(19)

(11)

EP 3 768 456 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 21.11.2019 (43) Date of publication: 27.01.2021 Bulletin 2021/04 (21) Application number: 19712545.3 (22) Date of filing: 14.03.2019

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  B23K 9/20(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/EP2019/056409 (87) International publication number: WO 2019/179872 (26.09.2019 Gazette 2019/39)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR Designated Extension States: BA ME Designated Validation States: KH MA MD TN (30) Priority: 22.03.2018 DE 102018106785 (71) Applicant: Nelson Stud Welding, Inc. Elyria, OH 44036-2019 (US)	(72) Inventor: PETRI, Lothar 45326 Essen (DE) (74) Representative: SBD IPAdmin  270 Bath Road Slough, Berkshire SL1 4DX Slough, Berkshire SL1 4DX (GB)