With Gap Control Patents (Class 219/124.02)
  • Patent number: 11684989
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a flame cutting process includes a preheating phase, a piercing phase following the preheating phase and a cutting phase following the piercing phase, wherein a cutting torch applies a flame generated by combustion of a gas mixture to an electrically conductive workpiece and wherein an electric current flowing between an electrically conductive part of the cutting torch and the workpiece is measured by a current measuring device during a measuring period. An ignition point at which piercing of a hole through the workpiece using the flame starts due to oxidation of the workpiece is detected by a change in the measured current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignees: IHT Automation GmbH & Co. KG, The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Giuseppe Romanelli, Marcel Biskaborn, Christopher Reed Martin
  • Patent number: 11428425
    Abstract: To provide a system that collects data from each sensor (airflow, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, illuminance, and air pollution) that measures an environmental factor and can evaluate an environment in a factory in a complex manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuki Ootsuka, Shinichi Ogawa, Noboru Kurokami
  • Patent number: 10987762
    Abstract: Portable, wearable or integrate-able devices may be used in detecting gestures or motions by operators of welding systems, and performing actions based thereon. The detection may be performed using sensors (e.g., MEMS or muscle sensors), which generate sensory data. The detected gestures or motions may be processed and translated into corresponding actions or commands, which may be handled directly or communicated to other devices in the welding systems. The actions or commands may comprise welding actions/commands, which are configured for controlling a particular component used during welding operations, and/or gesture-related actions/commands, which are configured for controlling gesture-related components and/or operations. Feedback is provided to the operator, such as to acknowledge or validate detection of the gestures, to identify the corresponding action or command, and to complete the identified action or command. The feedback may be non-visual feedback, such as haptic or audio feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Todd Gerald Batzler, Robert Arthur Batzler
  • Patent number: 10537956
    Abstract: Various welding systems including a welding torch assembly are provided. The welding torch assemblies may include a welding torch adapted to be utilized in a welding operation to establish a welding arc between the welding torch and a workpiece. The welding torch assemblies may also include a temperature sensing system integral with the welding torch and adapted to sense a temperature of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Derek Yu-Fung Hung, John Alan Luck, Mark Steven Kadlec
  • Patent number: 10486256
    Abstract: The present application relates to an electric arc welding method to be used with an arc welding arrangement (1) comprising a first power source, a first electrode (2) connected to said first power source, and a second electrode (7), said first electrode (2) being adapted to generate a weld pool (28) via a first electric arc present within a first arc region (31) and said second electrode (7) being adapted to generate said weld pool via a second electric arc present within a second arc region. The first electrode (2) is operated at welding parameters adapted to maintain said first arc ignited. The second electrode (7) is operated at welding parameters adapted to ensure that excess energy from at least said first electrode (2) is required to maintain said second arc ignited. The method comprises the step of feeding said second electrode (7) so that it is allowed to consume excess energy from said first electrode (2) to maintain said second arc ignited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: ESAB AB
    Inventors: Hannes Raudsepp, Vesa Kiiskinen
  • Patent number: 10213878
    Abstract: An arc welding/brazing process is disclosed that is useful to join together a first copper piece and a second copper piece without damaging more heat-sensitive materials that may be located nearby is disclosed. The arc welding/brazing process includes using a non-consumable electrode wire, which electrically communicates with a weld control in a straight polarity orientation, to strike an arc across a gap established between a leading tip end of the electrode wire and the first copper piece. The current that flows through the arc when the arc is established heats the first copper piece such that the first copper piece becomes joined to a second copper piece. The joint between the first copper piece and the second copper piece may be an autogenous weld joint or a braze joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: James G. Schroth, Thomas A. Perry, John S. Agapiou, Ronald M. Lesperance
  • Patent number: 10144081
    Abstract: The present invention provides an arc welding control system and method capable of simultaneously, sophisticatedly performing a weaving width control operation and a torch height control operation. Influence ratios (?w and ?z) of influences of a torch height deviation (?Ph) and a groove wall distance deviation (?Pd) with respect to a manipulated variable (?w) of a weaving width and a manipulated variable (?z) of a torch height are set in accordance with a groove angle (?) of a workpiece (5). A calculation unit (21) calculates the manipulated variables (?z and ?w) of actuators (13 and 14) regarding the torch height and the weaving width such that the influence ratios (?w and ?z) become large as the groove angle (?) becomes large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsuhito Aoki, Masatsugu Takeichi, Masaru Seto, Yukio Ikezawa
  • Patent number: 10015871
    Abstract: A conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) launches wire-tethered electrodes to provide a current through a human or animal target to impede locomotion of the target. The current may ionize air in a gap. A gap may occur between terminals at a face of the CEW and/or between the electrodes positioned near target tissue. A CEW may include a detector to detect ionization of air in a gap. A CEW may use information related to detecting ionization to determine a location where the ionization occurred. Information regarding location of ionization may be used to determine whether the current was delivered through the target via the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Handel, Steven N. D. Brundula, Magne H. Nerheim
  • Patent number: 9837810
    Abstract: A method and a system for the detection and passivation of an electric arc on at least one connecting element of an electrical device. The system comprises an acoustic acquisition channel configured for the acquisition of acoustic signals emitted by the connecting element, an electric acquisition channel configured for the acquisition of electric signals which are representative of the electric current intensities supplying the connecting element, and a correlator coupled to the acoustic and electric acquisition channels, configured for the evaluation of a correlation between the acoustic and electric signals and for the tripping of an appropriate cut-off signal for the interruption of an electric circuit relative to the connecting element, where the correlation is representative of the initiation of an electric arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignees: Airbus Operations SAS, Airbus SAS
    Inventors: Philippe Tatry, Christian Donadille
  • Patent number: 9770778
    Abstract: A device for feeding a welding wire to a welding device is disclosed, having a carriage guide, having a carriage that is supported on a carriage guide so that it is able to move along a carriage axis, particularly in a linear fashion, having an advancing drive, which has an advancing device that is provided on the carriage and driven to induce an advancing motion of the welding wire, and having a carriage drive, which includes a drive unit, an eccentric that is driven by the drive unit, and an eccentric rod that is eccentrically mounted on the eccentric and is mechanically coupled to the carriage to induce a reciprocating motion to the carriage, said carriage drive having means for adjusting the stroke of the reciprocating motion of the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Inventor: Siegfried Plasch
  • Patent number: 9566192
    Abstract: A welding helmet for detecting arc data is provided. One embodiment of the welding helmet includes an arc detection system configured to detect one or more welding arcs that occur during one or more welding operations. The welding helmet also includes control circuitry configured to count a number of the one or more welding arcs detected by the arc detection system. The welding helmet includes a storage device configured to store the number of the one or more welding arcs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: William J. Becker, Kyle A. Pfeifer, Eric T. Sommers
  • Patent number: 9481085
    Abstract: A robot includes an angular velocity sensor installed to a second horizontal arm and for obtaining the angular velocity of the first horizontal arm with respect to a base, and suppresses the vibration of the first horizontal arm by driving a first electric motor based on the angular velocity of the first horizontal arm. In the robot, an electric wire to be connected to a second electric motor incorporated in the second horizontal arm and electric wire to be connected to the angular velocity sensor are laid around through a wiring duct having end portions coupled respectively to the base and the second horizontal arm, disposed outside the first horizontal arm and outside the second horizontal arm, and having a passage leading to the inside of the base and the inside of the second horizontal arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuji Igarashi, Masatoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 9267975
    Abstract: The high speed, high accuracy capacitive gauging system employs an oscillator fed through steep slope filter that is discriminates between very small changes in capacitance even in the presence of electrical noise. During intervals when the probe tip is retracted, the oscillator frequency is calibrated to match the sweet spot in the center of the linear operative region of the steep slope filter. This calibrates the system to overcome the effects of varying temperature and humidity in the manufacturing environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: LASER MECHANISMS, INC.
    Inventors: Gerald F. Hermann, Daniel R. Buckley, Scott D. Swartzinski
  • Patent number: 9035218
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for disconnecting a short circuit (30) during short-arc welding, wherein when a short circuit (30) occurs, a time frame (32) is started, in which a defined current profile is performed to disconnect the short circuit within the time frame (32), and the current is increased if the time frame (32) is exceeded, and a corresponding welding device (1). In order to improve the welding quality, after the specifiable time frame (32) expires during a short circuit (30), said current profile for disconnecting the short circuit (30) is detected and at least one value or parameter in the disconnection of the short circuit (30) is stored or saved, wherein at least one value or parameter in the time frame (32) of the following short circuit (30) is adapted according to the stored value or parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventor: Josef Artelsmair
  • Patent number: 8927901
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a system for buried-arc welding with thru-the-arc seam tracking. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for buried-arc welding with thru-the-arc seam tracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Israel Stol, Floyd Thompson, Richard S. Dulski
  • Publication number: 20140312020
    Abstract: A system and method to make a welder aware of contact tip-to-work distance (CTWD) during a welding process. One or both of welding output current and wire feed speed is sampled in real time during the welding process. The actual CTWD is determined in real time based on at least one or both of the sampled welding output current and wire feed speed. The actual CTWD may be compared to a target CTWD in real time, where the target CTWD represents an estimated or desired CTWD for the welding process. A deviation parameter may be generated based on the comparing. An indication of the deviation parameter or the actual CTWD may be provided to a welder performing the welding process as feedback, allowing the welder to adjust the actual CTWD to better match the target CTWD in real time during the welding process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventor: JOSEPH A. DANIEL
  • Publication number: 20140183176
    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: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Richard Martin Hutchison, Kevin Michael Scott
  • Patent number: 8563891
    Abstract: A welding assembly including a current generator, an electrode electrically coupled to the current generator, the electrode including a first engagement surface, and a workpiece including at least two members, wherein at least one of the members includes a second engagement surface, defines a recess in the second engagement surface, and is electrically coupled to the current generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Innovative Weld Solutions Ltd.
    Inventor: Venkatasubramanian Ananthanarayanan
  • Patent number: 8357871
    Abstract: A welding assembly including a current generator, an electrode electrically coupled to the current generator, the electrode including a first engagement surface, and a workpiece including at least two members, wherein at least one of the members includes a second engagement surface, defines a recess in the second engagement surface, and is electrically coupled to the current generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Innovative Weld Solutions Ltd.
    Inventor: Venkatasubramanian Ananthanarayanan
  • Patent number: 8283600
    Abstract: The present invention includes a multi-use welding gun body configured for use in multiple locations along a welding gun assembly. In a particular embodiment, the multi-use welding gun body includes an enclosure forming an exterior surface of the body, the enclosure configured for both receiving a welding wire and a power source and directing the same toward a torch and having a first enclosure end with a wire-receiving aperture extending to an internal block-receiving cavity, the wire receiving aperture shaped to selectively receive a torch and an extension having an orifice containing both welding wire and shielding gas. The block-receiving cavity of the enclosure extends axially with a non-circular profile to a cable-receiving cavity within the housing, the cable-receiving cavity extending longitudinally to the second enclosure end. The second enclosure end includes an aperture forming an end of the cable-receiving cavity. A removable block is positioned within the block-receiving cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Zamuner
  • Patent number: 7800017
    Abstract: A welding gun assembly for directing a welding wire toward a workpiece, having a torch at a forward portion of the gun; a welding wire feeder at a rearward portion of the gun; and handles positioned adjacent the torch and wire feeder. Each handle has a first, cylindrical portion and a second, hexagonally shaped portion adjacent the first, cylindrical portion. The hexagonal portion has a cylindrical opening and a hexagonal opening adjacent the cylindrical opening. The handle further has an extension member having an access opening therein. A conduit is connected to each handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Zamuner
  • Patent number: 7557589
    Abstract: A signal processing portion obtains the reciprocal of a composite impedance of gap static capacitance and a plasma impedance, obtains composite static capacitance which is the sum of the gap static capacitance and a static capacitance component included in the plasma impedance from an imaginary part of the reciprocal, and obtains a resistance component included in the plasma impedance from a real part of the reciprocal. A gap detection device obtains the static capacitance component by using a model representing the characteristics of the reciprocal of the plasma impedance and the resistance component and obtains the gap static capacitance by subtracting the static capacitance component from the composite static capacitance. The gap detection device obtains a gap from the obtained gap static capacitance. Thus provided is a technique to detect a gap between a nozzle of a laser beam machine for outputting a laser beam and an object to be machined with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Iwata, Hiroyoshi Omura, Yoshihito Imai, Teiji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20070284348
    Abstract: A signal processing portion obtains the reciprocal of a composite impedance of gap static capacitance and a plasma impedance, obtains composite static capacitance which is the sum of the gap static capacitance and a static capacitance component included in the plasma impedance from an imaginary part of the reciprocal, and obtains a resistance component included in the plasma impedance from a real part of the reciprocal. A gap detection device obtains the static capacitance component by using a model representing the characteristics of the reciprocal of the plasma impedance and the resistance component and obtains the gap static capacitance by subtracting the static capacitance component from the composite static capacitance. The gap detection device obtains a gap from the obtained gap static capacitance. Thus provided is a technique to detect a gap between a nozzle of a laser beam machine for outputting a laser beam and an object to be machined with high accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaaki IWATA, Hiroyoshi OMURA, Yoshihito IMAI, Teiji TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 6932879
    Abstract: An improved method of weldbonding utilizing inclusion bodies, placed directly between materials to be bonded or included in a weldbonding adhesive. The inclusion bodies maintain a gap between the materials to be welded which provides a gas releasing egress route to disperse the gas and gaseous byproducts produced during welding. This egress route substantially prevents the gases and gaseous byproducts from being expelled through the weld pool and the resultant degradation of the quality of the weld pool, particularly with coated materials, partial penetration welds, and such materials as 6000 series aluminum. The method further comprises an optional step of including a crack-reducing additive, applied either directly to the materials to be welded or included in the adhesive. A laser weldbonding embodiment may use a plurality of phased heat cycles to reduce weld imperfections, and enhance the effects of the adhesive and optional crack-reducing additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Edison Welding Institute
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ely, Timothy M. Frech, George W. Ritter
  • Patent number: 6794607
    Abstract: The Tig Torch Finger Eliminator is attached to a tig torch to aid in welding pipes. It eliminates the use of the welder's fingers as a guide to stop tungsten contamination. It can be used in all positions of welding a pipe, and will take all the work out of walking the cup. It also gives maximum gas coverage and heat flow. The base plate comes in different sizes to fit different sizes of tig torches. It includes a handle base plate, which connects to a base extension. The base extension connects to the ball unit by a weld. The ball unit, having a beveled opening, will not let the ball fall out of its tip. The ball is held in place by a spring pushing against the ball and the spring retainer plate to allow pressure on the ball to keep it in place and allow it to move during welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Inventor: Gerald Christopher Romar
  • Patent number: 6744012
    Abstract: A control method for arc welding wherein position control of an electrode or a torch is performed while adjusting welding conditions on the basis of optical information obtained from arc light generated during an arc welding process. Illuminance, which forms the optical information obtained from the arc light, has a certain mutual relationship with the arc length or the torch height, so that the weld control is accomplished based on the illuminance. The control method includes a step of comparing illuminance with reference information based on the mutual relationship, and a step of adjusting the welding conditions on the basis of a result of comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Ueda, Manabu Murakami, Akira Yanagita, Takeshi Yamagami, Katsuya Kugai, Yusuke Niimura, Akinobu Izawa, Rintaro Chinen
  • Publication number: 20030000931
    Abstract: A control method for arc welding wherein position control of an electrode or a torch is performed while adjusting welding conditions on the basis of optical information obtained from arc light generated during an arc welding process. Illuminance, which forms the optical information obtained from the arc light, has a certain mutual relationship with the arc length or the torch height, so that the weld control is accomplished based on the illuminance. The control method includes a step of comparing illuminance with reference information based on the mutual relationship, and a step of adjusting the welding conditions on the basis of a result of comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Koji Ueda, Manabu Murakami, Akira Yanagita, Takeshi Yamagami, Katsuya Kugai, Yusuke Niimura, Akinobu Izawa, Rintaro Chinen
  • Patent number: 6501042
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing an exhaust processor comprising: a clamping device for applying a predetermined clamping pressure to clamp a case or other component of the exhaust processor about a substrate or other component of the exhaust processor to define a gap between the case and substrate; a measuring device for measuring a size of the gap during application of the predetermined clamping pressure, the measuring device including a clamping pressure control system for adjusting the predetermined clamping pressure of the clamping device in response to the gap measurement so that the gap size is within a predetermined range; and a welder for welding a portion of the case component to an other portion of the caset when the gap size is within the predetermined range. The measuring device also includes a camera for measuring the gap size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Alte, Jeffrey S. Englert
  • Patent number: 6337789
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Mark Achtner
  • Patent number: 6292714
    Abstract: A robot control part connected to a robot moving according to control for controlling the motion of the robot; and a media reproduction part to keep scenarios which describes changes in images to the passage of time, and are corresponding to events, present images according to the passage of time following the above scenario, and notify the passage of time at each frame to the robot control part; characterized in that the above robot control part keeps motion procedures denoting changes, which are corresponding to the frame, in the postures of the above robot to the passage of time; receives notifications of the passage of time from the above media reproduction part; and moves the above robot according to the above motion procedures, in the corresponding frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Miwa Okabayashi