US 12,214,439 B2
Systems and methods for using coolant flow sensors to determine electrode loss in resistance welding
Mark Nicewonger, Mountain View, CA (US)
Assigned to Proteus Industries Inc., Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed by Proteus Industries Inc., Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 5, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/028,282.
Application 16/028,282 is a continuation of application No. 14/849,247, filed on Sep. 9, 2015, granted, now 10,307,857.
Application 16/028,282 is a continuation of application No. 14/849,307, filed on Sep. 9, 2015, granted, now 10,022,815, issued on Jul. 17, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/048,168, filed on Sep. 9, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2018/0318956 A1, Nov. 8, 2018
Int. Cl. B23K 11/30 (2006.01); B23K 11/11 (2006.01); F04B 43/02 (2006.01); F04B 53/14 (2006.01); F15B 3/00 (2006.01); F16K 7/12 (2006.01); F16K 23/00 (2006.01); F16K 31/16 (2006.01); F16K 37/00 (2006.01); F17D 3/01 (2006.01); H05K 7/20 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 11/3054 (2013.01) [B23K 11/115 (2013.01); B23K 11/3018 (2013.01); B23K 11/3072 (2013.01); F04B 43/02 (2013.01); F04B 53/14 (2013.01); F15B 3/00 (2013.01); F16K 7/12 (2013.01); F16K 23/00 (2013.01); F16K 31/16 (2013.01); F16K 37/005 (2013.01); F17D 3/01 (2013.01); H05K 7/20 (2013.01); H05K 7/20218 (2013.01); H05K 7/20272 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for detecting a loss of a resistance welding electrode on a welding apparatus and for stopping a flow of a liquid coolant thereto, the system comprising:
a supply path;
a return path;
a first resistance welding electrode on a welding apparatus;
a first electrode coolant path disposed between the supply path and the return path, the first electrode coolant path configured to support a first flow of liquid coolant to and from the first resistance welding electrode to cool the first resistance welding electrode;
a second resistance welding electrode on the welding apparatus;
a second electrode coolant path disposed between the supply path and the return path and in parallel with the first electrode coolant path, the second electrode coolant path configured to support a second flow of liquid coolant to and from the second resistance welding electrode to cool the second resistance welding electrode;
a first Y-connector coupling the supply path to the first electrode coolant path and the second electrode coolant path;
a second Y-connector coupling the first electrode coolant path and the second electrode coolant path to the return path;
a first shutoff valve disposed on the first electrode coolant path;
a second shutoff valve, the first and second shutoff valves being configured to stop the flow of the liquid coolant in the first electrode coolant path and the flow of the liquid coolant to and from the first resistance welding electrode;
a plurality of flow sensors, each of the plurality of flow sensors configured to generate a flow value, one or more of the plurality of flow values indicative of a flow condition in the first electrode coolant path;
a drawback valve configured to drawback at least a portion of the liquid coolant from the first resistance welding electrode; and
a circuit configured to control the first and second shutoff valves based on the one or more of the flow values generated by the plurality of flow sensors to stop the flow of the liquid coolant in the first electrode coolant path when the one or more of the flow values indicates a loss of the first resistance welding electrode, the circuit further configured to control the drawback valve based on the one or more of the flow values generated by the plurality of flow sensors to drawback at least the portion of the liquid coolant from the first resistance welding electrode after the first and second shutoff valves have stopped the flow of the liquid coolant.