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EP-4741093-A1 - FUME EXTRACTION SYSTEMS FOR ARC WELDING SYSTEMS

EP4741093A1EP 4741093 A1EP4741093 A1EP 4741093A1EP-4741093-A1

Abstract

A fume extraction system is designed for metal working and other applications. The fume extraction system includes one or more motors and/or adjustment devices to control fume suction airflow. One or more sensors may monitor a condition of the welding torch to determine if a welding arc is present. Control circuitry is operable to receive signals from the one or more sensors and/or power supply in order to determine the presence of the welding arc. The control circuitry can control the fume extraction system to adjust suction airflow based on the presence of the welding arc.

Inventors

  • Shellabarger, Dave

Assignees

  • Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251107

Claims (15)

  1. A fume extraction system, comprising: one or more sensors configured to monitor one or more arc characteristics of an arc from an arc welding torch; a motor configured to generate airflow suction to extract air from a work space; and control circuitry configured to: receive information from the one or more sensors corresponding to the one or more arc characteristics; and activate the motor to generate the airflow suction based on the one or more arc characteristics.
  2. The fume extraction system as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors includes one or more of a photodetector, an optical camera, a laser scanner, a temperature sensor, a magnetic sensor, a contact sensor, a current sensor, or a voltage sensor.
  3. The fume extraction system as defined in claim 1, wherein the arc characteristics include one or more of a light intensity, a light wavelength, a light frequency, a current to the arc welding torch, or a voltage to the arc welding torch.
  4. The fume extraction system as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are arranged on the arc welding torch.
  5. The fume extraction system as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are arranged on a welding helmet.
  6. The fume extraction system as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are arranged in proximity to the work space and remote from the arc welding torch, the welding helmet, or the fume extraction system.
  7. The fume extraction system as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors is removably affixed to the fume extraction system orwherein the control circuitry is configured to continuously or periodically monitor the one or more arc characteristics; and adjust a speed of the motor based on changes to the arc characteristics.
  8. A fume extraction system, comprising: one or more sensors configured to monitor one or more arc characteristics of an arc from an arc welding torch; one or more conduits arranged at a work space; one or more valves coupling the one or more conduits to a manifold of the fume extraction system; and control circuitry configured to: receive information from the one or more sensors corresponding to the one or more arc characteristics; and adjust a position of the one or more valves to connect the one or more conduits to the manifold based on the one or more arc characteristics.
  9. The fume extraction system as defined in claim 8, wherein the one or more sensors are arranged on the one or more conduits proximate to the work space and optionally, wherein the one or more conduits are coupled to the arc welding torch.
  10. The fume extraction system as defined in claim 8, wherein the one or more conduits comprise first and second conduits, the first conduit coupled to the arc welding torch and the second conduit coupled to a second arc welding torch.
  11. The fume extraction system as defined in claim 10, wherein the first conduit and the second conduit are both coupled to the one or more valves.
  12. The fume extraction system as defined in claim 11, wherein the one or more valves includes first and second valves, the first valve coupled to the first conduit and the second valve coupled to the second conduit.
  13. The fume extraction system as defined in claim 12, wherein the one or more sensors comprise first and second sensors, the first sensor configured to monitor arc welding characteristics of the arc welding torch and the second sensor configured to monitor arc welding characteristics of the second arc welding torch.
  14. The fume extraction system as defined in claim 13, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to independently control the first and second valves.
  15. The fume extraction system as defined in claim 8, wherein the one or more sensors includes one or more of a photodetector, an optical camera, a laser scanner, a temperature sensor, a magnetic sensor, a contact sensor, a current sensor, or a voltage sensor or wherein the arc characteristics include one or more of a light intensity, a light wavelength, a light frequency, a current to the arc welding torch, or a voltage to the arc welding torch.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/718,092, filed November 8, 2024, entitled "FUME MITIGATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ARC WELDING SYSTEMS." The entirety of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/718,092 is expressly incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates generally to fume mitigation and, more particularly, to fume mitigation systems and methods for arc welding systems. BACKGROUND A wide range of industrial, commercial, hobby and other applications result in airborne components that can be removed with proper extraction and filtering. Metal working operations, for example, range from cutting, welding, soldering, assembly, and other processes that may generate smoke and fumes. In smaller shops it may be convenient simply to open ambient air passages or to use suction or discharge air from fans to maintain air spaces relatively clear. In other applications, enclosed and/or cart-type fume extraction systems are used. In industrial settings, more complex fixed systems may be employed for extracting fumes from specific works cells, metal working locations, and so forth. In other settings, such as machine shops, woodworking shops, worksites where cutting, sanding and other operations are performed, dust, fumes, particulate and other types of airborne components may be generated that it may be desirable to collect and extract from work areas and controlled spaces. A number of systems have been developed for fume extraction, and a variety of these are currently in use. In general, these use suction air to draw fumes and smoke from the immediate vicinity of the metal working operation, and to filter the fumes and smoke before returning the air to the room or blowing the air to an outside space. Further improvements are needed, however, in fume extraction systems. For example, it would be useful to be able to control suction in response to weld activity, thereby improving welding operations. SUMMARY The present disclosure provides improvements to conventional fume extraction designs. Example fume extraction systems can automatically and/or manually control fume suction at one or more work stations, in response to data corresponding to initiation of a welding arc. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims and corresponding figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates an example fume extractor systems, in accordance with aspects of this disclosure.FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate example fume extractor systems operating with one or more manual arc welding torches, in accordance with aspects of this disclosure.FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate example fume extractor systems operating with one or more robotic welders, in accordance with aspects of this disclosure.FIG. 4 provides a method of controlling a fume extraction system operating with one or more arc welding tools, in accordance with aspects of this disclosure. The figures are not necessarily to scale. Where appropriate, similar or identical reference numbers are used to refer to similar or identical components. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Disclosed are systems and methods for fume extraction control. In particular, a fume extraction system, such as for a welding operation, includes one or more motors, inlets, and/or valves to control fume suction airflow. In some examples, a welding torch performs a welding operation (e.g., an arc welding operation) on one or more workpieces, thereby creating fumes, debris, etc. One or more sensors (e.g., an optical camera, a laser scanner, a magnetic sensor, a voltage sensor, a current sensor, a voltage or current output, etc.) are arranged to monitor arc characteristics during the welding process (e.g., intensity, wavelength, an output voltage or current, a voltage at the weld, etc.) to determine when arc welding is being conducted, and thus generating fumes. When the arc characteristics indicate an arc welding process is underway, the fume extraction system can be configured to automatically activate, drawing fumes, debris, etc., away from the workspace. In some examples, control circuitry (e.g., associated with the fume extraction system and/or the arc welding system) is operable to receive signals from the one or more sensors, welding system, and/or the fume extraction system corresponding to the arc and/or the arc welding torch. The control circuitry can compare information from the sensors and/or systems to a list of arc weld characteristics (e.g., stored in a local or networked database). Based on the comparison, the control circuitry can determine arc welding is un