# US 11,110,537 B2 · Welding systems having non-contact temperature measurement systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,110,537 B2 - Document ID: US11110537B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/234,748 - Filed: 2016-08-11 - Published: 2016-12-01 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-06 - Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Applicants: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Inventors: Brian J. Bornemann; Kyle A. Pfeifer; Richard M. Achtner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110537B2 ## CPC - B23K 9/0956: {using sensing means, e.g. optical} - B23K 9/167: and of a non-consumable electrode - B23K 9/173: and of a consumable electrode - B23K 9/32: Accessories - G01J 5/061: by controlling the temperature of the apparatus or parts thereof, e.g. using cooling means or thermostats - G01J 5/10: using electric radiation detectors - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) ## Abstract Welding systems including welding torch assemblies are provided. The welding torch assembly 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. Shielding gas may be supplied to the welding torch for establishment of a gas shielding area around a weld pool. The welding torch assembly may also include a temperature sensing system having a non-contact temperature sensor coupled to the welding torch and adapted to sense a temperature of the workpiece at a location outside of the molten weld pool. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A welding system, comprising: a welding torch having a handle configured to be utilized in a welding operation to establish a welding arc between the welding torch and a workpiece; and a temperature sensing system comprising a temperature sensor mounted to the welding torch such that at least a portion of the handle is between the location of mounting and arc generating end of the welding torch, the temperature sensing system configured to sense a temperature of the workpiece, wherein the temperature sensing system is configured to be adjusted between multiple positions to position the temperature sensor in a variety of configurations with respect to the welding torch. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensing system is configured to be manually adjusted by an operator into the multiple positions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensing system is coupled to the welding torch via an adjustable gooseneck configured to be manually adjusted by an operator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a non-contact temperature sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The welding system of claim 4, wherein the non-contact temperature sensor comprises a radiation thermometer configured to detect infrared radiation from the workpiece and to determine the temperature of the workpiece based on the detected infrared radiation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The welding system of claim 5, wherein the radiation thermometer comprises a sensor configured to convert the detected infrared radiation into a digital or analog signal corresponding to the temperature of the workpiece. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The welding system of claim 5, wherein the radiation thermometer comprises a lens and a sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The welding system of claim 7, comprising a coolant circuit configured to circulate an inert gas to the lens for protection from smoke and particulate and to the temperature sensor for cooling. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The welding system of claim 8, comprising gas control valving configured to control shielding gas supplied to the welding torch and inert gas provided to the coolant circuit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The welding system of claim 4, wherein the non-contact temperature sensor comprises lead selenide, lead sulfide, gallium indium arsenide, a fiber optic material, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to sense the temperature of the workpiece via contact with the workpiece. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, wherein the welding torch comprises a handheld tungsten inert gas torch configured to establish the welding arc between a tungsten electrode and the workpiece. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, wherein the welding torch comprises a handheld metal inert gas torch configured to establish the welding arc between a wire electrode and the workpiece. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensing system comprises a display configured to communicate the temperature of the workpiece to an operator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to sense the temperature of the workpiece at a location outside of a molten weld pool. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The welding system of claim 1, comprising a targeting system configured to provide a target of a heat detection zone on the workpiece in which the temperature of the workpiece is sensed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The welding system of claim 16, wherein the targeting system comprises a laser. ### Claim 18 A welding system, comprising: a handheld welding torch configured to be utilized in a welding operation to establish a welding arc between the welding torch and a workpiece; a temperature sensing system comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the welding torch and configured to simultaneously sense a plurality of temperatures of the workpiece at a plurality of heat detection zones on the workpiece with respect to the welding torch. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The welding system of claim 18, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to sense the temperature of the workpiece at a location outside of a molten weld pool. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The welding system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of heat detection zones correspond to a perimeter of a shield gas cone of the welding torch. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The welding system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of heat detection zones are located within a heat affected zone on the workpiece. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The welding system of claim 18, wherein the temperature sensing system comprises a non-contact temperature sensor. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The welding system of claim 18, comprising a targeting system configured to provide a target of one or more of the heat detection zones on the workpiece in which the temperature of the workpiece is sensed. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The welding system of claim 23, wherein the targeting system comprises a laser.