Patents by Inventor Bruce Patrick Albrecht

Bruce Patrick Albrecht 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).

  • Publication number: 20240082942
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes an additive manufacturing tool configured to receive a plurality of metallic anchoring materials and to supply a plurality of droplets to a part, and a controller configured to independently control the composition, formation, and application of each droplet to the plurality of droplets to the part. The plurality of droplets is configured to build up the part. Each droplet of the plurality of droplets includes at least one metallic anchoring material of the plurality of metallic anchoring materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Bruce Patrick Albrecht, Christopher Hsu
  • Publication number: 20240009749
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system includes a welding-type system including circuitry configured to receive direct current (DC) power directly from a distributed DC bus, to generate a current using the received DC power, and to isolate the welding-type system from the distributed DC bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas A. Bunker, Alan A. Manthe, Anthony V. Salsich, Michael David Madsen, Bruce Patrick Albrecht
  • Patent number: 11833623
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes an additive manufacturing tool configured to receive a plurality of metallic anchoring materials and to supply a plurality of droplets to a part, and a controller configured to independently control the composition, formation, and application of each droplet to the plurality of droplets to the part. The plurality of droplets is configured to build up the part. Each droplet of the plurality of droplets includes at least one metallic anchoring material of the plurality of metallic anchoring materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Bruce Patrick Albrecht, Christopher Hsu
  • Patent number: 11766732
    Abstract: An automated welding system includes a welding robot and control circuitry. The welding bug robot includes a welding torch. The welding bug robot is configured to move on a track disposed around a circumference of a first pipe and perform a root pass welding operation at a joint between the first pipe and a second pipe. The control circuitry is configured to control movement of the welding bug robot around the circumference of the first pipe, apply a high energy welding phase via the welding torch to establish a first root condition, and apply a low energy welding phase via the welding torch to establish a second root condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Patrick Albrecht, Steven Edward Barhorst
  • Patent number: 11766733
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system includes a welding-type system including circuitry configured to receive direct current (DC) power directly from a distributed DC bus, to generate a current using the received DC power, and to isolate the welding-type system from the distributed DC bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Bunker, Alan A. Manthe, Anthony V. Salsich, Michael David Madsen, Bruce Patrick Albrecht
  • Patent number: 11749133
    Abstract: A welding training system includes one or more welding operator device which provides positional feedback relevant to a quality weld. The positional feedback is analyzed and, when the positional feedback is outside of a predetermined range, a signal is provided to the welding operator. In one embodiment, tactile feedback is provided in a welding gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Gerald Batzler, Bruce Patrick Albrecht, William Joshua Becker
  • Patent number: 11670191
    Abstract: An example weld training system includes a computing device comprising a display device on a first side and a camera on a second side, the computing device configured to: capture images with the camera; process the captured images to identify a first simulation device as a simulation weld torch and a second simulation device as a simulation workpiece; and display images of a simulated welding operation on the display device of the computing device based on analyzing the captured images to detect indicia of weld performance, the images of the simulated welding operation reflecting the indicia of weld performance; and a mounting device configured to removably hold the computing device to orient the camera of the computing device toward a simulation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Patrick Albrecht, Joseph C. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20230117440
    Abstract: A welding training system includes one or more welding operator device which provides positional feedback relevant to a quality weld. The positional feedback is analyzed and, when the positional feedback is outside of a predetermined range, a signal is provided to the welding operator. In one embodiment, tactile feedback is provided in a welding gun.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Todd Gerald Batzler, Bruce Patrick Albrecht, William Joshua Becker
  • Publication number: 20230079846
    Abstract: Embodiments of a welding power supply include an engine adapted to drive a generator to produce a first power and a energy storage device adapted to discharge energy to produce a second power. The welding power supply also includes control circuitry adapted to detect a commanded output. The control circuitry is adapted to meet the commanded output by controlling access to power from the energy storage device to produce the second power when the commanded output is below a first predetermined load level. The control circuitry is further adapted to meet the commanded output by controlling access to power from the engine and the energy storage device to produce the first power and the second power when the commanded output is above a second predetermined load level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Bruce Patrick Albrecht, Allen Raymond Sykes
  • Patent number: 11587462
    Abstract: An example weld training system includes: an orientation device; a mobile device; and a mount configured to attach the mobile device to a welding accessory, wherein the mobile device comprises: one or more sensors including at least a camera; a processor; and a machine readable storage device storing machine readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: recognize identifiers on the orientation device based on images captured via the camera; determine at least one of position information or orientation information for a welding torch with respect to the orientation device based on the recognized identifiers; and display, via a display of the mobile device, a welding operation based on the at least the position information or the orientation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Van Bergen Salsich, William Joshua Becker, Bruce Patrick Albrecht
  • Patent number: 11565338
    Abstract: An example welding user interface system includes: a user interface configured to receive a plurality of control inputs indicative of a plurality of weld specifications, wherein the plurality of weld specifications comprise two or more physical attributes of a weld, the physical attributes comprising two or more of a workpiece thickness, a joint type, a workpiece material, a fillet size, a penetration depth, a penetration profile, a bead width, a wire type, a wire feed speed, or a gas type; and a processor configured to convert the weld specifications from the plurality of control inputs into electrical parameters of a welding power source, and to control an output welding power of the welding power source based at least in part on the electrical parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Ulrich, Bruce Patrick Albrecht, Todd Earl Holverson
  • Publication number: 20220379477
    Abstract: An example robotic welding system, includes: a robotic manipulator configured to manipulate a welding torch; and a robotic controller, comprising: a processor; and a machine readable storage medium comprising machine readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to, in response to initiation of a robotic welding procedure involving the robotic manipulator: prior to starting the robotic welding procedure, output at least one of a visual notification or an audible notification proximate to the robotic manipulator; and after satisfying at least one weld-ready condition, control the robotic manipulator to perform the robotic welding procedure using the welding torch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Bruce Patrick Albrecht, Joseph C. Schneider, Kevin Pagano
  • Patent number: 11423800
    Abstract: A welding training system includes one or more welding operator device which provides positional feedback relevant to a quality weld. The positional feedback is analyzed and, when the positional feedback is outside of a predetermined range, a signal is provided to the welding operator. In one embodiment, tactile feedback is provided in a welding gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Gerald Batzler, Bruce Patrick Albrecht, William Joshua Becker
  • Patent number: 11420283
    Abstract: Embodiments of a welding power supply include an engine adapted to drive a generator to produce a first power and a energy storage device adapted to discharge energy to produce a second power. The welding power supply also includes control circuitry adapted to detect a commanded output. The control circuitry is adapted to meet the commanded output by controlling access to power from the energy storage device to produce the second power when the commanded output is below a first predetermined load level. The control circuitry is further adapted to meet the commanded output by controlling access to power from the engine and the energy storage device to produce the first power and the second power when the commanded output is above a second predetermined load level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Patrick Albrecht, Allen Raymond Sykes
  • Publication number: 20220258269
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward an energy storage caddy configured to be coupled to a secondary side of a welder. The energy storage caddy is configured to combine a first power output of the welder with a second power output of the energy storage caddy to produce a total power output for a welding system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Bruce Patrick Albrecht, Thomas Allen Bunker
  • Publication number: 20220254276
    Abstract: An example weld training system includes a computing device comprising a display device on a first side and a camera on a second side, the computing device configured to: capture images with the camera; process the captured images to identify a first simulation device as a simulation weld torch and a second simulation device as a simulation workpiece; and display images of a simulated welding operation on the display device of the computing device based on analyzing the captured images to detect indicia of weld performance, the images of the simulated welding operation reflecting the indicia of weld performance; and a mounting device configured to removably hold the computing device to orient the camera of the computing device toward a simulation area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Bruce Patrick Albrecht, Joseph C. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20220193808
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system includes a welding-type system including circuitry configured to receive direct current (DC) power directly from a distributed DC bus, to generate a current using the received DC power, and to isolate the welding-type system from the distributed DC bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas A. Bunker, Alan A. Manthe, Anthony V. Salsich, Michael David Madsen, Bruce Patrick Albrecht
  • Patent number: 11318552
    Abstract: Embodiments of energy storage caddies adapted to couple to a welding power supply are provided. The energy storage caddies may include an energy storage device, a charger, control circuitry, and power conversion circuitry. Certain control circuitry may be adapted to control the energy storage device to discharge to provide a direct current (DC) voltage output to the welding power supply when a weld load demand is detected, to monitor a charge level of the energy storage device, and to alert a user to an error when the charge level of the energy storage device falls below a predetermined limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Patrick Albrecht
  • Patent number: 11257395
    Abstract: An example weld training system includes a computing device comprising a display device on a first side and a camera on a second side, the computing device configured to: capture images with the camera; process the captured images to identify a first simulation device as a simulation weld torch and a second simulation device as a simulation workpiece; and display images of a simulated welding operation on the display device of the computing device based on analyzing the captured images to detect indicia of weld performance, the images of the simulated welding operation reflecting the indicia of weld performance; and a mounting device configured to removably hold the computing device to orient the camera of the computing device toward a simulation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Patrick Albrecht, Joseph C. Schneider
  • Patent number: 11179794
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system includes a welding-type system including circuitry configured to receive direct current (DC) power directly from a distributed DC bus, to generate a current using the received DC power, and to isolate the welding-type system from the distributed DC bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
    Inventors: Thomas A. Bunker, Alan A. Manthe, Anthony V. Salsich, Michael David Madsen, Bruce Patrick Albrecht