Patent ID: 7705269
Filing Date: 2010-04-27
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
1. A warning system for providing advance warnings to an operator of an arc processing system, said warning system comprising: an input operatively coupled with a sensor associated with said arc processing system to receive a sensor signal indicative of an operational condition of said arc processing system; a logic system operatively coupled with said input, said logic system being operable to detect a pending fault condition according to said sensor signal; a pending fault signaling system operatively coupled with said logic system to selectively provide a warning signal to an operator of said arc processing system, said warning signal being indicative of said pending fault condition; and a shutdown system operatively coupled to said pending fault signaling system and to said arc processing system, said shutdown system being operable to selectively shut down said arc processing system according to a controlled shutdown sequence, said shutdown system is operable to selectively shut down said arc processing system a predetermined time period after said pending fault signaling system provides said warning signal to said operator, and said shutdown system is operable to selectively allow a new welding cycle to start after detection of said pending fault condition if said new welding cycle will complete before said predetermined time period will expire, and to selectively prevent said new welding cycle from starting if said predetermined time period will expire before said new welding cycle will complete.