Patents by Inventor Michael V. Hoeger

Michael V. Hoeger 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: 12168271
    Abstract: A welding system configured to eliminate effects of arc blow in a welding operation. The welding system comprises welding circuitry, preheat circuitry, a drive roller, and control circuitry configured to perform a reciprocation cycle. The reciprocation cycle may include the steps of: advancing a filler material toward the welding work piece until the filler material is electrically connected to the weld pool; supplying the preheat power to heat the filler material while the filler material is electrically connected to the weld pool; retracting the filler material away from the welding work piece until the filler material is not electrically connected to the weld pool; and terminating supply of the preheat power to the filler material while the filler material is not electrically connected to the weld pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Michael V. Hoeger
  • Patent number: 12122001
    Abstract: A welding system configured to eliminate effects of arc blow in a welding operation. The welding system comprises welding circuitry, preheat circuitry, and control circuitry configured to switch the welding circuitry and the preheat circuitry between power levels asynchronously during the welding operation. The control circuitry configured to switch the welding circuitry and the preheat circuitry between power levels asynchronously such that the preheat circuitry is switched to the second preheat power level when the welding circuitry is switched to the first welding power level and the preheat circuitry is switched to the first preheat power level when the welding circuitry is switched to the second welding power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Michael V. Hoeger
  • Publication number: 20240342821
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for pretreating a wire that is used in a welding operation to reduce the amount of hydrogen introduced into a weld. Using embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein, one passes a wire through a pre-treatment chamber in which a wire is treated to release hydrogen and/or other contaminants, and provides a gas flow through the pre-treatment chamber so that the contaminants that are released from the wire are taken up by the gas. The gas exiting the pre-treatment chamber may be isolated from the shielding gas utilized during a welding operation. For instance, the pretreatment gas may be directed away from the distal end of the welding torch, thereby preventing released contaminants from being transported into a weld.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Inventors: Michael V. Hoeger, Joseph C. Schneider
  • Patent number: 12059758
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for pretreating a wire that is used in a welding operation to reduce the amount of hydrogen introduced into a weld. Using embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein, one passes a wire through a pre-treatment chamber in which a wire is treated to release hydrogen and/or other contaminants, and provides a gas flow through the pre-treatment chamber so that the contaminants that are released from the wire are taken up by the gas. The gas exiting the pre-treatment chamber may be isolated from the shielding gas utilized during a welding operation. For instance, the pretreatment gas may be directed away from the distal end of the welding torch, thereby preventing released contaminants from being transported into a weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Michael V. Hoeger, Joseph C. Schneider
  • Patent number: 12059759
    Abstract: A harmonic welding wire oscillator configured to oscillate a stretch of welding wire within a wire liner. The oscillator may include an actuator configured to oscillate the welding wire at a resonant frequency of the stretch of welding wire. The oscillation causes reciprocation of the welding wire at the tip of the welding torch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Michael V. Hoeger
  • Publication number: 20230405703
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for pretreating a wire that is used in a welding operation to reduce the amount of hydrogen introduced into a weld. Using embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein, one passes a wire through a pre-treatment chamber in which a wire is treated to release hydrogen and/or other contaminants, and provides a gas flow through the pre-treatment chamber so that the contaminants that are released from the wire are taken up by the gas. The gas exiting the pre-treatment chamber may be isolated from the shielding gas utilized during a welding operation. For instance, the pretreatment gas may be directed away from the distal end of the welding torch, thereby preventing released contaminants from being transported into a weld.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Michael V. Hoeger, Joseph C. Schneider
  • Patent number: 11772182
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for pretreating a wire that is used in a welding operation to reduce the amount of hydrogen introduced into a weld. Using embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein, one passes a wire through a pre-treatment chamber in which a wire is treated to release hydrogen and/or other contaminants, and provides a gas flow through the pre-treatment chamber so that the contaminants that are released from the wire are taken up by the gas. The gas exiting the pre-treatment chamber may be isolated from the shielding gas utilized during a welding operation. For instance, the pretreatment gas may be directed away from the distal end of the welding torch, thereby preventing released contaminants from being transported into a weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Michael V. Hoeger, Joseph C. Schneider
  • Patent number: 11745283
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for preheating and removing surface oxidation of welding wire using electric arcs one via three or more tungsten electrodes connected to a polyphaser preheating power source is disclosed. Electric arc preheating of welding wire allows increased efficiency and deposition rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Michael V. Hoeger
  • Patent number: 11653747
    Abstract: Provided is a disclosure for a multi-attachment accessory holder that includes a main body configured to couple a first side of the main body to an accessory device. The main body is configured to hold a magnet, and the main body includes one or more coupling points for attaching an ancillary accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Michael V. Hoeger
  • Patent number: 11446756
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for preheating and removing surface oxidation of welding wire using electric arcs one via one or more tungsten electrodes is disclosed. The preheating and cleaning electric arcs may occur between tungsten electrodes, or between one or more tungsten electrodes and welding wire. Electric arc preheating of welding wire allows increased efficiency and deposition rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Michael V. Hoeger
  • Publication number: 20220143732
    Abstract: A welding system configured to eliminate effects of arc blow in a welding operation. The welding system comprises welding circuitry, preheat circuitry, and control circuitry configured to switch the welding circuitry and the preheat circuitry between power levels asynchronously during the welding operation. The control circuitry configured to switch the welding circuitry and the preheat circuitry between power levels asynchronously such that the preheat circuitry is switched to the second preheat power level when the welding circuitry is switched to the first welding power level and the preheat circuitry is switched to the first preheat power level when the welding circuitry is switched to the second welding power level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventor: Michael V. Hoeger
  • Publication number: 20220143733
    Abstract: A welding system configured to eliminate effects of arc blow in a welding operation. The welding system comprises welding circuitry, preheat circuitry, a drive roller, and control circuitry configured to perform a reciprocation cycle. The reciprocation cycle may include the steps of: advancing a filler material toward the welding work piece until the filler material is electrically connected to the weld pool; supplying the preheat power to heat the filler material while the filler material is electrically connected to the weld pool; retracting the filler material away from the welding work piece until the filler material is not electrically connected to the weld pool; and terminating supply of the preheat power to the filler material while the filler material is not electrically connected to the weld pool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventor: Michael V. Hoeger
  • Patent number: 11305368
    Abstract: A sensor which includes inductive coils and an inductance to digital converter. The output of the sensor may be used to replace the functions of a switch and a potentiometer to initiate and control various outputs in welding-type systems and applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Michael V. Hoeger
  • Publication number: 20210237187
    Abstract: A sensor which includes inductive coils and an inductance to digital converter. The output of the sensor may be used to replace the functions of a switch and a potentiometer to initiate and control various outputs in welding-type systems and applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventor: Michael V. Hoeger
  • Publication number: 20210187651
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for pretreating a wire that is used in a welding operation. Using embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein, one may remove hydrogen and/or other contaminants from a wire by passing the wire through a pre-treatment chamber, preferably one that isolates the gas discharged from the pre-treatment chamber from the shielding gas utilized in the welding operation; treating the wire within the pre-treatment chamber to release hydrogen and/or other contaminants; and creating a turbulent flow of gas through the pre-treatment chamber. By creating a turbulent flow of gas within the pre-treatment chamber, the transportation of the released hydrogen and/or other contaminants away from the wire may be improved, thereby preventing released contaminants from being reintroduced to the wire or otherwise transported into a weld.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Michael V. Hoeger, Joseph C. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20210187652
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for pretreating a wire that is used in a welding operation to reduce the amount of hydrogen introduced into a weld. Using embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein, one passes a wire through a pre-treatment chamber in which a wire is treated to release hydrogen and/or other contaminants, and provides a gas flow through the pre-treatment chamber so that the contaminants that are released from the wire are taken up by the gas. The gas exiting the pre-treatment chamber may be isolated from the shielding gas utilized during a welding operation. For instance, the pretreatment gas may be directed away from the distal end of the welding torch, thereby preventing released contaminants from being transported into a weld.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Michael V. Hoeger, Joseph C. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20210060684
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for preheating and removing surface oxidation of welding wire using electric arcs one via three or more tungsten electrodes connected to a polyphaser preheating power source is disclosed. Electric arc preheating of welding wire allows increased efficiency and deposition rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventor: Michael V. Hoeger
  • Publication number: 20210053138
    Abstract: A harmonic welding wire oscillator configured to oscillate a stretch of welding wire within a wire liner. The oscillator may include an actuator configured to oscillate the welding wire at a resonant frequency of the stretch of welding wire. The oscillation causes reciprocation of the welding wire at the tip of the welding torch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventor: Michael V. Hoeger
  • Publication number: 20210046571
    Abstract: An inductive sensor which includes one or more inductive coils and an inductance to digital converter. The output of the inductive sensor may be used to replace the functions of a switch and a potentiometer to initiate and control various outputs in welding-type systems and applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventor: Michael V. Hoeger
  • Publication number: 20210048550
    Abstract: An inductive sensor which includes one or more inductive coils and an inductance to digital converter. The output of the inductive sensor may be used to replace the functions of a switch and a potentiometer to initiate and control various outputs in welding-type systems and applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventor: Michael V. Hoeger