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US 12,059,759 B2Granted
Harmonic metal manufacturing wire reciprocation
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorMichael V. Hoeger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A harmonic welding wire oscillator configured to oscillate a stretch of welding wire within a wire liner. The oscillator may include an actuator configured to oscillate the welding wire at a resonant frequency of the stretch of welding wire. The oscillation causes reciprocation of the welding wire at the tip of the welding torch.
Claims20
A welding torch comprising:
- a wire guide configured to guide welding wire fed from a wire feeder to a first end of the torch to deliver welding wire to a welding application, the wire guide defining a clearance zone within which the welding wire oscillates when a force transverse to a travel path of the welding wire is applied to the welding wire within the clearance zone,
- wherein the wire guide comprises a plurality of rollers, the clearance zone comprises a spacing between successive rollers, and a length of the clearance zone is adjustable by adjusting the spacing by adding or removing rollers;
- and
- an actuator configured to apply the force to the welding wire in at least one direction transverse to the travel path of the welding wire within the clearance zone at a first frequency to oscillate welding wire within the clearance zone.
1 more element
A welding torch comprising:
- a wire guide configured to guide welding wire fed from a wire feeder to a first end of the torch to deliver welding wire to a welding application, the wire guide defining a clearance zone within which the welding wire may oscillate when a force transverse to a travel path of the welding wire is applied to welding wire within the clearance zone;
- an actuator configured to apply the force in at least one direction to welding wire within the clearance zone at a first frequency to oscillate welding wire within the clearance zone;
- and
- control circuitry configured to determine the first frequency based on the type of welding wire, the diameter of the welding wire, a length of the clearance zone as defined by the endpoints of the clearance zone, and a mass of material to be oscillated within the clearance zone, and to control the actuator based on the determined first frequency.
1 more element
A welding torch comprising:
- a wire guide configured to guide welding wire fed from a wire feeder to a first end of the torch to deliver welding wire to a welding application, the wire guide defining a clearance zone within which the welding wire may oscillate when a force transverse to a travel path of the welding wire is applied to welding wire within the clearance zone, wherein the wire guide comprises a freewheeling guide wheel and a unidirectional guide wheel, wherein the clearance zone is between a first contact point between the freewheeling guide wheel and the welding wire and a second contact point between the unidirectional guide wheel and the welding wire;
- and
- an actuator configured to apply the force in at least one direction to welding wire within the clearance zone at a first frequency to oscillate welding wire within the clearance zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.