Coolant safety system for welding apparatus
US5811674A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 2, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 22, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 2, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01M3/2807
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In an automated welding machine, where a flow of liquid coolant is supplied to welding components on the machine from a source of coolant and then returned to the source of coolant, a safety system is provided that shuts down the flow of coolant in the event of a fault. Faults are detected by a supply sensor and a return sensor for measuring the flow rates of coolant in the supply and return lines. A microprocessor is adapted to compare the supply flow rate and return flow rate and detect differences between the two rates. The difference between the detected rates as compared to a leak threshold value, and the microprocessor is adapted to generate a valve shutoff signal in the event the detected difference in flow rates exceeds the leak threshold value. A valve in the supply coolant line is responsive to the valve shutoff signal to shutoff flow of coolant in response thereto.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.