Patents by Inventor Jerald Edward Jones
Jerald Edward Jones 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: 11504790Abstract: In certain embodiments, a portable metal working robot system includes a metal working tool configured to perform a metal working process on one or more metal parts. In addition, the portable metal working robot system includes communication circuitry configured to receive control signals from a control system located remotely from the portable metal working robot system. The portable metal working robot system also includes control circuitry configured to control operational parameters of the portable metal working robot system in accordance with the received control signals.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2019Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Todd Earl Holverson, John Henry Gaffney, III, Mark Dietrich Mann, Adam Nathan Cuneo
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Patent number: 11172549Abstract: In certain embodiments, inductive heating is added to a metal working process, such as a welding process, by an induction heating head. The induction heating head may be adapted specifically for this purpose, and may include one or more coils to direct and place the inductive energy, protective structures, and so forth. Productivity of a welding process may be improved by the application of heat from the induction heating head. The heating is in addition to heat from a welding arc, and may facilitate application of welding wire electrode materials into narrow grooves and gaps, as well as make the processes more amenable to the use of certain compositions of welding wire, shielding gasses, flux materials, and so forth. In addition, distortion and stresses are reduced by the application of the induction heating energy in addition to the welding arc source.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2015Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Todd Earl Holverson, Adam Nathan Cuneo, Mark Dietrich Mann
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Patent number: 11135632Abstract: In certain embodiments described herein, a heated line forming system includes a heating coil system configured to produce a heated line on a surface of a metal part. The heated line forming system also includes an air knife cooling system configured to maintain a dry area for the heated line, and to direct a coolant (e.g., cooling water, liquified gases such as liquid argon, solidified gases such as carbon dioxide snow, and so forth) around the heated line via a spray mechanism such that the coolant does not flow or splash into the heated line on the metal part. In certain embodiments, the heated line forming system includes multiple induction coils arranged along a line and spaced a short distance apart, but which, when operated simultaneously together, form a heated line on a surface of a metal part.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2018Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Adam N. Cuneo
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Patent number: 11072035Abstract: An auxiliary welding heating system includes an induction heating coil disposed adjacent to a welding torch or plasma cutter. The auxiliary welding heating system further includes an induction power supply configured to generate an alternating current and a step-down transformer coupled to the induction power supply. The induction heating coil is coupled to the step-down transformer and is configured to receive the alternating current and induce eddy currents in a welding work piece to heat the welding work piece before an advancing welding arc or plasma cut to a homologous temperature of at least approximately 0.5.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2011Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Todd Earl Holverson, Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Stephen King Madden
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Patent number: 10934735Abstract: Tower erecting systems and methods are disclosed. An example method for erecting a tower includes: nesting frusto-conical tower sections within one another and within a frusto-conical tower base; securing the frusto-conical tower base to a tower foundation; lifting each frusto-conical tower section from within the frusto-conical tower base with a lifting apparatus; and securing each frusto-conical tower section to the frusto-conical tower base or to a previously lifted frusto-conical tower section.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2017Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades
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Publication number: 20200078882Abstract: In certain embodiments, a portable metal working robot system includes a metal working tool configured to perform a metal working process on one or more metal parts. In addition, the portable metal working robot system includes communication circuitry configured to receive control signals from a control system located remotely from the portable metal working robot system. The portable metal working robot system also includes control circuitry configured to control operational parameters of the portable metal working robot system in accordance with the received control signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Todd Earl Holverson, John Henry Gaffney, III, Mark Dietrich Mann, Adam Nathan Cuneo
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Patent number: 10442025Abstract: In certain embodiments, a portable metal working robot system includes a metal working tool configured to perform a metal working process on one or more metal parts. In addition, the portable metal working robot system includes communication circuitry configured to receive control signals from a control system located remotely from the portable metal working robot system. The portable metal working robot system also includes control circuitry configured to control operational parameters of the portable metal working robot system in accordance with the received control signals.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2015Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Todd Earl Holverson, John Henry Gaffney, III, Mark Dietrich Mann, Adam Nathan Cuneo
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Patent number: 10440784Abstract: In certain embodiments, inductive heating is added to a metal working process, such as a welding process, by an induction heating head. The induction heating head may be adapted specifically for this purpose, and may include one or more coils to direct and place the inductive energy, protective structures, and so forth. Productivity of a welding process may be improved by the application of heat from the induction heating head. The heating is in addition to heat from a welding arc, and may facilitate application of welding wire electrode materials into narrow grooves and gaps, as well as make the processes more amenable to the use of certain compositions of welding wire, shielding gasses, flux materials, and so forth. In addition, distortion and stresses are reduced by the application of the induction heating energy in addition to the welding arc source.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2015Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Todd Earl Holverson, Adam Nathan Cuneo, Mark Dietrich Mann
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Patent number: 10364789Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a power generation system having a wind power system comprising a wind tower and a pumped liquid energy storage system configured to store liquid in an interior volume of the wind tower, wherein the pumped liquid energy storage system is a closed-loop system.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2014Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades
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Publication number: 20190208585Abstract: In certain embodiments described herein, a heated line forming system includes a heating coil system configured to produce a heated line on a surface of a metal part. The heated line forming system also includes an air knife cooling system configured to maintain a dry area for the heated line, and to direct a coolant (e.g., cooling water, liquified gases such as liquid argon, solidified gases such as carbon dioxide snow, and so forth) around the heated line via a spray mechanism such that the coolant does not flow or splash into the heated line on the metal part. In certain embodiments, the heated line forming system includes multiple induction coils arranged along a line and spaced a short distance apart, but which, when operated simultaneously together, form a heated line on a surface of a metal part.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2019Publication date: July 4, 2019Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Adam Nathan Cuneo
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Patent number: 10244588Abstract: In certain embodiments, inductive heating is added to a metal working process, such as a welding process, by an induction heating head. The induction heating head may be adapted specifically for this purpose, and may include one or more coils to direct and place the inductive energy, protective structures, and so forth. Productivity of a welding process may be improved by the application of heat from the induction heating head. The heating is in addition to heat from a welding arc, and may facilitate application of welding wire electrode materials into narrow grooves and gaps, as well as make the processes more amenable to the use of certain compositions of welding wire, shielding gasses, flux materials, and so forth. In addition, distortion and stresses are reduced by the application of the induction heating energy in addition to the welding arc source.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2015Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Todd Earl Holverson, Adam Nathan Cuneo, Mark Dietrich Mann
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Patent number: 10231289Abstract: In certain embodiments described herein, a heated line forming system includes a heating coil system configured to produce a heated line on a surface of a metal part. The heated line forming system also includes an air knife cooling system configured to maintain a dry area for the heated line, and to direct a coolant (e.g., cooling water, liquified gases such as liquid argon, solidified gases such as carbon dioxide snow, and so forth) around the heated line via a spray mechanism such that the coolant does not flow or splash into the heated line on the metal part. In certain embodiments, the heated line forming system includes multiple induction coils arranged along a line and spaced a short distance apart, but which, when operated simultaneously together, form a heated line on a surface of a metal part.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2014Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Adam N. Cuneo
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Publication number: 20190022726Abstract: In certain embodiments described herein, a heated line forming system includes a heating coil system configured to produce a heated line on a surface of a metal part. The heated line forming system also includes an air knife cooling system configured to maintain a dry area for the heated line, and to direct a coolant (e.g., cooling water, liquified gases such as liquid argon, solidified gases such as carbon dioxide snow, and so forth) around the heated line via a spray mechanism such that the coolant does not flow or splash into the heated line on the metal part. In certain embodiments, the heated line forming system includes multiple induction coils arranged along a line and spaced a short distance apart, but which, when operated simultaneously together, form a heated line on a surface of a metal part.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Adam N. Cuneo
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Patent number: 10112227Abstract: In certain embodiments described herein, a heated line forming system includes a heating coil system configured to produce a heated line on a surface of a metal part. The heated line forming system also includes an air knife cooling system configured to maintain a dry area for the heated line, and to direct a coolant (e.g., cooling water, liquified gases such as liquid argon, solidified gases such as carbon dioxide snow, and so forth) around the heated line via a spray mechanism such that the coolant does not flow or splash into the heated line on the metal part. In certain embodiments, the heated line forming system includes multiple induction coils arranged along a line and spaced a short distance apart, but which, when operated simultaneously together, form a heated line on a surface of a metal part.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2015Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Adam N. Cuneo
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Publication number: 20180112431Abstract: Tower erecting systems and methods are disclosed. An example method for erecting a tower includes: nesting frusto-conical tower sections within one another and within a frusto-conical tower base; securing the frusto-conical tower base to a tower foundation; lifting each frusto-conical tower section from within the frusto-conical tower base with a lifting apparatus; and securing each frusto-conical tower section to the frusto-conical tower base or to a previously lifted frusto-conical tower section.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades
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Patent number: 9856671Abstract: In certain embodiments, a tower lifting system comprises a primary lifting system and a secondary lifting system. The primary lifting system includes a lift cap configured to support a tower section to be lifted, the lift cap having a first plurality of hoists, and a lift pole coupled to the lift cap, the lift pole having a lifting mechanism configured to lift the lift cap, the lift pole, and the tower section to be lifted from within a previously lifted tower section. The secondary lifting system comprises a second plurality of hoists configured to raise the tower section to be lifted to the lift cap from a tower foundation.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2015Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades
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Patent number: 9744615Abstract: A stud welding process may be performed by a power supply that is adapted for other welding processes, such as MIG, TIG, and so forth. A stud welding gun may receive studs preloaded in a magazine or other support. Studs are charged into the chuck of a stud welding gun and positioned where desired over a surface. An extension, such as a wire-type electrode may extend from the stud and aid in establishing the welding arc. The stud may be shielded by a nozzle or other shield to obviate the need for ceramic ferrules. Orientation of the stud welding gun may be detected, displayed and used as a basis for initiating and completing the stud welding process once the gun and/or stud is properly positioned.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2012Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie L. Rhoades, Todd Earl Holverson, Adam N. Cuneo, Stephen K. Madden
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Publication number: 20160114418Abstract: In certain embodiments, a portable metal working robot system includes a metal working tool configured to perform a metal working process on one or more metal parts. In addition, the portable metal working robot system includes communication circuitry configured to receive control signals from a control system located remotely from the portable metal working robot system. The portable metal working robot system also includes control circuitry configured to control operational parameters of the portable metal working robot system in accordance with the received control signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2015Publication date: April 28, 2016Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Todd Earl Holverson, John Henry Gaffney, III, Mark Dietrich Mann, Adam Nathan Cuneo
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Publication number: 20160105935Abstract: In certain embodiments, inductive heating is added to a metal working process, such as a welding process, by an induction heating head. The induction heating head may be adapted specifically for this purpose, and may include one or more coils to direct and place the inductive energy, protective structures, and so forth. Productivity of a welding process may be improved by the application of heat from the induction heating head. The heating is in addition to heat from a welding arc, and may facilitate application of welding wire electrode materials into narrow grooves and gaps, as well as make the processes more amenable to the use of certain compositions of welding wire, shielding gasses, flux materials, and so forth. In addition, distortion and stresses are reduced by the application of the induction heating energy in addition to the welding arc source.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2015Publication date: April 14, 2016Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Todd Earl Holverson, Adam Nathan Cuneo, Mark Dietrich Mann
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Publication number: 20160105933Abstract: In certain embodiments, inductive heating is added to a metal working process, such as a welding process, by an induction heating head. The induction heating head may be adapted specifically for this purpose, and may include one or more coils to direct and place the inductive energy, protective structures, and so forth. Productivity of a welding process may be improved by the application of heat from the induction heating head. The heating is in addition to heat from a welding arc, and may facilitate application of welding wire electrode materials into narrow grooves and gaps, as well as make the processes more amenable to the use of certain compositions of welding wire, shielding gasses, flux materials, and so forth. In addition, distortion and stresses are reduced by the application of the induction heating energy in addition to the welding arc source.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2015Publication date: April 14, 2016Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Todd Earl Holverson, Adam Nathan Cuneo, Mark Dietrich Mann