Welding wire feeder with magnetic rotational speed sensor

Abstract

A welding wire feeder (14) includes a magnetic rotational sensor system (56) configured to measure a parameter indicative of a wire feed speed of the welding wire feeder. The magnetic rotational sensor system includes a dipole magnet (110) coupled to a gear (52) driven by an electric motor (42) of the welding wire feeder and a magnetic sensor (108) disposed adjacent to the dipole magnet and configured to measure an angular position of the dipole magnet. The magnetic rotational sensor system also includes a processor (64) configured to receive signals of the angular position measured by the magnetic sensor and to calculate a wire feed speed of the welding wire feeder based upon the angular position signals and configuration parameters of the welding wire feeder.

Description

[0001] Cross reference to related applications [0002] This application asserts U.S. Patent Application No. 13 / 158,005, "Welding Wire Feeder with Magnetic Speed ​​Sensor," filed June 10, 2011, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 355,815, filed June 17, 2010 Priority to Magnetic Speed ​​Sensor for Welding Wire Feeder, the above application is hereby incorporated by reference. Background technique [0003] The present invention relates generally to welding systems, and more particularly to welding wire feeders provided with magnetic rotational speed sensors. [0004] The welding process has become an increasingly ubiquitous process in a variety of industries and applications. Welding operations rely on various types of equipment to ensure that the correct amount of welding material (eg, wire feed, shielding gas, etc.) is supplied to the weld for the required time. For example, metal inert gas (MIG) shielded welding typically relies on a wire feeder to ensure that t...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, optical tachometers (which can be mounted on the electric shaft of the wire feed motor) are prone to failure in high temperature environments

Additionally, dust or contaminants in the welding environment may block the light path of the LEDs, further reducing the efficiency of the optical tachometer

Additionally, optical tachometers provide close connection to the motor drive of the wire feeder, which improves resolution but also increases the difficulty of removing or replacing the motor

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