Patents by Inventor James Lee Uecker

James Lee Uecker 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: 10870164
    Abstract: A contact tip assembly with a preheating tip comprises a welding-type power source configured to provide welding-type current to a welding-type circuit, the welding-type circuit comprising a welding-type electrode and a first contact tip of a welding torch. The assembly also includes an electrode preheating circuit configured to provide preheating current through a portion of the welding-type electrode via a second contact tip of the welding torch, and a voltage sense circuit to monitor a voltage drop across the two contact tips, and the electrode preheating circuit adjusts at least one of the first current or the preheating current based on the voltage drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: James Lee Uecker, Jake Zwayer, Christopher Hsu
  • Publication number: 20200353553
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a spatter generating event during a welding application. The method includes capturing data that corresponds to a welding current of the welding application. The method also includes detecting parameters associated with a short circuit from the captured data. The method includes analyzing the detected parameters to monitor the spatter generating event during the welding application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Richard Martin Hutchison, Todd Holverson, James Lee Uecker
  • Publication number: 20200346298
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cleaning a wire electrode after a welding process has ended are described. During a welding process, a wire electrode may be fed forward from a wire feeder through a welding torch to create a molten weld pool. While, conventionally, feeding of the wire electrode stops when the welding process ends, the present disclosure contemplates instead continuing to feed the wire electrode forward after the welding process ends. More particularly, the present disclosure contemplates feeding the wire electrode into the weld pool so that the wire electrode can be “cleaned” in the molten weld pool created by the welding process. The “cleaned” wire electrode end can be more easily used to establish an electrical arc at the beginning of the next welding process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventor: James Lee Uecker
  • Patent number: 10766092
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to provide preheat voltage feedback loss protection are disclosed. An example welding-type system includes a welding-type power source configured to provide welding-type power to a welding-type circuit, the welding-type circuit comprising a welding-type electrode and a first contact tip of a welding torch; an electrode preheating circuit configured to provide preheating power through a first portion of the welding-type electrode via a second contact tip of the welding torch; a preheat feedback circuit configured to measure a preheat voltage; and an electrode preheat control circuit configured to: control the preheating power based on the preheating voltage; and control the electrode preheating circuit to reduce the preheating power in response to detecting an invalid preheat voltage measured by the preheat feedback circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: James Lee Uecker, Jake Zwayer
  • Patent number: 10722968
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a spatter generating event during a welding application. The method includes capturing data that corresponds to a welding current of the welding application. The method also includes detecting parameters associated with a short circuit from the captured data. The method includes analyzing the detected parameters to monitor the spatter generating event during the welding application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Richard Martin Hutchison, Todd Earl Holverson, James Lee Uecker
  • Patent number: 10675699
    Abstract: A contact tip assembly with a preheating tip comprises a welding power source configured to provide welding current to a welding circuit, the welding circuit comprising a welding electrode and a first contact tip of a welding torch. The assembly also includes an electrode preheating circuit configured to provide preheating current through a portion of the welding electrode via a second contact tip of the welding torch, and a voltage sense circuit to monitor a voltage drop across the two contact tips, and the electrode preheating circuit adjusts at least one of the first current or the preheating current based on the voltage drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hsu, Dennis Sigl, Jake Zwayer, James Lee Uecker, Jon Michael Patterson
  • Publication number: 20200156172
    Abstract: A welding method includes feeding a welding electrode axially from a welding torch, moving the welding electrode radially in a desired pattern with respect to a central axis of the welding torch by a motion control assembly within the welding torch, transmitting from control circuitry a signal corresponding to a position of the welding electrode relative to a weld joint or weld pool, advancing the welding torch or a workpiece to establish a weld, and transferring material from the welding electrode to a first location in an area of the weld pool. The welding electrode moves radially while feeding the welding electrode from the welding torch, the material from the welding electrode is transferred to the first location during a first cycle of the desired pattern, and the first location is controlled based at least in part on the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Hsu, Richard Martin Hutchison, Kevin Michael Scott, Kevin Pagano, James Lee Uecker
  • Publication number: 20200101555
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and/or methods for weld wire preheating are disclosed. Some examples of the present disclosure relate to welding-type systems that use one or more preheaters to heat welding wire prior to an arc and/or deposition on a weldment. The welding wire may have one or more characteristics. A preheating control may determine a governing characteristic of the one or more welding wire characteristics and establish a threshold temperature and/or target temperature based on the governing characteristic. The preheating control may further control the one or more preheaters based on the threshold temperature and/or target temperature, in order to avoid a deformation and/or degradation of the welding wire that would impact column strength, wire feeding, weld process stability, and/or welding consumable longevity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: James Lee Uecker, Todd Earl Holverson, Steven Blair Massey, JR.
  • Patent number: 10543551
    Abstract: A welding method includes feeding a welding electrode axially from a welding torch, moving the welding electrode radially in a desired pattern with respect to a central axis of the welding torch by a motion control assembly within the welding torch, transmitting from control circuitry a signal corresponding to a position of the welding electrode relative to a weld joint or weld pool, advancing the welding torch or a workpiece to establish a weld, and transferring material from the welding electrode to a first location in an area of the weld pool. The welding electrode moves radially while feeding the welding electrode from the welding torch, the material from the welding electrode is transferred to the first location during a first cycle of the desired pattern, and the first location is controlled based at least in part on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Hsu, Richard Martin Hutchison, Kevin Michael Scott, Kevin Pagano, James Lee Uecker
  • Publication number: 20190388992
    Abstract: A welding regime may implements cyclic short circuits under a closed loop voltage control approach. Upon clearing or imminent clearing of the short circuit, a current recess is implemented. The current recess reduces the current that would otherwise be applied to the weld, resulting in multiple benefits. The recess may be implemented by suspending voltage command signals. Following the current recess, normal control is resumed with the then-current voltage command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Peter Donald Mehn, Caleb Haven, Richard Martin Hutchison, James Lee Uecker
  • Patent number: 10464157
    Abstract: A contact tip assembly with a preheating tip comprises a welding power source configured to provide welding current to a welding circuit, the welding circuit comprising a welding electrode and a first contact tip of a welding torch. The assembly also includes an electrode preheating circuit configured to provide preheating current through a portion of the welding electrode via a second contact tip of the welding torch, and a voltage sense circuit to monitor a voltage drop across the two contact tips, and the electrode preheating circuit adjusts at least one of the first current or the preheating current based on the voltage drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hsu, Dennis Sigl, Jake Zwayer, James Lee Uecker, Jon Michael Patterson
  • Patent number: 10189106
    Abstract: A welding regime may implements cyclic short circuits under a closed loop voltage control approach. Upon clearing or imminent clearing of the short circuit, a current recess is implemented. The current recess reduces the current that would otherwise be applied to the weld, resulting in multiple benefits. The recess may be implemented by suspending voltage command signals. Following the current recess, normal control is resumed with the then-current voltage command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Donald Mehn, Caleb Haven, Richard Martin Hutchison, James Lee Uecker
  • Publication number: 20180354052
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to control weld current in a preheating system are disclosed. An example preheating power supply includes power conversion circuitry configured to output welding-type power via a first output power connector and a second output power connector, and a bypass path prevention circuit configured to prevent less than a threshold voltage applied to the first output power connector and the second output power connector from a different power supply from causing current to flow between the first output power connector and the second output power connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Quinn William Schartner, James Lee Uecker
  • Publication number: 20180354057
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to preheat welding wire are disclosed. An example welding assembly for a welding torch includes: a first contact tip configured to conduct welding current to a consumable electrode; a second contact tip configured to conduct preheating current to the consumable electrode; and a cooling body configured to transfer heat from at least the first contact tip to coolant and to conduct the welding current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Dennis Roland Sigl, James Lee Uecker, Jake Bradley Zwayer, Jeffery Wells, Nauman Basit
  • Publication number: 20180354051
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to control welding electrode preheating are disclosed. An example consumable electrode-fed welding-type system includes a welding-type current source configured to provide welding-type current to a welding-type circuit, the welding-type circuit comprising a welding-type electrode and a first contact tip of a welding torch; an electrode preheating circuit configured to provide preheating current through a first portion of the welding-type electrode via a second contact tip of the welding torch; an electrode preheating control circuit configured to adjust at least one of the preheating current or an electrode feed speed based on the change in the contact-tip-to-work-distance; and a current interpreter configured to determine a change in a contact-tip-to-work-distance of the welding torch based on at least one of the welding-type current or the preheating current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: James Lee Uecker, Jake Bradley Zwayer
  • Publication number: 20180354053
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to preheat welding wire for low hydrogen welding are disclosed. An example apparatus to reduce hydrogen associated with a consumable welding electrode includes: a welding-type power source configured to provide welding-type current to a welding-type circuit, the welding-type circuit comprising a welding-type electrode and a first contact tip of a welding torch; an electrode preheating circuit configured to provide preheating current through a first portion of the welding-type electrode between a wire feeder supplying the welding-type electrode and at least one of the first contact tip or a second contact tip of the welding torch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Jake Bradley Zwayer, James Lee Uecker, Steven E. Barhorst, Christopher Hsu
  • Publication number: 20180354056
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to preheat welding wire are disclosed. An example welding torch includes: a welding assembly comprising: a first contact tip configured to conduct welding current to a consumable electrode; and a second contact tip configured to conduct preheating current to the consumable electrode; a neck having a bend, the neck configured to hold the welding assembly and to deliver the consumable electrode to the welding assembly; a torch body configured to hold the neck opposite the welding assembly; and a torch mounting assembly; wherein the welding assembly, the neck, the bend, the torch body, and the torch mounting assembly are dimensioned such that the welding torch provides a same tool center point distance, a same bend angle, and a same approach angle when used to replace a second welding torch having a single contact tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Dennis Roland Sigl, James Lee Uecker, Jake Bradley Zwayer
  • Publication number: 20180354055
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to preheat weld wire are disclosed. An example welding torch includes a first contact tip configured to conduct welding current to a consumable electrode, a second contact tip configured to conduct preheating current to the consumable electrode, and a plurality of liquid cooling assemblies configured to conduct the preheating current and to conduct the welding current to the consumable electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Dennis Roland Sigl, James Lee Uecker, Jake Bradley Zwayer, Nicholas Matiash, Jeffery Wells, Nauman Basit
  • Publication number: 20180333798
    Abstract: A contact tip assembly with a preheating tip comprises a welding-type power source configured to provide welding-type current to a welding-type circuit, the welding-type circuit comprising a welding-type electrode and a first contact tip of a welding torch. The assembly also includes an electrode preheating circuit configured to provide preheating current through a portion of the welding-type electrode via a second contact tip of the welding torch, and a voltage sense circuit to monitor a voltage drop across the two contact tips, and the electrode preheating circuit adjusts at least one of the first current or the preheating current based on the voltage drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: James Lee Uecker, Jake Zwayer, Christopher Hsu
  • Publication number: 20180297141
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to provide preheat voltage feedback loss protection are disclosed. An example welding-type system includes a welding-type power source configured to provide welding-type power to a welding-type circuit, the welding-type circuit comprising a welding-type electrode and a first contact tip of a welding torch; an electrode preheating circuit configured to provide preheating power through a first portion of the welding-type electrode via a second contact tip of the welding torch; a preheat feedback circuit configured to measure a preheat voltage; and an electrode preheat control circuit configured to: control the preheating power based on the preheating voltage; and control the electrode preheating circuit to reduce the preheating power in response to detecting an invalid preheat voltage measured by the preheat feedback circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: James Lee Uecker, Jake Zwayer