Patents by Inventor James Francis Rappl
James Francis Rappl 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).
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Patent number: 11931833Abstract: Systems and methods for welding asset tracking are disclosed. In some examples, a welding asset tracking system may comprise an asset tracking network of tags, hubs, and/or gateways retained by welding assets within a welding area. The asset tracking network may obtain and/or communicate to an asset tracking server welding data related to one or more of the welding assets, as well as position data obtained via an internal and/or external positioning system. In this way, the welding asset tracking server may continually receive updated information regarding each welding assets identity, location, and/or use. The asset tracking server may additionally send a command to a selected welding asset that causes an interface of the selected welding asset to emit an output that enables an operator to physically identify the welding asset.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2023Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: James Francis Rappl, Todd Holverson
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Publication number: 20240082943Abstract: Apparatus and methods for welding asset tracking with heartbeat monitoring are disclosed. In some examples, a welding asset tracking system may comprise an asset tracking network of tags, hubs, and/or gateways retained by welding assets within a welding area. The welding asset tracking system may generate heartbeat signals that certain welding assets may require for normal operation, so as to ensure the welding assets are used in appropriate welding contexts and/or welding areas. In some examples, information obtained from the asset tracking network may be used to determine whether one or more heartbeat signals should be discontinued.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Inventors: James Francis Rappl, Todd Holverson
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Patent number: 11833625Abstract: Apparatus and methods for welding asset tracking with heartbeat monitoring are disclosed. In some examples, a welding asset tracking system may comprise an asset tracking network of tags, hubs, and/or gateways retained by welding assets within a welding area. The welding asset tracking system may generate heartbeat signals that certain welding assets may require for normal operation, so as to ensure the welding assets are used in appropriate welding contexts and/or welding areas. In some examples, information obtained from the asset tracking network may be used to determine whether one or more heartbeat signals should be discontinued.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2020Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: James Francis Rappl, Todd Holverson
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Publication number: 20230271264Abstract: Systems and methods for welding asset tracking are disclosed. In some examples, a welding asset tracking system may comprise an asset tracking network of tags, hubs, and/or gateways retained by welding assets within a welding area. The asset tracking network may obtain and/or communicate to an asset tracking server welding data related to one or more of the welding assets, as well as position data obtained via an internal and/or external positioning system. In this way, the welding asset tracking server may continually receive updated information regarding each welding assets identity, location, and/or use. The asset tracking server may additionally send a command to a selected welding asset that causes an interface of the selected welding asset to emit an output that enables an operator to physically identify the welding asset.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2023Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventors: James Francis Rappl, Todd Holverson
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Patent number: 11684990Abstract: Systems and methods for welding asset tracking are disclosed. In some examples, a welding asset tracking system may comprise an asset tracking network of tags, hubs, and/or gateways retained by welding assets within a welding area. The asset tracking network may obtain and/or communicate to an asset tracking server welding data related to one or more of the welding assets, as well as position data obtained via an internal and/or external positioning system. In this way, the welding asset tracking server may continually receive updated information regarding each welding assets identity, location, and/or use. The asset tracking server may additionally send a command to a selected welding asset that causes an interface of the selected welding asset to emit an output that enables an operator to physically identify the welding asset.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2020Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: James Francis Rappl, Todd Holverson
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Publication number: 20220183889Abstract: Described herein are examples of smart welding helmets with arc time tracking verification and lens maintenance detection. In some examples, the arc time tracking verification checks whether certain conditions are satisfied before tracking the arc time. This may make arc time tracking more reliable by preventing tracking during certain false positive arc detection scenarios. In some examples, the lens maintenance detection notifies an operator to clean and/or replace their lens when the lens becomes substantially occluded (e.g., due to weld spatter) and/or has been in use for a certain amount of time (and/or arc time). This may assist operators who become too engrossed in their work to notice the gradual diminishment in visibility that can be caused by slow build up of weld spatter, debris, and/or other particulates on the cover lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2021Publication date: June 16, 2022Inventors: William Joshua Becker, James Francis Rappl
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Publication number: 20220126404Abstract: Described herein are examples of torch tracking systems that monitor travel directions, speeds, and/or distances of welding torches using retractable cords. In some examples, the torch tracking systems use a sensor to measure a speed at which a reel extends and/or retracts a cord, and/or measure a length of the cord that is extended and/or retracted. The reel or cord can be attached to some portion of the welding torch, such that movement of the torch away from the reel causes the reel to extend more cord, and movement towards the reel allows a spring loaded spool of the reel to automatically retract the cord. While reel based torch tracking systems may provide coarser tracking than the more complex and/or expensive torch tracking solutions, their simplicity and low cost may make them an attractive alternative.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2021Publication date: April 28, 2022Inventors: William Joshua Becker, James Francis Rappl
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Publication number: 20220031516Abstract: Described herein are examples of smart helmet modules that can be affixed to conventional welding helmets. In some examples, a smart helmet module may include one or more sensors configured to detect if/when welding is occurring, and/or whether a welding helmet is being worn in an up or down position, or not at all. In some examples, a smart helmet module may include one or more helmet devices configured to automatically activate or deactivate based on whether welding is taking place and/or the welding helmet is being worn up, down, or not at all.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Mitchell James Muske, James Francis Rappl
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Publication number: 20220031515Abstract: Described herein are examples of smart helmet modules that can be affixed to conventional welding helmets. In some examples, a smart helmet module may include one or more sensors configured to detect if/when welding is occurring, and/or whether a welding helmet is being worn in an up or down position, or not at all. In some examples, a smart helmet module may include one or more helmet devices configured to automatically activate or deactivate based on whether welding is taking place and/or the welding helmet is being worn up, down, or not at all.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Mitchell James Muske, James Francis Rappl
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Patent number: 11224934Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to weld by preheating welding wire and inductively heating a workpiece are disclosed. An example welding system includes: a welding current source configured to provide welding current to a welding circuit, the welding circuit comprising an electrode wire and a first contact tip of a welding torch; an electrode preheating circuit configured to provide preheating current through a first portion of the electrode wire via a second contact tip of the welding torch; and at least one induction heating coil configured to apply induction heat to a workpiece, the welding current source, the electrode preheating circuit, and the induction heating coil configured to perform a preheating operation and a welding operation on the workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: January 18, 2022Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Todd Earl Holverson, James Francis Rappl
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Publication number: 20210205912Abstract: Systems and methods for selecting a welding process are disclosed. An example welding power supply is configured to: provide welding power for welding; receive a communication from a remote device over a weld cable, wherein the communication corresponds to a detected welding output polarity; and automatically set a new welding process based on a current welding process of the welding power supply and the received communication.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2020Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventors: James Francis Rappl, Jeffery Ray Ihde, Kenneth Austin Stanzel, John C. Leisner
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Patent number: 11007610Abstract: A voltage sensing wire feeder includes a storage device and a user interface. The user interface is configured to receive a first selection and a second selection. The first selection is configured to direct the voltage sensing wire feeder to use a first group of settings stored in the storage device, and the second selection is configured to direct the voltage sensing wire feeder to use a second group of settings stored in the storage device.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2018Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: James Francis Rappl, Jeffrey Ray Ihde, Joseph Edward Feldhausen, Timothy Jay Reitmeyer, Thomas Don Lahti, Clay Alan Byron, Michael Hilary Novak
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Publication number: 20210060686Abstract: Systems and methods for welding asset movement tracking are disclosed. In some examples, a welding asset tracking system may comprise an asset tracking network of tags, hubs, and/or gateways retained by welding assets within a welding area. Directions of travel of monitored assets may be determined by comparing the order in which assets are identified by the asset tracking network. The travel directions, travel paths, and/or ingress and egress of tracked assets from welding areas are stored for subsequent analysis and/or retrieval. Additionally or alternatively, functionality of tracked assets may be disabled and/or enabled based on whether the assets are authorized to be removed from a designated area.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: James Francis Rappl, Todd Holverson
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Publication number: 20210060681Abstract: Systems and methods for welding asset tracking are disclosed. In some examples, a welding asset tracking system may comprise an asset tracking network of tags, hubs, and/or gateways retained by welding assets within a welding area. The asset tracking network may obtain and/or communicate to an asset tracking server welding data related to one or more of the welding assets, as well as position data obtained via an internal and/or external positioning system. In this way, the welding asset tracking server may continually receive updated information regarding each welding assets identity, location, and/or use. The asset tracking server may additionally send a command to a selected welding asset that causes an interface of the selected welding asset to emit an output that enables an operator to physically identify the welding asset.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: James Francis Rappl, Todd Holverson
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Publication number: 20210053136Abstract: Apparatus and methods for welding asset tracking with heartbeat monitoring are disclosed. In some examples, a welding asset tracking system may comprise an asset tracking network of tags, hubs, and/or gateways retained by welding assets within a welding area. The welding asset tracking system may generate heartbeat signals that certain welding assets may require for normal operation, so as to ensure the welding assets are used in appropriate welding contexts and/or welding areas. In some examples, information obtained from the asset tracking network may be used to determine whether one or more heartbeat signals should be discontinued.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2020Publication date: February 25, 2021Inventors: James Francis Rappl, Todd Holverson
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Publication number: 20210049540Abstract: Systems and methods for welding asset tracking are disclosed. In some examples, a welding asset tracking system may comprise an asset tracking network of tags, hubs, and/or gateways retained by welding assets within a welding area. In some examples, the asset tracking network may also include a welding asset repository. The asset tracking network may obtain and/or communicate to an asset tracking server welding data related to one or more of the welding assets, as well as position data obtained via an internal and/or external positioning system. In this way, the welding asset tracking server may continually receive updated information regarding each welding assets identity, location, and/or use. This updated information may be used by a welding asset manager to locate welding assets, allocate assets to different welding jobs, as well as determine whether assets should be brought in for maintenance and/or whether new assets should be acquired.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Inventors: James Francis Rappl, Todd Holverson
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Publication number: 20210046570Abstract: Systems and methods for welding asset tracking are disclosed. In some examples, a welding asset tracking system may comprise an asset tracking network of tags, hubs, and/or gateways retained by welding assets within a welding area. The asset tracking network may obtain and/or communicate to an asset tracking server welding data related to one or more of the welding assets, as well as position data obtained via an internal and/or external positioning system. In this way, the welding asset tracking server may continually receive updated information regarding each welding assets identity, location, and/or use. This updated information may be used by a welding asset manager to locate welding assets, allocate assets to different welding jobs, as well as determine whether assets should be brought in for maintenance and/or whether new assets should be acquired.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Inventors: James Francis Rappl, Todd Holverson
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Patent number: 10807181Abstract: Systems and methods for selecting a welding process are disclosed. An example welding power supply is configured to: provide welding power for welding; receive a communication from a remote device over a weld cable, wherein the communication corresponds to a detected welding output polarity; and automatically set a new welding process based on a current welding process of the welding power supply and the received communication.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: James Francis Rappl, Jeffery Ray Ihde, Kenneth Austin Stanzel, John C. Leisner
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Publication number: 20190193191Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to weld by preheating welding wire and inductively heating a workpiece are disclosed. An example welding system includes: a welding current source configured to provide welding current to a welding circuit, the welding circuit comprising an electrode wire and a first contact tip of a welding torch; an electrode preheating circuit configured to provide preheating current through a first portion of the electrode wire via a second contact tip of the welding torch; and at least one induction heating coil configured to apply induction heat to a workpiece, the welding current source, the electrode preheating circuit, and the induction heating coil configured to perform a preheating operation and a welding operation on the workpiece.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2018Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: Todd Earl Holverson, James Francis Rappl
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Publication number: 20180369968Abstract: A voltage sensing wire feeder includes a storage device and a user interface. The user interface is configured to receive a first selection and a second selection. The first selection is configured to direct the voltage sensing wire feeder to use a first group of settings stored in the storage device, and the second selection is configured to direct the voltage sensing wire feeder to use a second group of settings stored in the storage device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2018Publication date: December 27, 2018Inventors: James Francis Rappl, Jeffrey Ray Ihde, Joseph Edward Feldhausen, Timothy Jay Reitmeyer, Thomas Don Lahti, Clay Alan Byron, Michael Hilary Novak