System and method for controlling shielding gas flow in a welding device

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for obtaining a desirable shielding gas flow in a welding device. The system includes a user interface configured for a user to input the size of the nozzle, a processor that is configured to calculate a desirable flow rate of shielding gas based at least in part on the input nozzle size, and a flow regulator that is configured to control the flow of the shielding gas in order to obtain the desirable flow rate.

1 . A welding system, comprising:
 a user interface configured to output a first rate of a flow of shielding gas in a welding device with a first unit of measurement, and output a second rate of the flow of the shielding gas in the welding device with a second unit of measurement that is different than the first unit of measurement, the first rate being equivalent to the second rate.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to determine the second rate based on the first rate and a unit conversion algorithm. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is configured to output the second flow rate in response to an input received by the user interface. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is incorporated onto a welding power source, or is capable of being attached to, and/or detached from, a welding power source. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface has a plurality of welding parameter options, or is configured to receive an input comprising a particular welding parameter option of the plurality of welding parameter options. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow regulator configured to control the flow of the shielding gas to match a desirable flow rate of the shielding gas. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the desirable flow rate of the shielding gas is a desirable purge flow rate, and the flow regulator is configured to control the flow rate of the shielding gas when the welding arc is absent to obtain the desirable purge flow rate 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the desirable flow rate is determined by a processor or manually entered into the user interface by a user. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the flow regulator adjusts to pressure fluctuations in order to substantially maintain the desirable flow rate. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the flow regulator comprises a proportional valve or a servo valve. 
     
     
         11 . A welding system, comprising:
 a user interface configured to receive an input comprising a purge gas flow rate for use when a welding arc is absent;   a processor configured to determine a desirable purge flow rate for the shielding gas based on the input; and   a flow regulator configured to control a flow rate of the shielding gas when the welding arc is absent to obtain the desirable purge flow rate.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a desirable normal flow rate for the shielding gas when the welding arc is present. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the flow regulator is further configured to control the flow rate of the shielding gas when the welding arc is present to obtain the desirable normal flow rate. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the flow regulator adjusts to pressure fluctuations in order to substantially maintain the desirable purge flow rate. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the flow regulator comprises a proportional valve or a servo valve. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the user interface is incorporated onto a welding power source, or is capable of being attached to, and/or detached from, a welding power source. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the user interface is configured to display the flow rate of the shielding gas. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the user interface is configured to display the flow rate of the shielding gas as a first rate with a first unit of measurement, and as a second rate with a second unit of measurement that is different than the first unit of measurement, the first rate being equivalent to the second rate. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the second rate based on the first rate and a unit conversion algorithm. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the user interface is configured to display the second flow rate in response to an input received by the user interface.