Patents by Inventor Robert R. Davidson

Robert R. Davidson 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: 20210154762
    Abstract: An example welding type system includes: a welding power circuit having a control input and a welding type power output; a feedback circuit configured to provide feedback regarding the welding type power output or a weld produced using the welding type power output; and a controller connected to the feedback circuit, wherein the controller includes a parameter setting module and a process selection module, the process selection module configured to automatically select a welding process from a plurality of welding processes based on the feedback from the feedback circuit or one or more welding parameters set by the parameter setting module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Bruce P. Albrecht, Robert R. Davidson
  • Publication number: 20210086281
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing welding type power is disclosed. The output is cyclical, and is a controlled voltage output during the background and/or peak and a controlled current output during the transition up and/or down. During the controlled current portion the output is responsive to output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Davidson, Richard J. Schuh, Justin M. Durik, Thomas A. Bunker
  • Publication number: 20210060679
    Abstract: Provided is a system for providing pulsed arc starting phase, where the system comprises power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power and output the welding-type power, and control circuitry configured to control the power conversion circuitry to output the welding-type power. The control circuitry is configured to control the power conversion circuitry to output a plurality of welding current pulses during at least a portion of one or both of a run-in period or a ramp period for wire feeding of a welding wire ends, where each of the plurality of welding current pulses is associated with a respective pulse period and a respective pulse duty cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Shuang Liu, Peter Mehn, Robert R. Davidson
  • Patent number: 10906115
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a welding type power using a welding power circuit having a control input and a welding type power output, a feedback circuit and a controller connected to the control input and the feedback circuit is disclosed. The controller includes a parameter setting module and/or a process selection module that are connected to and responsive to at least one of the feedback circuit. The a process selection module can be responsive to the parameter setting module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce P. Albrecht, Robert R. Davidson
  • Patent number: 10857610
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing welding type power is disclosed. The output is cyclical, and is a controlled voltage output during the background and/or peak and a controlled current output during the transition up and/or down. During the controlled current portion the output is responsive to output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Davidson, Richard J. Schuh, Justin M. Durik, Thomas A. Bunker
  • Patent number: 10814419
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for starting a wire fed weld operation includes monitoring at least one of a prior run-in time, a prior run in distance, a prior run in wire feed speed, and/or whether or not there is contact at the time of a prior start. Then the wire position is controlled for a present weld operation in response to the monitored data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Davidson, Todd E. Holverson
  • Publication number: 20200316704
    Abstract: An example method of controlling a short circuit welding process includes: setting a heat target for at least a portion of a short state; monitoring output parameters during the short state; calculating a measured heat from the measured output parameters; comparing the measured heat and the heat target; adjusting a pinch current in a subsequent short state in response to at least one comparing from at least one previous short state; and repeating these actions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Justin M. Durik, Robert R. Davidson
  • Patent number: 10695856
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for short circuit welding is disclosed. They reduce the current prior to the short clearing by adjusting waveform parameters in response to past cycles. One or more parameter of the output is monitored and compared to one or more targets, and future waveform parameters are adjusted so that the monitored parameters are more likely to reach the one or more targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Justin M. Durik, Robert R. Davidson
  • Publication number: 20200130094
    Abstract: Systems and methods to start arc welding are disclosed. An example welding-type power supply includes: power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power; and control circuitry configured to: prior to a welding operation, control the power conversion circuitry to stop outputting the welding-type power to a wire electrode; and in response to identifying contact between the wire electrode and a workpiece: control the power conversion circuitry to output an arc starting current to the wire electrode; control a feed motor of a welding torch to retract the wire electrode; control the feed motor to advance the wire electrode based on a first parameter of the welding operation; and control the power conversion circuitry to output the welding-type power to the wire electrode based on the first parameter or a second parameter of the welding operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Robert R. Davidson, Peter Mehn, John Smith
  • Publication number: 20200070270
    Abstract: Systems and methods for auto-tuning a MIG welding process are disclosed. A welding-type power supply may include a power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power; and a controller configured to control the power conversion circuitry based on a plurality of operating parameters. The operating parameters may include an inductance parameter, a slope parameter, or a wet time parameter. During the welding process, in order to control the power conversion circuitry, the system may measure an output from the power conversion circuitry, and may update the inductance parameter, the slope parameter, or the wet time parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Robert R. Davidson, Valarie Schwartz, Dustin Wagner
  • Patent number: 10464155
    Abstract: A method includes receiving data corresponding to a voltage level over time and a current level over time. The method also includes determining a first ratio corresponding to a voltage ramp percent or a voltage falling edge percent with respect to a peak in the voltage level and determining a second ratio corresponding to a current ramp ratio or a current falling edge ratio with respect to a peak in the current level. The method further includes determining, based on a comparison between the first ratio and the second ratio, whether to increment, decrement, or maintain an inductance compensation estimation value corresponding to an estimated inductance present in one or more secondary components associated with the welding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Davidson, Thomas A. Bunker, Richard Schuh
  • Publication number: 20190329345
    Abstract: A data structure for weld programs associates configuration data for a welding system with a plurality of weld programs and weld sequence data. The data structure allows the welding system to be configured for a particular part, operator, or stage in a welding process, and to be easily reconfigured when the part, operator, or stage changes, providing improved efficiency and flexibility in operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Robert R. Davidson, Anthony J. Kowaleski, Bruce A. Casner, L. Thomas Hayes, Richard J. Schuh
  • Patent number: 10391575
    Abstract: A data structure for weld programs associates configuration data for a welding system with a plurality of weld programs and weld sequence data. The data structure allows the welding system to be configured for a particular part, operator, or stage in a welding process, and to be easily reconfigured when the part, operator, or stage changes, providing improved efficiency and flexibility in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS
    Inventors: Robert R. Davidson, Anthony J. Kowaleski, Bruce A. Casner, L. Thomas Hayes, Richard J. Schuh
  • Publication number: 20190217412
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power is disclosed and includes a short clearing prediction module that uses the second derivative with respect to time of the output voltage, or an error between a measured output voltage and an output voltage predicted using the first derivative with respect to time of the output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Davidson, Richard M. Hutchison, James L. Uecker
  • Publication number: 20190143436
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a welding type power using a welding power circuit having a control input and a welding type power output, a feedback circuit and a controller connected to the control input and the feedback circuit is disclosed. The controller includes a parameter setting module and/or a process selection module that are connected to and responsive to at least one of the feedback circuit. The a process selection module can be responsive to the parameter setting module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce P. Albrecht, Robert R. Davidson
  • Patent number: 10239146
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power is disclosed and includes a short clearing prediction module that uses the second derivative with respect to time of the output voltage, or an error between a measured output voltage and an output voltage predicted using the first derivative with respect to time of the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Davidson, Richard M. Hutchison, James L. Uecker
  • Publication number: 20180311754
    Abstract: A pulsed welding regime includes a peak phase in which energy is added to an electrode and a weld puddle, and a molten ball begins to detach from the electrode, followed by a dabbing phase in which current is significantly reduced to place the ball in the weld puddle with addition of little or no energy. The resulting short circuit clears and the system proceeds to a background phase. The current in the dabbing phase is lower than the current during the background phase. The process may be specifically adapted for particular welding wires, and may be particularly well suited for use with cored wires. The dabbing phase allows for lower energy to be transferred to the sheath of such wires, and resets the arc length after each pulse cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Robert R. Davidson, Richard J. Schuh, Matthew Alex Palmer
  • Publication number: 20180236585
    Abstract: Welding wire preheating systems and methods are disclosed. An example welding method includes: receiving a signal indicative of initiation of welding process; prior to initiating a welding arc based on the received signal, controlling voltage or current applied to a welding electrode to preheat the electrode to a temperature above an ambient temperature but below a melting point of the welding electrode; monitoring feedback voltage to determine a termination of preheating; and terminating preheating prior to initiating the welding arc in accordance with a welding protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Robert R. Davidson, Richard J. Schuh
  • Patent number: 10040143
    Abstract: A pulsed welding regime includes a peak phase in which energy is added to an electrode and a weld puddle, and a molten ball begins to detach from the electrode, followed by a dabbing phase in which current is significantly reduced to place the ball in the weld puddle with addition of little or no energy. The resulting short circuit clears and the system proceeds to a background phase. The current in the dabbing phase is lower than the current during the background phase. The process may be specifically adapted for particular welding wires, and may be particularly well suited for use with cored wires. The dabbing phase allows for lower energy to be transferred to the sheath of such wires, and resets the arc length after each pulse cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Davidson, Richard J. Schuh, Matthew Alex Palmer
  • Publication number: 20180193938
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power that alternates between at least a hotter and a colder process is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Schuh, Robert R. Davidson