The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 22, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 17, 2003
Applicant:
Inventors:
Tim A. Matus, San Antonio, TX (US);
Lin Zhang, Appleton, WI (US);
Assignee:
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B23K 1/000 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B23K 1/000 ;
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for initiating a welding arc by directing a plasma jet into the space between the tip of the welding electrode and the workpiece. This is done while an electrical potential is applied between the electrode and the workpiece. The ionized plasma gas renders the space between the electrode and the workpiece more conductive, thereby reducing the voltage threshold needed to initiate an arc between the electrode and the workpiece. When the voltage threshold reaches the level of the applied electrical potential, the arc will be initiated.