US 12,454,021 B2
Energy conservation system, method, and apparatus for use with welding equipment
Mark Ulrich, New London, WI (US)
Assigned to Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed by Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed on Jul. 9, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/924,974.
Application 16/924,974 is a continuation of application No. 14/729,291, filed on Jun. 3, 2015, granted, now 10,722,969.
Prior Publication US 2020/0338658 A1, Oct. 29, 2020
Int. Cl. B23K 9/10 (2006.01); B23K 9/095 (2006.01); B23K 37/00 (2025.01)
CPC B23K 9/1006 (2013.01) [B23K 9/0956 (2013.01); B23K 9/1012 (2013.01); B23K 37/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A welding system comprising:
control circuitry operatively coupled with a trigger and a proximity sensor, wherein the proximity sensor configured to provide a first output signal while the proximity sensor detects that an operator is in-range of a welding torch of said welding system; and
power supply circuitry having a transformer, wherein the power supply circuitry is operatively coupled with the control circuitry and configured to operate in an operating mode and an energy conservation mode in which at least one power-drawing circuit of the power supply circuitry is disabled,
wherein the power supply circuitry is configured to switch between the operating mode and the energy conservation mode dynamically;
wherein the power supply circuitry operates in the operating mode while the power supply circuitry receives the first output signal from the proximity sensor;
wherein the power supply circuitry, when in the operating mode, outputs a welding current while the power supply circuitry receives a control signal from the trigger; and
wherein the power supply circuitry operates in the energy conservation mode when the proximity sensor does not provide the first output signal to the control circuitry.