Patents by Inventor William R. Giese

William R. Giese 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: 8633422
    Abstract: A welding gun adapted to secure a contact tip within the welding gun without threading the contact tip and without the use of tools. The contact tip may be adapted to abut a surface of a first member disposed within the welding gun. The surface may be a surface of a gas diffuser. The surface may be adapted to abut the contact tip. The contact tip also may be adapted for abutment with a second member to urge the contact tip toward the first member. The second member may be a portion of a nozzle adapted to abut the contact tip to urge the contact tip toward the surface of the first member. A method of assembling a welding gun also is provided. The method may include disposing a contact tip between a first and a second member and capturing the contact tip between the first and second members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Giese
  • Publication number: 20120085741
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring weld cell and related activity is disclosed. The activity is sensed using a variety of sensors, and reported to the controller, or to a remote location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Todd E. Holverson, William R. Giese, Douglas W. Krebs, Kenneth S. Dobson
  • Patent number: 7576300
    Abstract: A welding gun adapted to secure a contact tip within the welding gun without threading the contact tip and without the use of tools. The contact tip may be adapted to abut a surface of a first member disposed within the welding gun. The surface may be a surface of a gas diffuser. The surface may be adapted to abut the contact tip. The contact tip also may be adapted for abutment with a second member to urge the contact tip toward the first member. The second member may be a portion of a nozzle adapted to abut the contact tip to urge the contact tip toward the surface of the first member. A method of assembling a welding gun also is provided. The method may include disposing a contact tip between a first and a second member and capturing the contact tip between the first and second members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Giese
  • Patent number: 7294809
    Abstract: A welding system having a welding implement. The welding implement having a neck, a handle and a retaining nut for securing the neck to the handle. The neck being operable to convey electrode wire therethrough. The retaining nut being adapted for wrench-tightening to a threaded portion of the welding implement. An optional retaining nut operator. The optional retaining nut operator being adapted to secure to the retaining nut. The optional retaining nut operator being adapted for manual rotation to thread the retaining nut to the threaded portion of the welding implement. The optional retaining nut operator may be adapted to snap-fit onto the retaining nut. The optional retaining nut operator may include an electrically insulating material. The electrically insulating material may include a polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Giese
  • Patent number: 7244910
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a welding torch nipple for coupling a welding cable and neck assembly to one another. The exemplary nipple includes two hollow tubes: an inner tube disposed in an outer tube. The inner tube includes features that facilitate mating with a welding cable and the outer tube is configured to receive a neck assembly. A dielectric layer disposed between the inner and outer tubes electrically isolates the outer tube from the inner tube, thereby protecting a user from electrical shock, for instance. The dielectric layer includes a stem portion that extends radially into the outer tube, blocking axial separation of the outer tube and the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Giese, Robert Warning, Jeremy Jansma
  • Patent number: 7244911
    Abstract: In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a welding torch that includes features facilitating aligned assembly of various components of the welding torch with respect to one another. For example, the welding torch includes a nipple that carries a pin member extending from both an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral of a sleeve of the nipple. This pin engages with a slot on a coupling member and a slot on a neck assembly, thereby facilitating proper alignment of the neck assembly, coupling member, and nipple with respect to one another. Moreover, the engagement between the pin member and the slots block pivotal displacement of neck assembly, coupling member, and neck assembly with respect to one another. Advantageously, the use of a single pin member for both slots presents a more judicious construction, leading to reduced manufacturing costs, for instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Giese, Robert Warning, Jeremy Jansma
  • Patent number: 7105775
    Abstract: A welding gun adapted to secure a contact tip within the welding gun without threading the contact tip and without the use of tools. The contact tip may be adapted to abut a surface of a first member disposed within the welding gun. The surface may be a surface of a gas diffuser. The surface may be adapted to abut the contact tip. The contact tip also may be adapted for abutment with a second member to urge the contact tip toward the first member. The second member may be a portion of a nozzle adapted to abut the contact tip to urge the contact tip toward the surface of the first member. A method of assembling a welding gun also is provided. The method may comprise disposing a contact tip between a first and a second member and capturing the contact tip between the first and second members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Giese
  • Patent number: 6852950
    Abstract: A welding gun having a removable end portion. The end portion may be adapted to direct gas from the welding gun. The end portion may be conical-shaped. The end portion may be removed without tools. The end portion also may be adapted to be secured to and/or removed from the welding gun in a linear movement. A method of assembling a welding gun. The method may comprise urging a nozzle end member and a nozzle body into engagement to secure the nozzle end member to the nozzle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Giese
  • Publication number: 20040079784
    Abstract: A welding system having a welding implement. The welding implement having a neck, a handle and a retaining nut for securing the neck to the handle. The neck being operable to convey electrode wire therethrough. The retaining nut being adapted for wrench-tightening to a threaded portion of the welding implement. An optional retaining nut operator. The optional retaining nut operator being adapted to secure to the retaining nut. The optional retaining nut operator being adapted for manual rotation to thread the retaining nut to the threaded portion of the welding implement. The optional retaining nut operator may be adapted to snap-fit onto the retaining nut. The optional retaining nut operator may comprise an electrically insulating material. The electrically insulating material may comprise a polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventor: William R. Giese
  • Publication number: 20040026394
    Abstract: A welding gun having a removable end portion. The end portion may be adapted to direct gas from the welding gun. The end portion may be conical-shaped. The end portion may be removed without tools. The end portion also may be adapted to be secured to and/or removed from the welding gun in a linear movement. A method of assembling a welding gun. The method may comprise urging a nozzle end member and a nozzle body into engagement to secure the nozzle end member to the nozzle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: William R. Giese
  • Publication number: 20040026395
    Abstract: A welding gun adapted to secure a contact tip within the welding gun without threading the contact tip and without the use of tools. The contact tip may be adapted to abut a surface of a first member disposed within the welding gun. The surface may be a surface of a gas diffuser. The surface may be adapted to abut the contact tip. The contact tip also may be adapted for abutment with a second member to urge the contact tip toward the first member. The second member may be a portion of a nozzle adapted to abut the contact tip to urge the contact tip toward the surface of the first member. A method of assembling a welding gun also is provided. The method may comprise disposing a contact tip between a first and a second member and capturing the contact tip between the first and second members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventor: William R. Giese