - A method and system for pulse welding provides an output pulse waveform. The waveform has at least a frequency from a range of available frequencies not limited to harmonic frequencies. The waveform provides power suitable for welding, and has a plurality of background portions alternating with a plurality of peak portions. A transition down occurs from the peak portion to the background portion with a first acceleration and a transition up occurs from the background portion to the peak portion with a second acceleration. At least one of the first and second accelerations are non-zero over at least most of the transition. The waveform is preferably created by switching an inverter. Both accelerations may be non-zero, and each transition may have two accelerations, one negative closer to the peak, and one positive closer to the background. The accelerations may be constant with opposite polarity. Preferably the process is current controlled during the transitions. The process frequency may be fixed or varying. | 06-26-2014 |
20140209587 | WAVEFORM COMPENSATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SECONDARY WELD COMPONENT RESPONSE - A method includes receiving data corresponding to a voltage level over time and a current level over time. The method also includes determining a first ratio corresponding to a voltage ramp percent or a voltage falling edge percent with respect to a peak in the voltage level and determining a second ratio corresponding to a current ramp ratio or a current falling edge ratio with respect to a peak in the current level. The method further includes determining, based on a comparison between the first ratio and the second ratio, whether to increment, decrement, or maintain an inductance compensation estimation value corresponding to an estimated inductance present in one or more secondary components associated with the welding operation. | 07-31-2014 |
20140217077 | WELDING WIRE PREHEATING SYSTEM AND METHOD - In a welding system, a preheating process is carried out prior to initiation of a welding arc, such as upon depression of a trigger or switch on a welding torch. The preheating process involves generation and application of desired currents and voltages to a welding electrode from a power supply. Preheating is continued until the welding electrode reaches a desired temperature or resistance, which may be determined by reference to an increasing voltage, a decreasing current, a peaked and declining voltage, resistance and/or power measurements, and so forth. Following preheating, a desired welding process may begin with initiation of the welding arc. | 08-07-2014 |