Patents by Inventor Richard Martin Hutchison

Richard Martin Hutchison 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: 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
  • Patent number: 10828728
    Abstract: A material processing system includes a power supply and a wire feeder to feed a wire electrode for a material processing operation. The enthalpy and/or temperature of a region of the tip of the electrode is maintained substantially constant via closed loop control. The control may be based upon regulation of current applied to the electrode. The control of the current may be based upon an electrode extension error. Wire feed speed may also be controlled to assist in maintaining a substantially constant enthalpy and/or temperature near the electrode tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Michael Scott, Richard Martin Hutchison
  • 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
  • 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: 20200139470
    Abstract: A welding system or an enterprise using welding systems can communicate with cloud-based resources for the provision of services and products to facilitate the welding operations. The communications may be via wired or wireless media, and may be direct, or through other components, such as enterprise networks, peripheral devices, and so forth. The cloud-based resources may provide for storage of data, particularly welding data, processing of data, welding protocols, specifications and processes, financial transactions for the purchase, licensing or use of welding-related products and services, welding training, and so forth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventor: Richard Martin Hutchison
  • Patent number: 10596650
    Abstract: A welding system includes a first sensor associated with a welding helmet and configured to sense a parameter indicative of a position of a welding torch relative to the welding helmet. The travel speed sensing system also includes a processing system communicatively coupled to the first sensor and configured to determine a position of the welding torch relative to a workpiece based on the sensed first parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Kyle Andrew Pfeifer, William Todd Watson, Richard Martin Hutchison, William Joshua Becker
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20190366466
    Abstract: Disclosed is a welding system configured to perform additive manufacturing using a controlled short circuit welding process to apply a plurality of droplets of a wire to create a multilayer part comprised of the droplets. Operational parameters of the additive manufacturing system are dynamically adjusted based on data representing a temperature value and/or a geometric characteristic of the part. Based on the data, the controller can adjust one or more operational parameters to control application of droplets to build up the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Richard Martin Hutchison, Todd Gerald Batzler
  • Publication number: 20190344370
    Abstract: Disclosed is a welding-type power source that includes a first wire feeder provides a wire to a workpiece. A first wire feeder motor of the wire feeder to move the wire from a wire storage device to the workpiece. A second wire feeder motor moves the wire to and away from the workpiece and superimposes movement of the wire onto the movement from the first wire feeder motor. A moveable buffer located between the first and second wire feeder motors, and configured to accommodate a change in length of the wire between the first and second wire feeder motors when the second wire feeder motor moves the wire away from the workpiece. A sensor senses movement or displacement of the moveable buffer, wherein a speed or direction of the first or second wire feeder motors is adjusted based on data from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Richard Martin Hutchison, Todd Gerald Batzler
  • Patent number: 10293425
    Abstract: A welding system or an enterprise using welding systems can communicate with cloud-based resources for the provision of services and products to facilitate the welding operations. The communications may be via wired or wireless media, and may be direct, or through other components, such as enterprise networks, peripheral devices, and so forth. The cloud-based resources may provide for storage of data, particularly welding data, processing of data, welding protocols, specifications and processes, financial transactions for the purchase, licensing or use of welding-related products and services, welding training, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Martin Hutchison
  • 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
  • Patent number: 10065260
    Abstract: A welding system includes an electrode configured to be advanced toward a workpiece and a power supply configured to provide a flow of electricity to the electrode for generating a welding arc between the electrode and the workpiece. The welding system also includes a first sensor configured to sense a light intensity of the welding arc and a second sensor configured to sense a current provided to the electrode via the power supply. In addition, the welding system includes a controller communicatively coupled with the first and second sensors and configured to modify the light intensity with respect to the current. The controller is configured to control a welding parameter of the welding system based on the modified light intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Martin Hutchison, Kevin Michael Scott
  • Patent number: 9987701
    Abstract: Welding power is generated by first generating two different current waveforms, and comparing the waveform values for control intervals to select which waveform provides the greater current. The waveforms are for different transfer modes, such as one for a pulsed arc portion, and another for a short-circuit transfer mode or for short-circuit clearing. The waveforms may be programmed by settings in a state machine. A balance or relative prioritization in the comparison may be influenced by user inputs. The resulting hybrid process has aspects of both spray transfer and short-circuit transfer modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Martin Hutchison, James Lee Uecker, Todd Earl Holverson, Bryan Dustin Marschke, Robert Raimund Davidson, Richard J. Schuh
  • Publication number: 20180001412
    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: September 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Richard Martin Hutchison, Todd Earl Holverson, James Lee Uecker
  • Publication number: 20170355037
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide a consistent electrode state for welding, an example welding-type system includes: a first wire drive to feed an electrode wire through a welding torch; a bidirectional assisting wire drive to advance the electrode wire from a wire supply to the first wire drive; a tension-compression detector to detect a first tension-compression state of the electrode wire; and one or more motor controllers to control the first wire drive and the assisting wire drive to put the electrode wire in a predetermined position relative to the welding torch by: controlling the first wire drive to hold the electrode wire; and controlling the assisting wire drive to advance or retract the electrode wire based on the first tension-compression state to put the electrode wire in a second tension-compression state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Maxwell Brock, Richard Martin Hutchison, Todd Gerald Batzler, Peter Mehn
  • Patent number: 9808882
    Abstract: A method of controlling a welding system includes providing a welding wire to a welding torch at a first wire feed speed, providing a pulsed power output to the welding wire via a contact point of the welding torch, determining, utilizing a sensing system, a contact-point-to-work-distance (CPWD) between the contact point and a workpiece, and changing, utilizing a controller, the wire feed speed of the welding wire to a second wire feed speed based at least in part on the determined CPWD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventor: Richard Martin Hutchison
  • Patent number: 9764408
    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: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Richard Martin Hutchison, Todd Earl Holverson, James Lee Uecker
  • Publication number: 20170095873
    Abstract: A travel speed sensing system includes an optical sensor configured to be coupled to a welding torch. The optical sensor is configured to sense light incident on the optical sensor, and the travel speed sensing system is configured to determine a travel speed of the welding torch, a direction of the welding torch, or both, based on the sensed light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Kyle Andrew Pfeifer, Todd Earl Holverson, William Todd Watson, Richard Martin Hutchison, William Joshua Becker
  • Publication number: 20170080509
    Abstract: A welding system includes a first sensor associated with a welding helmet and configured to sense a parameter indicative of a position of a welding torch relative to the welding helmet. The travel speed sensing system also includes a processing system communicatively coupled to the first sensor and configured to determine a position of the welding torch relative to a workpiece based on the sensed first parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Kyle Andrew Pfeifer, William Todd Watson, Richard Martin Hutchison, William Joshua Becker