# US 2018/0021874 A1 · Wire shuttle for use in welding applications > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0021874 A1 - Document ID: US20180021874A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/218,959 - Filed: 2016-07-25 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-25 - Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Applicants: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Inventors: Christopher Hsu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021874A1 ## CPC - B23K 9/1278: {Using mechanical means} - B23K 9/0216: {Seam profiling, e.g. weaving, multilayer} - B23K 9/04: Welding for other purposes than joining, e.g. built-up welding - B23K 9/133: Means for feeding electrodes, e.g. drums, rolls, motors - B23K 9/167: and of a non-consumable electrode - B23K 9/173: and of a consumable electrode - B23K 9/295: {using consumable wire electrodes} - B23K 9/296: {using non-consumable electrodes} - B23K 10/02: Plasma welding - B23K 26/0876: {in at least two axial directions} - B23K 26/211: with interposition of special material to facilitate connection of the parts - B23K 26/34: Laser welding for purposes other than joining - B23K 26/702: {Auxiliary equipment} - 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 Apparatuses, systems, and/or methods for welding systems that provide independent control of a contact tip of a welding torch are disclosed. The welding system can include, for example, a welding torch that includes, for example, a contact tip and a pivot in which the contact tip is coupled to the pivot and is configured to provide wire that is fed through the welding torch during a welding operation. The contact tip and the pivot are configured to independently move the contact tip of the welding torch around the pivot during the welding operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A torch, comprising: a pivot support member that receives a contact tip, wherein the pivot support member is configured to independently move the contact tip around a pivot point during a welding operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The torch according to claim 1, wherein the torch is configured to provide wire via the contact tip. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The torch according to claim 1, wherein the torch is moved in a first direction during the welding operation, and wherein the pivot support member is configured to automatically move the contact tip to form a weave welding pattern. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The torch according to claim 1, wherein the torch is moved in a first direction during the welding operation, and wherein the pivot support member is configured to automatically move the contact tip to form an inline weave welding pattern ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The torch according to claim 1, wherein the torch is moved in a first direction during the welding operation, and wherein the pivot support member is configured to automatically move the contact tip to form a zig zag welding pattern. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The torch according to claim 1, wherein the torch includes a gas diffuser that is coupled to the pivot support member, and wherein the gas diffuser and the pivot support member are configured to move the contact tip independently of the welding torch during the welding operation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The torch according to claim 1, wherein the torch is configured to be manually held by an operator during the welding operation and to move in a first direction during the welding operation by the operator, and wherein the pivot support member is configured to move the contact tip in a second direction and a third direction during the welding operation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The torch according to claim 1, wherein the torch is configured to be manually held by an operator during the welding operation and to move in a first direction during the welding operation by the operator, and wherein the pivot support member is configured to move the contact tip in the first direction and a second direction during the welding operation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The torch according to claim 1, wherein the torch is part of a robot welding system, wherein the torch is configured to move in a first direction during the welding operation by a robot arm of the robot welding system, and wherein the pivot support member is configured to move the contact tip in a second direction and a third direction during the welding operation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The torch according to claim 1, wherein the torch is part of a robot welding system, wherein the torch is configured to move in a first direction during the welding operation by a robot arm of the robot welding system, and wherein the pivot support member is configured to move the contact tip in the first direction and a second direction during the welding operation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The torch according to claim 1, wherein the contact tip is coupled to a motor assembly that moves the contact tip, and wherein the motor assembly includes a motor and one or more of the following: a gear, a cam, a scotch, and a yoke. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The torch according to claim 1, wherein the welding operation is an open arc operation using a consumable electrode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The torch according to claim 12, wherein the welding operation is a gas metal arc welding (GMAW) operation or a flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) operation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The torch according to claim 1, wherein the welding operation is a submerged arc operation using a consumable electrode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The torch according to claim 1, wherein the torch includes a cladding torch, and wherein the welding operation uses a heat source to provide a melt pool. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The torch according to claim 15, wherein the welding operation adds an unheated wire or a pre-heated wire to the melt pool. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The torch according to claim 15, wherein the heat source includes a laser, a plasma, or a tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding configuration. ### Claim 18 A method, comprising: a pivot support member that receives a contact tip of a torch; moving the torch in a welding direction during a welding operation; and independently moving the contact tip by the pivot support member around a pivot point while the torch is moving in the welding direction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the independent movement of the pivot support member around the pivot point causes the contact tip to form a welding weave pattern or a welding zig-zag pattern. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein a reliable arc start is achieved by the independent movement of the pivot support member around the pivot point causing the contact tip to form a zig-zag pattern during arc start. ### Claim 21 A welding torch or a cladding torch, comprising: a torch body that is configured to provide a pivot support member that receives a contact tip, wherein the pivot support member is configured to cause the contact tip to move side-to-side in a direction that is perpendicular to a weld axis. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The welding torch or the cladding torch according to claim 21, wherein the pivot support member is configured to cause the contact tip movement even when the torch body is not moving. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The welding torch or the cladding torch according to claim 21, wherein the torch body houses an actuator that causes the pivot support member to move the contact tip side-to-side. ### Claim 24 A torch, comprising: a torch body that receives a contact tip, wherein the torch is a welding torch or a cladding torch, and wherein the torch is configured to independently move the contact tip with respect to the torch body in a planar oscillatory movement during a welding operation. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The torch according to claim 24, wherein torch is configured to provide a consumable electrode via the contact tip. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The torch according to claim 24, wherein the planar oscillatory movement includes an arc movement in a plane that coincides with a weld axis or a direction of travel of the torch body. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The torch according to claim 24, wherein the planar oscillatory movement includes a linear motion. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The torch according to claim 24, wherein the planar oscillatory movement includes an arc movement in a plane that is orthogonal with a weld axis or a direction of travel of the torch body.