Patent ID: 6466004
Filing Date: 2002-10-15
Classification: B23K

Abstract:
In a welding system in which current is caused to flow from a source along a directionally altering input path region to a weld path region having an electrode located to effect a coalescence of work parts at a weld location, said current thence passing along a directionally altering return path region to said source, such current path regions directional alterations generating mutually intersecting electromagnetic fields of corresponding directional orientation, the improved weld current measuring apparatus, comprising:a housing having a center location and a peripheral region spaced radially outwardly therefrom, positionable to locate said center location at a select said current path region with said peripheral region being in surrounding relationship thereto; at least two Hall effect sensors, each having a first face responsive to a confronting electromagnetic field to cause said sensor to produce a sensor output signal of first polarity, and an oppositely disposed second face responsive to a confronting electromagnetic field to cause said sensor to produce a sensor output signal of second polarity opposite said first polarity, said sensors being supported upon said housing at said peripheral region in orientations effecting the confrontation of said first face with that said electromagnetic field generated at said select current path, and being radially symmetrically disposed about said housing center location; and a signal treatment circuit responsive to the sensor output signal of each said Hall effect sensor to effect a summation thereof deriving a measuring output signal corresponding with current flow at said select current path region unaffected by sensor output signals derived with respect to electromagnetic fields generated by current path regions without said select current path region.