Welding Patents (Class 219/136)
  • 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: 20140374396
    Abstract: A system and method for determining weld travel speed. In one example, a welding system includes one or more sensors configured to provide a first indication correspond to a welding arc at a first time and to provide a second indication correspond to the welding arc at a second time. The welding system also includes processing circuitry configured to receive the first indication, to receive the second indication, and to determine a weld travel speed based on a weld length of the workpiece and a difference between the first and second times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Jyi-Jiin Luo, Christopher J. Nelli, Todd Earl Holverson, Andrew Patrick Mulroy
  • Publication number: 20140374387
    Abstract: A welding inverter includes a device for achieving wireless data transmission via radio between the welding inverter and a further device. The device is configured such that wireless and preferably safe communication is configured to be achieved therebetween. The welding inverter is thereby configured to be used flexibly as regards its installation location in the existing infrastructure without being modified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Harald Lukosz, Peter Duerrschmied
  • Patent number: 8904638
    Abstract: A manufacturing method and structure of a heat exchanger for a bathing shower involves two plates welded together to form a passage for cold water. Hot water from the shower drips onto the upper plate and transfer heat to cold water flowing through the passage between the plates. The upper plate may be spot welded to the lower plate at bottoms of frustoconical indentations in the lower plate, the plates may sandwich an adiabatic layer, and/or the passage between the plates may be formed by pipes situated between the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventor: Ying Lin Cai
  • Patent number: 8895895
    Abstract: A system and method for an integrated structural welding system is designed to protect the components of the system against accidental damage and undue stresses. Specifically, portable structure and a strain protection system are provided. The strain protection system is supported by a portable structure and engages one or both of a welding-type cable and a power cable to transfer forces applied to the welding-type cable or power cable when adjusting a position of the portable structure to the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Feldhausen, Jeffrey W. Rappold, Gary A. Thyssen, Craig S. Knoener, Christopher D. McInnis, Brian A. Schwartz, Michael W. Hogan, Jeffrey P. Lenz, Kodi K. Welch
  • Patent number: 8878100
    Abstract: Methods are provided for joining two panels by welding together a seam formed at a flange of each panel using a welding tractor adapted to travel along the seam to be welded. A welding tractor adapted for use in the methods is also provided, as is a welded panel product fabricated using the methods provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Larry D. Martin, Brian E. Lone, James P. Gast
  • Patent number: 8853593
    Abstract: A heat pipe cooling system adapted for exemplary use with a gas metal arc welding torch, includes a container enclosing a capillary structure and quantity of working fluid, and functions to accelerate the dissipation of heat energy from a heated zone generated by the torch through the vaporization and condensation of the fluid and the capillary action of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Jay Hampton
  • Patent number: 8853595
    Abstract: A welding gun is provided that can achieve both a size reduction and increase in pressure using a servo motor. The welding gun (1,2) includes an arm holder (30) having guide pins (31a, 31b and 32a, 32b) that are moveable along guide tracks (12a, 12b) formed in a gun bracket (10), and a mobile gun arm (40) is mounted to this arm holder. Roller followers (33a, 33b and 34a, 34b) engaging with the guide tracks around the guide pins are provided, and the mobile gun arm is made to open or close via the arm holder using a servo motor (72).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Matsumoto, Hiroshi Miwa
  • Patent number: 8853594
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for welding a component to fill a groove therein. The method entails simultaneously projecting an electric arc and at least first and second laser beams into the groove. The electric arc melts and deposits a filler material in the groove while the first and second laser beams are projected onto opposite first and second walls, respectively, of the groove. The axis of each of the first and second laser beams is oriented at an acute angle relative to the respective wall thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dechao Lin, Jamison William Janawitz, David Vincent Bucci, Matthew James O'Connell, Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam, Ronald Lee Souther
  • Publication number: 20140294490
    Abstract: A welding process, welding system and welded article are disclosed. The welding process includes directing energy from one or more fusion beams to join a first element to a second element and to join the first element to a third element. The directing of the energy is at a first lateral angle and a second lateral angle with respect to the first element. The welding system includes an energy emitting device, a first fusion beam and a second fusion beam. The first fusion beam and the second fusion beam are oriented to extend diagonally through an article. The laser welded article includes the first element joined to the second element, and the first element joined to the third element. A fillet weld is formed in a first inaccessible portion between the first element and the second element and a second inaccessible portion between the first element and the third element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Dechao LIN, Zhaoli HU, Brian Lee TOLLISON
  • Patent number: 8847115
    Abstract: A welding power source including an embedded web server provides access to an operator at a remote web browser. From the remote web browser, the user is provided access to weld functions, and can selectively choose between weld functions that can be displayed and controlled from the remote web browser. The weld functions that can be accessed include control functions, which allow an operator to activate welding functions such as a jog or purge function; a command function, which allows an operator to provide a command level for a voltage, wire feed speed, or other parameter; and a display function, which provides access for an operator to display welding command and actual feedback values. The operator can also selectively view diagnostic data, including weld state data, error data, and operational voltage and current levels within the power source, such as motor voltage and input voltage levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Alan Casner, Daniel Thomas Duckert Casner
  • Publication number: 20140284323
    Abstract: A welding-type device has wireless communications to transmit wireless signals comprising at least identification information. The information may be transmitted either automatically or in response to request signals. Such a welding-type device may be configured to communicate with other welding-type devices, a monitoring device, or both. A wireless communication system has at least one welding-type device, at least one wireless communication assembly, and at least one monitoring device and is capable of assisting a user in preventing theft of welding-type devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Bruce Patrick Albrecht, James F. Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20140263247
    Abstract: Methods and systems for using near field communication (NFC) protocol and logic to calibrate welding operations and systems are described. Further, methods and systems for using NFC logic and tags are described for networking, calibrating and linking components that comprise welding systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Edward Hillen, Michael Volzer, Nick Trinnes
  • Publication number: 20140270922
    Abstract: A welded blank assembly includes a capping material in a weld region of the assembly. The capping material can help protect a weld joint joining first and second sheet metal pieces together. At least one of the sheet metal pieces has a coating material layer that is removed prior to forming the weld joint so that the coating material does not contaminate the weld joint. The removed coating material can be collected before the weld joint is formed and reapplied as part of the capping material after the weld joint is formed, effectively changing the coating material from a potential weld contaminant to a weld joint protectant. The capping material may also include additional material from a source other than the coating material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: James J. Evangelista, Michael Telenko, Jason E. Harfoot, Jack A. Atkinson, James W. Walther, Anthony M. Parente
  • Patent number: 8803031
    Abstract: A wire drive system includes a wire feed motor for feeding welding wire in a continuous welding process. The wire drive system further includes a controller connected to the wire feed motor for driving the motor responsive to a command signal. The controller is capable of detecting the source of power from which the wire feed motor is driven wherein a first possible source of power is taken from the welding arc and wherein a second possible source of power is taken from the welding power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreu P. Meckler, Keith Clark, Edward Enyedy
  • Patent number: 8796586
    Abstract: A portable welding system is disclosed that may be used for TIG and stick welding processes. The welding system comprises a soft-pack carrying case for transporting a number of welding elements. The carrying case includes deflectable walls that form an interior cavity configured to contain the welding elements for transport. The carrying case further includes a set of wheels, a retractable handle, and a fixed handle. The user may either roll the case via the wheels and retractable handle or lift the system via the fixed handles. Finally, the carrying case includes means to seal the interior cavity of the case to further contain the welding elements during transport or long durations of inactivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Fulcer, Mike Vanden Heuvel
  • Publication number: 20140197147
    Abstract: Welding wires and methods for welding metal work pieces using the welding wires are provided. The welding wires are composite materials comprising a metal alloy and high temperature nanoparticles dispersed in the metal alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicants: Eck Industries, Inc., Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Xiaochun Li, Hongseok Choi, David Wiess
  • Patent number: 8779329
    Abstract: Embodiments of a pendant associated with a multi-process welding power supply that allows a user to switch processes and reverse an output polarity while located remotely from a power supply unit are provided. Certain embodiments include a pendant with a wire spool and wire feeder drive circuitry that is configured to activate spooling during MIG welding. Control circuitry that may include processing circuitry and memory is provided. The control system may disable redundant controls on the power supply unit user interface when the power supply unit is connected to the pendant via a supply cable. Additionally, the control system may set the process, set the polarity, enable or disable a wire feed, and enable or disable gas flow according to inputs received via a user interface on either the power supply unit or the pendant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: James Francis Rappl, Thomas D. Lahti, Jeffery R. Ihde, Joseph Edward Feldhausen
  • Publication number: 20140190232
    Abstract: A strip processing device includes a strip processing cartridge and is intended for a rolling mill, and relates to a method for removing the strip processing cartridge from the strip processing device. The strip processing cartridge is mounted on a bearing region on one or more rockers on a frame. The bearing region is open for insertion or removal of the strip processing cartridge sideways and/or upwards out of the frame. A fixing mechanism fixes the strip processing cartridge on the bearing region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Klaus Frauenhuber, Friedrich Moser
  • Patent number: 8766140
    Abstract: A system and method is provided where a coated work piece is welded at high speeds with minimal porosity and spatter. The coating on the work piece is removed or ablated by a high energy heat source prior to being welded in a welding operation, such that high welding speeds are attained. The high energy heat source is positioned upstream of the welding operation to vaporize any surface coatings on a work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Edward Denney
  • Patent number: 8763473
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing a refractory material to a surface by inserting a nozzle and a neck of a welding gun through a channel in a refractory material, positioning the refractory material on the surface using the welding gun, firmly pushing the welding gun into the channel of the refractory material until the nozzle of the welding gun, an anchor embedded in the refractory material and the surface are in contact, welding the anchor of the refractory material to the surface with the welding gun, and removing the nozzle and the neck of the welding gun from the channel in the refractory material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Refractory Anchors, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall Loren Buchman
  • Publication number: 20140166631
    Abstract: A torch for a welding or plasma cutting operation configured to provide information. The torch includes a torch body. The torch also includes indicators coupled to the torch body and control circuitry coupled to the indicators and configured to provide data relating to the welding or plasma cutting operation to the indicators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Hobart Brothers Company
    Inventor: Scott Ryan Rozmarynowski
  • Publication number: 20140166629
    Abstract: Devices and methods for indicating power on a torch. In one example, a welding or plasma cutting torch includes an indicator coupled to the torch. The torch also includes control circuitry coupled to the indicator and configured to provide a first signal and a second signal to the indicator. The indicator is configured to receive the first signal when at least one of welding power and arc starting power from a power supply is available at the torch and to receive the second signal when the at least one of active welding power and the arc starting power from the power supply is not available at the torch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Ilinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Steven Kadlec, Bradley William Hemmert
  • Patent number: 8748777
    Abstract: A tray system is designed to be affixed in a stationary position to a housing of a welding-type system to support a gas cylinder for use with the welding-type system. The tray includes a base extending from the housing to form an interior and a periphery. As such, the interior forms a platform configured to support the gas cylinder proximate to the housing. The tray also includes a wall extending up from the base along at least a portion of the periphery of the base to form a barrier along the portion of the periphery that restricts the gas cylinder from being removed from the base. A lifting tab is included that extends up from the base proximate to the wall to form a pivot axis for the gas cylinder against which the gas cylinder may be tilted and rotated to raise the gas cylinder onto the wall and remove the gas cylinder from the tray without manual lifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Ertmer, Herbert A. Banksthal
  • Patent number: 8742294
    Abstract: A MIG welded joint between aluminum and steel members is obtained by overlapping the aluminum member and the steel member each other and performing MIG welding using a filler wire made of a 4000 or 5000 series aluminum alloy on an end face of the overlapped aluminum member, wherein the aluminum member has a thickness P ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 mm, and the steel member has a thickness Q satisfying the following formula: 0.6?Q/P?0.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Light Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Fukuda, Masaki Kumagai
  • Publication number: 20140138365
    Abstract: A welding apparatus to weld two wires includes a chassis, a direct current (DC) power supply, and a contacting plate. The contacting plate is electrically connected to a cathode of the DC power supply. The chassis defines an entrance aligned with the contacting plate. A socket is attached to the chassis and electrically connected to the anode of the DC power supply. Separated ends of the wires are connected to the socket. Joint ends of the metal wires are twisted together and extend into the chassis through the entrance to contact with the contacting plate to cause a rush current to flow through the wires.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: CHENG-HSIU YANG, CHENG-HSIU WU
  • Patent number: 8729422
    Abstract: Methods and systems for housing a consumable storage bin in addition to structural, thermal management, pneumatic, and/or electronic system components in a single multifunctional component within a plasma cutting power supply are provided. One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a consumable storage bin, which fits into a consumable storage area in the power supply unit and is accessible to a user. In one embodiment, the consumable storage bin may be eliminated, leaving only the consumable storage area in which racks, snaps, friction-fit retention features, and so forth, may be placed to hold the consumables and ensure easy user access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Brian James Bornemann
  • Publication number: 20140131334
    Abstract: In gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), the achievable deposition rate of the filler wire is coupled with the arc energy and the mass of the molten metal in the weld pool. In this invention, a side arc is added into the GTA (gas tungsten arc) between the wire and the same tungsten that establishes the GTA with the work-piece. While its anode provides a GMAW (gas metal arc welding) melting mechanism to completely melt the wire at high speeds, the undesirable dependence of deposition rate on the weld pool mass is also eliminated. As a result, the deposition rate is increased and the ability to provide desirable deposition rate and base metal melting/penetration freely without coupling is established for the GTAW.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventors: YuMing Zhang, Jinsong Chen, Yi Lu
  • Patent number: 8720326
    Abstract: A sealing head for a strapping machine welds steel strapping material to itself in an end-to-end weld. The sealing head includes a body, a drive, an end grip at the inlet to the body, a cutter, a grip clamp and a loop grip downstream of the end grip. The loop grip is carried on a carriage that is movable in a direction along the strap path. A leading end of strap is secured by the end grip and a loop portion of the strap is gripped by the loop grip and severed by the cutter to form a loop end. The loop end is secured by the grip clamp. The loop grip carriage moves the loop end toward the leading end as current is passed though the loop end and the leading end to weld the ends to one another in an end-to-end weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin D. Elliott, Christopher S. Krohn
  • Patent number: 8716627
    Abstract: A welding system is provided for welding a first work piece to a second work piece at a joint having a weld face and a root face. The welding system includes a weld face sensor configured to determine first joint characteristics at the weld face; a root face sensor configured to determine second joint characteristics at the root face; a controller coupled to the weld face sensor and the root face sensor and configured to generate positioning signals based on the first joint characteristics and the second joint characteristics; and a welding gun coupled to the controller and positioned proximate to the weld face, the welding gun configured to generate a welding beam for welding the joint based on the positioning signals from the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Saunders, Robert Hogan, Surendra Singh, Andy Kinney, Randal Easterwood
  • Patent number: 8704132
    Abstract: In a welding wire storage device for a welding system including a housing with a wire core surrounding the welding wire being arcuately arranged to lie freely in a free space of the housing, one end of the wire core is fixed in an end region of the housing and a measuring means is provided to detect the deflection of the wire core. In order to provide a very simple and compact structure for such a welding wire storage device, the wire core is displaceably mounted in a guide element on the opposite end region, and two coupling mechanisms, for connection with a wire guide hose for the wire core are arranged on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Fronius International GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Artelsmair, Christian Stumpfl
  • Patent number: 8692156
    Abstract: A robot cell comprises a support having a top surface within a plane and configured to rotate about a central axis substantially normal to the plane and a plurality of welding tables including a first welding table and a second welding table. The first welding table is operably connected to the support and configured to rotate about a first axis substantially parallel to the plane and about a second axis substantially normal to the plane. The first welding table is configured such that the second axis remains substantially normal to the plane while the first welding table rotates about the first axis. The second welding table is operably connected to the support and configured to rotate about a third axis substantially parallel to the plane and about a fourth axis substantially normal to the plane. The second welding table is configured such that the fourth axis remains substantially' normal to the plane while the second welding table rotates about the third axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventor: David E. Osicki
  • Patent number: 8690040
    Abstract: A method of forming a solder joint includes the steps of providing a heat shield member formed as an arcuate preferably metallic shell attached to a spring-clamp by means of an obedient shaft; attaching the spring clamp to a structure adjacent the solder joint; moving the heat shield member by bending the obedient shaft so that the heat shield member is positioned in a location spaced-apart from the solder joint with the concave surface of the heat shield member facing the solder joint; and applying heat from a torch to the solder joint from the side opposite the heat shield so that the heat shield reflects the heat back onto the solder joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventor: Keith Sharrow
  • Patent number: 8686316
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an automatic welding device of MIG/MAG type consisting of at least one carriage holding at least one welding head comprising at least one torch (1) guiding a consumable electrode wire along a parting plane (P) between the pipes to be welded, which brings the current to the end of the electrode wire in order to generate an electric arc and ensure melting of the filler metal, The invention consists of the fact that the welding head therefore presents a welding torch (1) intended to be centered in relation to the parting plane (P) to ensure the penetration pass and also bears at least two other so-called tracking welding torches (2, 3), respectively positioned one after the other following the first so-called central welding torch (1) and offset respectively on both sides of the so-called central torch (1) in order to make lateral passes. Application to the welding of metal pipes in order to form pipelines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Serimax
    Inventor: Denis Destouches
  • Patent number: 8688815
    Abstract: A welder includes a network interface configured to connect to a network. The welder includes a user interface that indicates to a user entities to whom help requests may be sent and receives from the user a selection of an entity to whom to send a help request. A data store stores welder data and entity data. The welder data includes welder identification and location information, and the entity data correlates entities to respective communication modes. The welder includes a communication logic that receives signals from the user interface indicating the selection and receives from the data store the welder data and the entity data. The communication logic also generates the help request in at least one format corresponding and directed to a communication mode correlated to the selected entity. The welder further includes a processor that causes the network interface to transmit the help request in the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Lincoln Global, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce John Chantry
  • Patent number: 8680434
    Abstract: The invention relates to a welding method and a welding system that use a welding torch, the position of which is determined. In order to develop such a welding method and system, with which it is possible to reliably determine the position of the welding torch in three dimensions, it is provided that a signal is emitted by a transmitter, the signal being received by at least one sensor which is integrated in or is associated with the welding torch, the received data readings being sent to an evaluation unit, which determines values relating to the position of the welding torch in three dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: FRONIUS International GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Stöger, Manfred Wittmann, Tomas Leko
  • Publication number: 20140076873
    Abstract: A system for controlling a welder supports remote operation of the welder by either a hand or a foot of the user. The controls of the system share components such that the user can readily change from hand control of the welder to foot control of the welder and vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: William D. Wilder, Edward A. Enyedy
  • Patent number: 8674263
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a wire guiding liner, in particular a welding wire liner, having a plurality of guiding bodies which are pivotable with respect to each other around a defined pivot axis. At least one biasing device is provided which acts between adjacent guiding bodies so as to push them apart while still allowing the liner to bend under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: AWDS Technologies SRL
    Inventors: Carlo Gelmetti, Filippo Corradini
  • Publication number: 20140069906
    Abstract: A welding system includes power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to weld power and a first housing surface. The first housing surface includes a first mating geometry configured to mate with a first complementary geometry of a first modular surface of a first modular component of the welding system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas James Dessart, Ryan Lawrence Peterson, Nicholas Alexander Matiash, Michael Allen Sammons
  • Publication number: 20140069905
    Abstract: A welding system includes a frame having a first sliding track and a second sliding track. The welding system also includes a cover piece having a first set of tabs configured to slide within the first sliding track, and a second set of tabs configured to slide within the second sliding track. The first and second sets of tabs are disposed on opposite sides of the cover piece. The cover piece includes an indention configured to mate with a detent protruding from a fan louver of the frame when the cover piece is slid into an open position. In addition, the welding system includes a plurality of electrical connections. The cover piece substantially covers the plurality of electrical connections when the cover piece is slid into a closed position within the sliding tracks, and the plurality of electrical connections are entirely exposed when the cover piece is slid into the open position within the sliding tracks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Ryan Lawrence Peterson, Nicholas James Dessart, Sunil Kumar Pattnaik
  • Publication number: 20140069904
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a cable management system with a housing comprising a first shell and a second shell configured to couple together about welding system cabling such that a portion of the welding system cabling is contained by the housing. The first and second shells form openings at ends of the housing such that the welding system cabling is capable of extending through the openings and such that edges of the openings enclose a perimeter of the welding system cabling when the first and second shells are coupled together about the welding system cabling. A cradle receives a weld cable of the welding system cabling. A cable clamp engages the weld cable and cooperates with the cradle to restrict movement of the weld cable when the weld cable is disposed in the cradle and the cable clamp is engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Allen Sammons
  • Publication number: 20140069903
    Abstract: A welding system includes an enclosure frame. The welding system also includes a side panel having a tab extending along a bottom edge of the side panel. The tab is configured to mate with a complementary slot in the enclosure frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Ryan Lawrence Peterson, Nicholas James Dessart, Sunil Kumar Pattnaik
  • Publication number: 20140069902
    Abstract: A welding system includes a housing having a front panel assembly. The welding system also includes first and second handles. The first handle is coupled to a first side of the front panel assembly and the second handle is coupled to a second side of the front panel assembly that is opposite from the first side. Each handle includes a recessed handle portion having an inner wall that forms an angle of between approximately 60 degrees and approximately 80 degrees with respect to an outer wall of the respective handle. The first and second handles are symmetrical about a central axis such that the first and second handles are interchangeable with each other. In addition, the first and second handles each include a plurality of internal tabs on both top and bottom sides of the first and second handles. The internal tabs facilitate coupling and alignment of the first and second handles with the front panel assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Ryan Lawrence Peterson, Nicholas James Dessart, Sunil Kumar Pattnaik
  • Patent number: 8664565
    Abstract: Embodiments of a pendant associated with a multi-process welding power supply that allows a user to switch processes and reverse an output polarity while located remotely from a power supply unit are provided. Certain embodiments include a pendant with a wire spool and wire feeder drive circuitry that is configured to activate spooling during MIG welding. Control circuitry that may include processing circuitry and memory is provided. The control system may disable redundant controls on the power supply unit user interface when the power supply unit is connected to the pendant via a supply cable. Additionally, the control system may set the process, set the polarity, enable or disable a wire feed, and enable or disable gas flow according to inputs received via a user interface on either the power supply unit or the pendant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: James Francis Rappl, Thomas D. Lahti, Jeffery R. Ihde, Joseph Edward Feldhausen
  • Patent number: 8664568
    Abstract: An arc welding control method carries out weld with a welding current and a welding speed different from those at a steady welding period according to intrinsic resistivity of a weld wire or a base material at a welding start period and a welding end period, so as to obtain a satisfactory welding quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Junji Fujiwara, Atsuhiro Kawamoto, Akira Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20140054277
    Abstract: Improvement of productivity and product quality is achieved by improving bonding properties and reducing adverse effects caused by heating by supplying heated gaseous matter or gas to a limited area and during a limited period required for bonding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: KAIJO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akio Sugito
  • Publication number: 20140054273
    Abstract: A dual-weave welding system is disclosed. The system may have a first welding device configured to create a weld joint in a gap between two or more work pieces by moving a first welding component along a first weaving path. The system may also have a second welding device configured to create the weld joint in the gap by moving a second welding component along a second weaving path. The system may further have a controller that sends commands to control the movement of the first welding device and the second welding device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Jacob Behmlander, Keith Maynard Egland
  • Publication number: 20140048523
    Abstract: A high capacity aluminum spot welding trans-gun includes a pair of opposed electrodes, a weld control that controls the operation of the trans-gun, and a transformer that regulates the voltage to the trans-gun having a primary input voltage and secondary output voltage. A liquid-cooled high voltage primary conductor electrically connects the weld control to the transformer primary input and a low voltage secondary conductor electrically connects the transformer secondary output to the welding gun to energize the opposed electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: William C. Moision, Elizabeth Therese Hetrick
  • Publication number: 20140048517
    Abstract: A controller for a welding system adapted to determine a value of a weld secondary parameter across a weld secondary component based on a sensed parameter is provided. The controller may also be adapted to compare the determined value to a reference value range and to alert a user to a presence and location of a weld secondary error when the determined value is outside the referenced value range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Davidson, Richard Schuh, Anthony J. Kowaleski, Thomas A. Bunker, Nicholas James Dessart, Bruce A. Casner
  • Publication number: 20140048524
    Abstract: A system and method for using filler wire with embedded information is provided. The filler wire includes a sheath comprising a first filler material and a core that is defined by the sheath. The core includes a second filler material and at least one integrated circuit module. The at least one integrated circuit module includes at least information about the filler wire. In some embodiments, the at least one integrated circuit module is configured for at least one of read operations and write operations that are done using a remote device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Elliott ASH, William T. MATTHEWS