# US 12,759,070 B2 · Welding gun with a displacement measuring system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,070 B2 - Document ID: US12759070B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/654,689 - Filed: 2022-03-14 - Published: 2022-09-22 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-03-16 - Assignees: Newfrey LLC - Applicants: Newfrey LLC - Inventors: Björn Brandl; Karl-Heinz Briel; Hubert Ivo; Inge Jung; Alexander Oehlbach; Thomas Reich; Alexander Schug; Manuel Spiess; Kai-Marius Weber - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759070B2 ## CPC - B23K 9/202: {by means of portable equipment, e.g. stud-welding gun} - B23K 9/0956: {using sensing means, e.g. optical} - B23K 9/205: {Means for determining, controlling or regulating the arc interval} - 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 ## Abstract Handheld welding gun for welding an element to a component comprising a linear actuator unit with a linear actuator housing and a linear actuator rod adapted to actuate the holding unit in order to move the element between the lift position and the plunge position, the linear actuator rod extending partly inside and partly outside the linear actuator housing. A displacement measuring system communicates with a control card. The linear actuator, the displacement measuring system and the control card are connected together to form a compact actuator unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A handheld welding gun for welding a fastener to a component according to a welding process, the handheld welding gun comprising: a housing with a main portion and a grip with a trigger, the grip extending from the main portion; a holding unit mounted on the main portion and adapted to hold the fastener; a linear actuator unit with a linear actuator housing and a linear actuator rod adapted to actuate the holding unit in order to move the fastener between a lift position and a plunge position, the linear actuator rod extending partly inside and partly outside the linear actuator housing; a nozzle surrounding the holding unit and adapted to contact the component; a welding current contact element arranged in the housing and adapted to direct a welding current to the fastener; a sensor unit adapted to measure a parameter during the welding process; a processing system with a control card adapted to control the parameter of the welding process; and a displacement measuring system communicating with the control card, wherein the linear actuator unit, the displacement measuring system and the control card are connected together with at least a portion of the displacement measuring system being mounted on the control card, and the linear actuator unit is mounted in the main portion at an opposite side of the holding unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The handheld welding gun according to claim 1, wherein the displacement measuring system is an optical measuring system and comprises an encoder arranged on the control card and an encoder strip. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The handheld welding gun according to claim 2, wherein the encoder strip is fixed to the linear actuator rod through a strip holder and is slidingly movable with regard to the encoder. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The handheld welding gun according to claim 2, wherein the encoder is encapsulated. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The handheld welding gun according to claim 1, wherein the control card is attached to the linear actuator housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The handheld welding gun according to claim 1, wherein the linear actuator rod is movable along a longitudinal axis with regard to the linear actuator housing and is secured against rotation around the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The handheld welding gun according to claim 6, wherein the linear actuator rod is secured against rotation around the longitudinal axis by the linear actuator housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The handheld welding gun according to claim 1, wherein the linear actuator rod has a non-circular cross-section shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The handheld welding gun according to claim 8, wherein the linear actuator rod has an oblong cross-section shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The handheld welding gun according to claim 1, wherein movable parts of the linear actuator are guided within the linear actuator housing by a bearing. ### Claim 11 A handheld welding gun for welding a fastener to a component according to a welding process, the handheld welding gun comprising: a housing with a main portion and a grip with a trigger, the grip extending from the main portion; a holding unit mounted on the main portion and adapted to hold the fastener; a linear actuator unit with a linear actuator housing and a linear actuator rod adapted to actuate the holding unit in order to move the fastener between a lift position and a plunge position, the linear actuator rod extending partly inside and partly outside the linear actuator housing; a nozzle surrounding the holding unit and adapted to contact the component; a welding current contact element arranged in the housing and adapted to direct a welding current to the fastener; a sensor unit adapted to measure a parameter during the welding process; a processing system with a control card adapted to control the parameter of the welding process; and a displacement measuring system communicating with the control card, wherein the linear actuator unit, the displacement measuring system and the control card are connected together, and the linear actuator unit is mounted in the main portion at an opposite side of the holding unit; and a coil body arranged within the linear actuator housing, and a first bearing and a second bearing each arranged between the coil body and the linear actuator housing, wherein the first bearing is arranged at a first end of the coil body, and the second bearing is arranged at a second end of the linear actuator housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The handheld welding gun according to claim 11, wherein the first bearing and the second bearing are in direct contact with the coil body. ### Claim 13 A handheld welding gun for welding a fastener to a component according to a welding process, the handheld welding gun comprising: a welding gun housing with a main portion and a grip with a trigger, the grip extending from the main portion; a holder mounted on the main portion and adapted to hold the fastener; a linear actuator assembly with a linear actuator housing and a linear actuator rod adapted to actuate the holder in order to move the fastener between a lift position and a plunge position; a control card adapted to control a parameter of the welding process; and a displacement measuring system adapted to measure motion of the linear actuator rod and communicate with the control card, wherein the linear actuator assembly, the displacement measuring system, and the control card are connected together independent of the welding gun housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The handheld welding gun according to claim 13, wherein the linear actuator assembly, the displacement measuring system, and the control card are packaged together as a single assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The handheld welding gun according to claim 13, wherein the linear actuator assembly, the displacement measuring system, and the control card are disposed within the welding gun housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The handheld welding gun according to claim 15, wherein the linear actuator assembly, the displacement measuring system, and the control card are removable from the welding gun housing without disconnecting the linear actuator assembly, the displacement measuring system, and the control card from one another. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The handheld welding gun according to claim 13, wherein the control card and at least a portion of the displacement measuring system are disposed within the linear actuator housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The handheld welding gun according to claim 13, wherein the control card is fixed to the linear actuator housing, and at least a portion of the displacement measuring system is mounted on the control card. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The handheld welding gun according to claim 13, wherein the displacement measuring system includes an encoder mounted on the control card and an encoder strip fixed to the linear actuator rod. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The handheld welding gun according to claim 13, further comprising a coil body arranged within the linear actuator housing, and at least one bearing arranged between the coil body and the linear actuator housing.