Patents by Inventor Al J. DeCoster

Al J. DeCoster has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11890704
    Abstract: A welding-type system includes a wire feeder to provide an electrode wire to a welding-type torch. A welding-type power supply to provide power to one or both of the welding-type torch or the wire feeder. A controller is configured to control a sense voltage circuit to provide a sense voltage to charge a control capacitor, monitor a voltage feedback signal, determine that a wire feeder is activated based on a first change in the voltage feedback signal, control the switched mode power supply to provide a constant voltage output signal during a welding operation, control the switched mode power supply to provide the pulsed power output in response to completion of the welding operation, determine that the wire feeder is deactivated based on a second change in the feedback signal, adjust a pulse rate of the output signal to achieve an RMS value below a predetermined RMS level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Al J. DeCoster, Mark S. Kadlec
  • Publication number: 20200139472
    Abstract: A welding-type system for gas tungsten arc welding including control circuitry to control the initiation of a welding arc and the preflow and postflow of inert shielding gas based on sensed voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Zachary Joseph Erndt, Al J. DeCoster
  • Publication number: 20190366469
    Abstract: Welding power supplies and user interfaces to control output polarity for welding power supplies are disclosed. An example welding power supply includes: a first terminal and a second terminal configured to be connected to welding equipment; power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to weld power and to output the weld power via the first and second terminals; an interface, including: one or more first input devices configured to receive a selection of a wire feeding weld process; and one or more second input devices configured to receive a selection of a polarity of the weld power; and control circuitry configured to, in response to receiving, via the interface, an input associated with at least one of the wire feeding weld process or the selection of the output polarity, control the polarity of the weld power output via the power conversion circuitry to the first and second terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Mark S. Kadlec, Al J. DeCoster, Andrew J. Pfaller
  • Publication number: 20180354050
    Abstract: A welding-type system includes a wire feeder to provide an electrode wire to a welding-type torch. A welding-type power supply to provide power to one or both of the welding-type torch or the wire feeder. A controller is configured to control a sense voltage circuit to provide a sense voltage to charge a control capacitor, monitor a voltage feedback signal, determine that a wire feeder is activated based on a first change in the voltage feedback signal, control the switched mode power supply to provide a constant voltage output signal during a welding operation, control the switched mode power supply to provide the pulsed power output in response to completion of the welding operation, determine that the wire feeder is deactivated based on a second change in the feedback signal, adjust a pulse rate of the output signal to achieve an RMS value below a predetermined RMS level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Al J. DeCoster, Mark S. Kadlec