US 12,377,487 B2
Polarity sensing welding wire feeder system and method
Anthony Van Bergen Salsich, Appleton, WI (US); and Edward G. Beistle, Appleton, WI (US)
Assigned to ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC, Glenview, IL (US)
Filed by Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed on Jul. 30, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/526,090.
Application 16/526,090 is a continuation of application No. 13/834,165, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, granted, now 10,406,621.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/657,481, filed on Jun. 8, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2019/0351499 A1, Nov. 21, 2019
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B23K 9/095 (2006.01); B23K 9/10 (2006.01); B23K 9/12 (2006.01)
CPC B23K 9/095 (2013.01) [B23K 9/1043 (2013.01); B23K 9/124 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A welding wire feeder comprising:
a welding wire feed drive configured to drive welding wire towards a welding workpiece;
an input power connection configured to receive input power from a welding power source through a power cable coupled to the input power connection, the input power connection having a defined polarity;
power conversion circuitry configured to receive the input power from the input power connection, the power conversion circuitry configured to convert the input power to welding output power for use by a welding torch;
sensing circuitry comprising one or more sensors connected at the input power connection, the sensing circuitry configured to detect a polarity of the input power supplied to the input power connection; and
control circuitry configured to provide the input power to the power conversion circuitry only when the polarity of the input power detected by the sensing circuitry corresponds to the defined polarity of the input power connection.