Patent ID: 8188405

Claim:
A welding machine, comprising: a welding unit for generating a welding voltage or current, a welding tool connectable to the welding unit by a cable to receive the welding voltage or current; and a modular unit comprising a cooling unit for selectively cooling the welding tool and the cable based upon an operating parameter of the cooling unit; wherein the welding unit comprises: an electric power generating device for supplying the welding voltage or current to the welding tool, and a casing housing therein the electric power generating device and further having an inner compartment for removably housing the modular unit; the cooling unit includes a coolant tank configured to contain a coolant, a hydraulic circuit connected to the coolant tank and having an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, a heat exchanger positioned along the hydraulic circuit for dissipating heat from the hydraulic circuit, a fast-fit electrical connector for detachable electrical connection with a matching electrical connector of the welding unit for receiving electrical power for operation of the cooling unit from the welding unit, and fast-fit hydraulic connectors at the inlet conduit and outlet conduit, respectively, for detachable hydraulic connection with matching hydraulic connectors of the welding unit, the modular unit includes a frame which has an inner seat containing an entirety of the cooling unit, the frame being receivable in and completely removable from the inner compartment of the casing; and when the frame with the entire cooling unit contained therein is received in the inner compartment of the casing, all of the detachable electrical and hydraulic connections between the cooling unit and the welding unit are enclosed inside the casing.