System and device for welding training

• US 10,096,268 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2015
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Albrecht, Bruce Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Utama, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US14/807,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20150325153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/00 Arc welding or cutting electro-slag welding B23K25/00; welding transformers H01F; welding generators H02K
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0953 using computing means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0956 using sensing means, e.g. optical
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/003 Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/24 Use of tools
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 25/02 of industrial processes; of machinery

Abstract

A system and device for welding training. In one example, a welding training system includes a display configured to show welding features related to a training welding operation. The system also includes a training workpiece having a substantially transparent weld joint configured to be placed adjacent to the display during the training welding operation. The system includes a processing device coupled to the display and configured to provide welding data relating to the training welding operation to the display. The system also includes a training torch comprising an optical sensor. The training torch is coupled to the processing device and configured to provide the processing device with data from the optical sensor corresponding to a position of the training torch relative to the training workpiece.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a display configured to show welding features related to a training welding operation;

a training workpiece comprising a substantially transparent weld joint configured to be placed adjacent to the display during the training welding operation such that a portion of the display is visible by looking through the substantially transparent weld joint; and

a processing device coupled to the display and configured to provide welding data relating to the training welding operation to the display.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to show a virtual weld bead of the training welding operation behind the substantially transparent weld joint of the training workpiece.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to show a travel speed or a torch angle of a training torch during the training welding operation.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising a stand configured to support the training workpiece.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the substantially transparent weld joint comprises a pattern configured to be detected by an optical sensor of a training torch.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the optical sensor comprises a camera configured to receive image data corresponding to the training workpiece.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the camera comprises an adjustable lens to change a focal point of the camera.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the camera is configured to alter a camera focus based on a distance between the camera and the training workpiece.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect image data shown on the display.

10. A system comprising:

a display configured to show welding features related to a training welding operation; and

a training workpiece comprising a substantially transparent weld joint configured to be placed adjacent to the display during the training welding operation such that a portion of the display is visible by looking through the substantially transparent weld joint.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the display is configured to show an orientation of a training torch during the training welding operation.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the display is configured to show a travel speed or a torch angle of a training torch during the training welding operation.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the display is configured to show a virtual weld bead formed during the training welding operation behind the substantially transparent weld joint of the training workpiece.

14. The system of claim 10, comprising a stand configured to support the training workpiece.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the substantially transparent weld joint comprises a pattern configured to be detected by an optical sensor of a training torch.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the optical sensor comprises a camera configured to receive image data corresponding to the training workpiece, wherein the camera comprises an adjustable lens to change a focal point of the camera.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect image data shown on the display.

19. The system of claim 10, comprising a processing device coupled to the display and configured to provide welding data relating to the training welding operation to the display.

17. The system of 15, wherein the optical sensor comprises a camera configured to receive image data corresponding to the training workpiece, wherein the camera is configured to alter a camera focus based on a distance between the camera and the training workpiece.

20. A system comprising:

a display configured to show welding features related to a training welding operation; and

a training workpiece comprising a substantially transparent weld joint configured to be placed adjacent to the display during the training welding operation such that a portion of the display is visible by looking through the substantially transparent weld joint, wherein the substantially transparent weld joint comprises a pattern configured to be detected by an optical sensor of a training torch, and the optical sensor comprises a camera configured to receive image data corresponding to the training workpiece.