Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Kenneth C Altekruse

Nicholas Alexander Matiash

Mark Richard Christopher

L Thomas Hayes

Paul William Garvey

Tiffany Anne Carter

Bernard J Vogel

Brian Lee Ott

Ronald W Colling

James D Kimball

Jeffrey Lonigro

Dennis Roland Sigl

Brian Schwartz

James E Doherty

Kenneth F Herres

In some examples, apparatuses, systems, and/or methods for configuring and/or reconfiguring welding-type power sockets and/or welding-type plugs may include welding-type power sockets and/or welding-type plugs that may be configurable (and/or reconfigurable) through custom socket inserts, socket connectors, plug adapters, and plug receptacles.

Reconfigurable welding-type power sockets and power plugs

Apparatuses, systems, and/or methods for configuring and/or reconfiguring welding-type power sockets and/or welding-type plugs are disclosed. In some examples, welding-type power sockets and/or welding-type plugs may be configurable (and/or reconfigurable) through custom socket inserts, socket connectors, plug adapters, and plug receptacles.

A method and apparatus for providing a welding type power is disclosed. It includes an outer housing having a wind tunnel within the outer housing. Air flows through the wind tunnel in an air flow direction. The width of the tunnel is less at one location than at another location. Electrical components receive power and provide a welding type output. A first group of those components require air flow for cooling, and are disposed at least partially in the wind tunnel. A second group of components are not disposed in the wind tunnel. The wind tunnel can also change direction.

Welding type power supply with wind tunnel

Power supply case for welding, cutting, or heating power

A method and apparatus for providing welding type power, including a power and control circuit is disclosed. The power circuit provides welding, control and aux power. The control and aux power are provided with a transformer, and secondary windings for control and aux power are wound on a single bobbin, with a winding separator separating them. Air vents, which can be formed by fins on the bobbin or separator allow cooling of the inner winding.

Welding type power supply with transformer

A method and apparatus for providing welding type power supply includes a power circuit and a control circuit. The power circuit receives input power and provides welding type power to a welding output. The power circuit includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. The secondary winding is in electrical communication with the welding output. The control circuit is connected to control the power circuit. The transformer includes a bobbin with the primary winding and the secondary winding wound thereon. The bobbin can includes vents to allow air flow into the bobbin. A winding separator can be disposed between the primary and secondary windings.

Welding type power supply with weld transformer

A battery-charging system includes a power supply having a high-frequency transformer and is configured to deliver a battery charging power to charge at least one battery. The high-frequency transformer has a bobbin including an elongated top and bottom surfaces and first and second substantially semi-circular end surfaces connecting the top surface with the bottom surface to form an elongated first coil winding surface having a central axis. A first coil is wound around the first coil winding surface, and a second coil is magnetically coupled to the first coil and wound thereto.

Battery charger with high frequency transformer

A battery charging system which includes a main housing with a main chamber defined by a base, an end panel mounted on each end of the base, and a cover enclosing the end panels. At least one battery charging connector is connected to the housing. A power supply is connected to the at least one battery charging connector, where the power supply provides a battery charging electrical power to the at least one battery charging connector. The power supply has at least one heat generating electrical device. A tunnel is formed at least partially within the main chamber and extends between the end panels in the main chamber. At least one heat generating electrical device at least partially extends into the tunnel to be exposed to air in the tunnel to cool the heat generating electrical device.

Battery charger with wind tunnel cooling

A method and apparatus for welding is disclosed. The method includes sensing the status of a trigger between an on position and an off position. A system latch is set or released based on the trigger status and the latch status. The system latches on when the trigger is held for a predetermined time (and the latch was previously off). The latch is released when the trigger is pulled and released when the latch was previously on. When the latch is off, pulling the trigger turns the system on, and releasing the trigger before the predetermined time turns the system off. The latch may also be released when welding current drops below a threshold. The time might not start until after welding current is flowing. A welding wire feed speed control potentiometer on a torch is also disclosed. The range of the torch potentiometer is from a minimum to a value dependent on the control panel welding wire feed speed. A run-in wire feed speed control is also disclosed. The range of the run-in wire feed speed is from a minimum to a value dependent on the control panel or torch welding wire feed speed.

Method and apparatus for welding with a trigger hold

A welding gun comprising: an electrically conductive gun body having a passageway; a head tube assembly having one end inserted in the passageway of the gun body; a rotation nut that retains the head tube assembly in the inserted state when the rotation nut is threadably coupled to the gun body; and an electrically insulative ring installed between a portion of the gun body and an electrically conductive part of the head tube assembly. The electrically conductive gun body has a frusto-conical inner peripheral surface that is in contact with a frusto-conical outer peripheral surface of the electrically insulative ring. The rotation nut comprises an electrically conductive part that is threadably engaged to the electrically conductive gun body and that is in electrical contact with the electrically conductive portion of the head tube assembly. Electric current for welding is transmitted around the electrically insulative ring, through the electrically conductive portion of the rotation nut and into the electrically conductive part of the head tube assembly.

Head tube assembly having insulated mechanical interface with welding gun body

A MIG welding gun contact tip has a cylindrical section with a predetermined outer diameter adjacent one end, and frusto-conical surface adjacent the other end. Threads are rolled from the cylindrical section outer diameter between the cylindrical section and the frusto-conical surface. The threads major diameter is larger than the cylindrical section outer diameter, and the threads minor diameter is less than the cylindrical section outer diameter. In a preferred embodiment, the cylindrical section outer diameter is approximately 0.350 inches, the threads have a major diameter of approximately 0.375 inches, and the threads are stub acme threads with a pitch of 14 threads per inch. The contact tip is assembled to a diffuser having mating threads and a frusto-conical surface that engages the contact tip frusto-conical surface when the contact tip has been turned a single turn into the diffuser.

Growing community of inventors

Appleton, WI, United States of America

Kenneth C Altekruse