Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Stephen Paul Ferkel

John Alan Luck

Albert J DeCoster

Michael Allen Sammons

Mark Steven Kadlec

Alan Edward Stein

Steven J Geissler

Alan Adam Manthe

Neal Maynard Borchert

Todd M Heraly

Glenn A Koosmann

Albert J De Coster

A wire feeder that is powered at least partially by a battery is provided. The wire feeder includes a welding wire spool and a welding wire drive system for receiving welding wire from the spool and feeding the wire through a flexible conduit attached to an enclosure of the wire feeder. A motor of the wire feeder drives the welding wire drive system, powered at least in part by the battery. The wire feeder includes a battery receptacle for receiving the battery. In certain embodiments, the wire feeder may be attached to a body of a user via a harness system.

Battery powered compact wire feeder

An example welding system includes: a visual acquisition system comprising an imaging device and configured to acquire a visual representation of a weld part and to convert the visual representation into data representative of weld part features; and a part recognition component comprising processing circuitry configured to: receive the digital data; identify one or more features of the weld part in response to receipt of the digital signal; compare the digital signal to stored data of a plurality of weld parts stored in a weld part database to match one or more identified features to a known weld part of the plurality of weld parts stored in the weld part database; identify weld settings stored in a weld parameter database associated with the matching known weld part of the plurality of weld parts stored in the weld part database; and send the weld settings to a welding power supply.

Workpiece-based setting of weld parameters

A method and apparatus of communicating control signals to a welding power source from a remote location includes a welding system operated by control signals transmitted by a wireless remote control that can be remotely located from the welding power source. A plurality of welding parameters in the welding system are set and adjusted in response to wireless command signals transmitted to a receiver that is connected to the welding power source via a connection port and is further connected to a controller in the welding power source. In this regard, an operator is able to quickly and efficiently control a welding system from a remote location, with no more cables than are necessary to perform the intended task.

Method and apparatus for wireless remote control communication of a welder

Various embodiments of welding systems that enable determination of suitable weld settings for a weld part are provided. In one embodiment, a welding system includes a weld part having at least one weld joint to be welded. The welding system also includes a visual acquisition system including an imaging device and being adapted to acquire a visual representation of the weld part and to convert the visual representation into a digital signal representative of the weld part features. The welding system further includes a part recognition system having processing circuitry and memory. The processing circuitry is adapted to receive the digital signal and to compare the digital signal to a database stored in the memory to identify the weld part, weld settings appropriate for welding the weld part, or both.

A high frequency power source configured to provide a variable voltage output is described such as for use in welding systems. The high frequency power source charges a capacitive storage device. A transformer having a primary winding coupled to the output of the high frequency power source and establishing a resonant frequency signal with the capacitive storage device, and a secondary winding coupled to the welding power supply, superimposes the resonant frequency signals onto the welding power signal of the welding power supply during periods of the resonant rings. By varying the voltage output from the high frequency power source, the high frequency energy delivered to the welding torch can be optimized for a variety of welding applications.

Welding power source with automatic variable high frequency

A method and apparatus of communicating control signals to a welding power source from a remote location includes a welding system operated by control signals transmitted by a wireless remote control that can be remotely located from the welding power source. A plurality of welding parameters in the welding system are set and adjusted in response to wireless command signals transmitted to a controller including a control transceiver located on the welding power source. In this regard, an operator is able to quickly and efficiently control a welding system from a remote location, with no more cables than are necessary to perform the intended task.

A cooling system is disclosed that is designed to inhibit coolant flow to a welding-type component if connection of the welding-type component to a coolant outlet is not deemed present.

Torch connection detection system and method

A method and apparatus for welding is disclosed. It includes a source of power and a controller. An output feedback circuit provides feedback to the controller. The controller includes a comparator that compares the fedback signal to a threshold and/or detects a short on the output. A standby/welding control is responsive to the comparator. Also, an arc end control may be provided that terminates the arc in response to detecting an increase in arc length.

Controlled output for welding

A welding device is disclosed having a remote control device configured to control an operating parameter of the welding device (e.g., welding current) and a control circuit to receive a remote device signal from the remote control device and to determine the type of remote control device based on the remote device signal. Remote devices may be 'trigger only', 'hand control', 'fingertip control' or 'foot control' devices. The welding device further includes an operating parameter selector (e.g., welding amperage) and a welding process selector (e.g., TIG, STICK) mounted on a control panel. The control circuit receives an operating parameter selector signal from the operating parameter selector and a welding process selector signal from the welding process selector, and controls an operating parameter with one of the remote device signal and the operating parameter selector signal based on the welding process selector signal. The control circuit also selectively disables adjustment of the operating parameter selector when controlling the operating parameter with the remote device signal.

Welding device with remote device detection

A welding machine that includes a power supply having at least one control input is described. The power supply is capable of providing an electrode positive and an electrode negative output. Also, the magnitude and balance of the output is controllable. The machine includes a controller that controls the power supply. If the user selects an electrode negative output the controller causes the output to be electrode positive at at least a first magnitude for a predetermined period of time at the start of the welding process. Then, the controller causes the output to be electrode negative at a magnitude equal to or greater than a second magnitude. Thereafter, the controller causes the output to be a user selected magnitude. If the user selects an ac mode, the electrode positive portion of the output is not constantly responsive to at least one of the user selected frequency and the user selected balance.

Method and apparatus for controlling a welding power supply

A control interface for a welding device facilitates selection of a welding process and of the various operating parameters associated with the welding process. The control interface includes a process selector to select one of a plurality of welding processes, such as AC TIG or DC STICK, and a plurality of parameter selectors for selecting operating parameters associated with the welding process, each parameter selector having a plurality of settings. Selection of the various parameter settings is constrained by a controller which recalls from memory the parameter settings associated with the selected welding process, and which may further enable, disable or default to particular settings based on the selected welding process or the selection of other settings.

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Appleton, WI, United States of America

Stephen Paul Ferkel