Cooling Arrangement For Cooling Weld Caps Having A Check Device And Method Of Monitoring

Abstract

A cooling arrangement for cooling weld caps of a welding device includes a local cooling pipe having a feed portion through which coolant can flow to the weld caps, and a return portion through which coolant can flow away from the weld caps. The cooling arrangement has at least one sensor and at least one actuator arranged at the cooling pipe. A check device is connected to the sensor and the actuator. The check device is arranged in an immediate vicinity of the sensor and/or the actuator and/or the local cooling pipe, and is adapted to receive measured values of the sensor and to check, based on pre-established criteria, whether the measured values are within a predefined desired range. In response to a negative check result, the check device can drive the actuator in a predetermined manner such that the cooling arrangement is placed in a safe condition.

1 . A cooling arrangement for cooling weld caps of a welding device, the cooling arrangement comprising:
 a local cooling pipe having a feed portion through which coolant can flow to the weld caps, and a return portion through which coolant can flow away from the weld caps;   at least one sensor arranged at the local cooling pipe;   at least one actuator arranged at the local cooling pipe; and   a check device which is connected to the at least one sensor and the at least one actuator, wherein the check device is arranged in an immediate vicinity of the at least one sensor and/or the at least one actuator and/or the local cooling pipe and is adapted to receive measured values of the at least one sensor and to check, based on pre-established criteria, whether the measured values are within a predefined desired range and, in response to a negative check result, to drive the at least one actuator in a predetermined manner such that the cooling arrangement is placed in a safe condition.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises at least one of a closing valve for shutting off the local cooling pipe and a device for pressure reduction in the local cooling pipe. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 2 , wherein the device for pressure reduction in the local cooling pipe includes an expansion cylinder with at least one of a built-in compensating spring and a pilot valve. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a flow meter, a temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 4 , wherein the check device is placed on one of the flow meter and the pressure sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the check device is adapted such that threshold values can be stored and compared with measured values of the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the check device includes an evaluation unit which takes into account whether measured values of the at least one sensor are outside of predefined the desired range temporarily or permanently. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the check device is adapted to be connected to a superordinate system control and to transmit results as to whether the measured values of the at least one sensor are within the predefined desired range to the superordinate system control. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the check device is connected to a first flow meter arranged at the local cooling pipe and to a second flow meter that is internal or external of the cooling arrangement. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the check device includes a display for at least one of a continuous display of measured values of the at least one sensor and for a display of errors. 
     
     
         11 . The cooling arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling arrangement is a prefabricated assembly and includes at least one fastener to mount the cooling arrangement to one of a wall and a board. 
     
     
         12 . A method of monitoring a cooling arrangement comprising the steps of:
 providing a local cooling pipe having a feed portion through which coolant can flow to the weld caps, and a return portion through which coolant can flow away from the weld caps, at least one sensor arranged at the local cooling pipe, at least one actuator arranged at the local cooling pipe, and a check device which is connected to the at least one sensor and the at least one actuator   receiving measured values of the at least one sensor by the check device;   checking, based on pre-established criteria, whether the measured values are within a predefined desired range; and   in response to a negative check result, driving the at least one actuator such that the cooling arrangement is placed in a safe condition.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein one or more threshold values defining the predefined desired range are manually stored in the check device. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the check device evaluates the measured values of the at least one sensor, taking into account whether the measured values are outside of the predefined desired range temporarily or permanently. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein in a case in which a plurality of errors occur in the form of measured values of various sensors being outside of their predefined desired ranges, the check device at first displays that error which occurred first. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein based on a plurality of threshold values, the check device distinguishes between whether a minor or a major deviation from the predefined desired range has occurred, and only in the event of a major deviation is the at least one actuator driven such that the cooling arrangement is placed in a safe condition.