Patents by Inventor Richard Mark Achtner
Richard Mark Achtner 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: 20240066619Abstract: Methods and apparatus to communicate via a weld cable are disclosed. An example welding accessory includes a first port to receive input power via a first weld cable, a power converter to convert the input power to output power, a second port to output the input power via a second weld cable, and one or more output switches to selectively divert the input power from the power converter to the second port.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Joseph Robert Ryan, James Andrew Byrne, Richard Mark Achtner, Anthony Van Bergen Salsich
-
Patent number: 11819960Abstract: Methods and apparatus to communicate via a weld cable are disclosed. An example welding accessory includes a first port to receive input power via a first weld cable, a power converter to convert the input power to output power, a second port to output the input power via a second weld cable, and one or more output switches to selectively divert the input power from the power converter to the second port.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2019Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Joseph Robert Ryan, James Andrew Byrne, Richard Mark Achtner, Anthony Van Bergen Salsich
-
Publication number: 20200001389Abstract: Methods and apparatus to communicate via a weld cable are disclosed. An example welding accessory includes a first port to receive input power via a first weld cable, a power converter to convert the input power to output power, a second port to output the input power via a second weld cable, and one or more output switches to selectively divert the input power from the power converter to the second port.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Inventors: Joseph Robert Ryan, James Andrew Byrne, Richard Mark Achtner, Anthony Van Bergen Salsich
-
Patent number: 10406624Abstract: Methods and apparatus to communicate via a weld cable are disclosed. An example welding accessory includes a first port to receive input power via a first weld cable, a power converter to convert the input power to output power, a second port to output the input power via a second weld cable, and one or more output switches to selectively divert the input power from the power converter to the second port.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2016Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Joseph Robert Ryan, James Andrew Byrne, Richard Mark Achtner, Anthony Van Bergen Salsich
-
Publication number: 20170252849Abstract: Methods and apparatus to communicate via a weld cable are disclosed. An example welding accessory includes a first port to receive input power via a first weld cable, a power converter to convert the input power to output power, a second port to output the input power via a second weld cable, and one or more output switches to selectively divert the input power from the power converter to the second port.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2016Publication date: September 7, 2017Inventors: Joseph Robert Ryan, James Andrew Byrne, Richard Mark Achtner, Anthony Van Bergen Salsich
-
Patent number: 8872071Abstract: A welding implement and a method of extracting heat from a welding implement are disclosed. The welding implement includes one or more heat pipes which transfer thermal energy away from the torch head. A fluid, such as a shielding gas, may then convectively transfer the thermal energy away from the welding implement. The present invention thus provides a handheld welding implement that is compact, such that it can be used in confined spaces, and operated for longer periods of time, since the improved heat dissipation helps to maintain the welding implement at a temperature that an operator may hold.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2008Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Richard Mark Achtner, Galen White
-
Patent number: 8558138Abstract: A welding apparatus having a system to facilitate its assembly. The apparatus is assembled by affixing a pair of molded end panels to a molded base and each of the end panels has a specially constructed receptacle area that is adapted to receive an end of the base. Each end of the base has a pair of snaps that extend outwardly and which engage with a correspondingly located pair of ramps formed in the receptacle area of each of the end panels. Thus the assembly is easily carried out by simply inserting the base ends into the receptacle areas where the snaps ride up the ramps and engage the vertical walls on the inner side of those ramps to securely affix the end panels to the base. Preferably the snaps are U-shaped in configuration with the distal end of the snaps being the closed ends of the U-shaped snaps.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2008Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: James J. Cigelske, Jr., Richard Mark Achtner
-
Publication number: 20110303647Abstract: The invention provides a welding arrangement designed to respond to the need of an improved welding system that aids in supplying filler material to a weld location. Provided is a welding system including a welding gun and a welding wire feed directly coupled to the welding gun. The welding gun includes a filler material housing, a filler material positioning extension, and a manual advancement device configured to advance a filler material through the welding wire feed. Further provided is a method of operating a welding gun. The method includes passing a current between an electrode and a work piece at a weld location, and advancing a filler material toward the weld location via a channel of a positioning extension in response to engagement of a manual advancement device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2011Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Richard Mark Achtner, Bruce Patrick Albrecht, LeRoy H. Lauer, JR.
-
Patent number: 8026456Abstract: The invention provides a welding arrangement designed to respond to the need of an improved welding system that aids in supplying filler material to a weld location. Provided is a welding system including a welding gun and a welding wire feed directly coupled to the welding gun. The welding gun includes a filler material housing, a filler material positioning extension, and a manual advancement device configured to advance a filler material through the welding wire feed. Further provided is a method of operating a welding gun. The method includes passing a current between an electrode and a work piece at a weld location, and advancing a filler material toward the weld location via a channel of a positioning extension in response to engagement of a manual advancement device.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2008Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Richard Mark Achtner, Bruce Patrick Albrecht, LeRoy H. Lauer, Jr.
-
Publication number: 20090277892Abstract: A welding implement and a method of extracting heat from a welding implement are disclosed. The welding implement includes one or more heat pipes which transfer thermal energy away from the torch head. A fluid, such as a shielding gas, may then convectively transfer the thermal energy away from the welding implement. The present invention thus provides a handheld welding implement that is compact, such that it can be used in confined spaces, and operated for longer periods of time, since the improved heat dissipation helps to maintain the welding implement at a temperature that an operator may hold.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2008Publication date: November 12, 2009Inventors: Richard Mark Achtner, Galen White
-
Patent number: 7422452Abstract: An adapter for connecting a welding-type power source to various different input voltage signals is disclosed. The adapter comprises a body with a receptacle at one end which is connectable to a power cord of a welding-type power source and a plug at another end which is connectable with a number of different electrical outlet configurations. The body of the adapter is shaped to allow both the plug and a grounding prong of a connected power cord to engage the same outlet.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2006Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Richard Mark Achtner, Jeffery J. Gadamus
-
Publication number: 20080197116Abstract: The invention provides a welding arrangement designed to respond the need of an improved welding system that aids in supplying filler material to a weld location. Provided is a welding system including a welding gun and a welding wire feed directly coupled to the welding gun. The welding gun includes a filler material housing, a filler material positioning extension, and a manual advancement device configured to advance a filler material through the welding wire feed. Further provided is a method of operating a welding gun. The method includes passing a current between an electrode and a work piece at a weld location, and advancing a filler material toward the weld location via a channel of a positioning extension in response to engagement of a manual advancement device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2008Publication date: August 21, 2008Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Richard Mark Achtner, Bruce Patrick Albrecht, LeRoy H. Lauer
-
Publication number: 20080169277Abstract: Provided is system for aiding a welding operator in positioning a welding device. The system includes a welding device and a light source coupled to the welding device, wherein the light source is configured to generate a focused beam of light that is configured to illuminate a weld location. The configuration of the light source's illumination may provide for aligning and positioning of the welding device relative to a work piece or other surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2007Publication date: July 17, 2008Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.Inventors: Richard Mark Achtner, Bruce Patrick Albrecht, LeRoy H. Lauer
-
Publication number: 20040201964Abstract: A snap-in heat sink assembly that has an injection molded one piece frame having a plurality of spring members extending outwardly with protrusions at the free ends thereof. The assembly has a spring located against the frame and an electronic component is located atop of the spring. A heat sink has lateral surfaces with elongated grooves formed along those lateral surfaces. The sink is affixed to the frame by a simple step of inserting the heat sink into the space between the spring members such that the protrusions of the spring members snap into the grooves when the heat sink is in the desired location. By sandwiching the spring between the frame and the electronic component, the spring creates a bias to force the electronic component against the heat sink to assure good conductivity of heat from the electronic component through the heat sink.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2003Publication date: October 14, 2004Inventors: Dennis R. Sigl, Richard Mark Achtner
-
Patent number: 6720527Abstract: A power cord assembly for a welding-type power supply includes a power cord and a plurality of adaptors. The power cord is adapted for attachment to the welding-type power supply and is capable of providing any of a plurality of input voltage signals to the welding-type power supply via the plurality of adaptors.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2001Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.Inventors: Jeffery J. Gadamus, Richard Mark Achtner, Michael A. Sammons
-
Patent number: 6633485Abstract: A snap-in heat sink assembly that has an injection molded one piece frame having a plurality of spring members extending outwardly with protrusions at the free ends thereof. The assembly has a spring located against the frame and an electronic component is located atop of the spring. A heat sink has lateral surfaces with elongated grooves formed along those lateral surfaces. The sink is affixed to the frame by a simple step of inserting the heat sink into the space between the spring members such that the protrusions of the spring members snap into the grooves when the heat sink is in the desired location. By sandwiching the spring between the frame and the electronic component, the spring creates a bias to force the electronic component against the heat sink to assure good conductivity of heat from the electronic component through the heat sink.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2002Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Dennis R. Sigl, Richard Mark Achtner
-
Publication number: 20020190042Abstract: A power cord assembly for a welding-type power supply is disclosed. The power cord assembly includes a power cord and a plurality of adaptors. The power cord is adapted for attachment to the welding-type power supply and is capable of providing any of a plurality of input voltage signals to the welding-type power supply via the plurality of adaptors.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2001Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: Jeffery J. Gadamus, Richard Mark Achtner, Michael A. Sammons
-
Patent number: 6489591Abstract: A welding machine power supply has two circuits for cooling air. A primary circuit comprises a magnetics chamber and a second chamber. A fan between the magnetics and second chambers draws atmospheric air through one end panel into the magnetics chamber and blows it through the second chamber. The second chamber is comprised of a pair of heat sinks. Major heat generating components are mounted to the heat sinks outside the second chamber. The fan is sandwiched between the magnetics chamber and the heat sinks such that all the air blown by the fan flows through the heat sinks and out a second end panel. A wind tunnel is also part of the second chamber. A counterflow circuit extends from the second end panel to the magnetics chamber. The negative pressure in the magnetics chamber draws atmospheric air through the second end panel to the magnetics chamber, thereby cooling minor heat generating components outside of the primary circuit and not associated with the heat sinks.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2000Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventor: Richard Mark Achtner
-
Patent number: 6337789Abstract: A spark gap assembly includes two conductive spark gap points forming a spark gap. Two substantially identical, non-conductive, molded plastic pieces are clamped together to make a housing with at least one cylindrical receptacle for the spark gap points. Two conductive leads electrically contact the spark gap points and abut and electrically contact circuit board leads when the assembly is mounted on a circuit board. The housing pieces include at least one fastening hole and a fastener extends through the fastening holes when the pieces are assembled, thus clamping the together. The two pieces have at projections on the bottom that are received in holes on the board, thereby positioning the pieces.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2000Date of Patent: January 8, 2002Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventor: Richard Mark Achtner