Methods and apparatus for tactile communication in an arc processing system

• US 20060163228A1
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lincoln Global Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Daniel, Joseph Allen
• Granted Patent: US 7,358,458 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/130.10
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0956 using sensing means, e.g. optical

Abstract

Systems and methods are presented for tactile communication with an operator in an arc processing system, in which a tactile device is mechanically coupled with a handheld torch to provide tactile messages to the operator according to information related to the system or to an arc processing operation being performed.

Claims

1. An electric arc processing system, comprising:

an arc processing device having a power source to provide electrical power for an arc processing operation;

a torch coupled with the arc processing device to provide power from the power source to the arc processing operation; and

a tactile device coupled to the torch, the tactile device comprising an activating input responsive to a signal;

wherein the arc processing device provides the signal to the activating input of the tactile device in response to a selected arc processing condition.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said tactile device is located within a handle of said torch.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said tactile device is located within a cable that is coupled between said torch and said arc processing device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said tactile device is located within said arc processing device and is mechanically coupled to a cable that is coupled between said torch and said arc processing device.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the tactile device is located within said power source.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said arc processing device is a welder comprising said power source and a wire feeder, and wherein said tactile device is located within the wire feeder and is mechanically coupled to a cable that is coupled between said torch and said wire feeder.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the power source provides the signal to the activating input of the tactile device in response to a welder or welding process condition.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the wire feeder provides the signal to the activating input of the tactile device in response to a welder or welding process condition.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said arc processing device is a welder.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said arc processing device is a plasma cutter.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said tactile device is a vibration motor.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said tactile device is a solenoid.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein said arc processing condition is a condition associated with at least one of said arc processing device and the arc processing operation.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said arc processing device comprises a transmitter to transmit said signal to said tactile device.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said arc processing device is operable to provide an electrical signal to said activating input of said tactile device, and wherein said tactile device provides a tactile message to an operator of said torch according to said electrical signal from said arc processing device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said arc processing device is operable to provide a plurality of electrical signals to said tactile device, wherein said tactile device provides said tactile message as a corresponding plurality of tactile signals to the operator according to said electrical-signals from said arc processing device, and wherein said electrical signals and tactile signals are formed into multiple-signal patterns according to a communication protocol.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein at least one of said multiple-signal patterns comprises a plurality of distinct signals.

18. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of tactile devices mechanically coupled with said torch handle, said tactile devices individually comprising an activating input responsive to an electrical signal and being individually adapted to provide a tactile signal to an operator of said torch according to said electrical signal from said arc processing device.

19. An arc processing system, comprising:

an arc processing device with a power source to provide electrical power for an arc processing operation;

a torch coupled with said arc processing device to provide power from said power source to the arc processing operation; and

a tactile device mechanically coupled with said torch, said tactile device being operable to provide a tactile message to an operator of said torch according to information from said arc processing device.

20. A handheld torch apparatus for use in performing an arc processing operation, the handheld torch apparatus comprising:

a torch handle;

a cable coupled to said torch handle for connecting the torch apparatus to an arc processing device; and

a tactile device mechanically coupled with said torch handle, said tactile device comprising an activating input responsive to a signal, and said tactile device being adapted to provide a tactile signal to an operator of the torch apparatus according to said signal.

21. The handheld torch apparatus of claim 20, wherein said tactile device is located within said torch handle.

22. The handheld torch apparatus of claim 20, wherein said tactile device is located within said cable.

23. The handheld torch apparatus of claim 20, wherein said tactile device is a vibration motor.

24. The handheld torch apparatus of claim 20, wherein said tactile device is a solenoid.

25. The handheld torch apparatus of claim 20, comprising a plurality of tactile devices mechanically coupled with said torch handle, said tactile devices being individually adapted to receive an electrical signal and to provide a tactile message to an operator of the torch apparatus according to said electrical signal.

27. An electric arc processing system, comprising:

an arc processing device having a power source to provide electrical power for an arc processing operation;

a torch coupled with the arc processing device to provide power from the power source to the arc processing operation; and

means for providing a tactile message to an operator of the torch according to information from said arc processing device related to an arc processing condition.

28. A communication method for conveying information in an arc processing system from an arc processing device of the system to an operator, the method comprising:

(a) generating a signal in an arc processing device according to information related to at least one of said arc processing device and an arc processing operation being performed;

(b) providing said signal to a tactile device that is mechanically coupled to a handheld torch in said system; and

(c) generating a tactile message to an operator of said handheld torch according to said signal.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein generating said signal comprises generating a plurality of electrical signals formed into a multiple-signal pattern according to a communication protocol, and wherein generating said tactile message comprises generating a plurality of tactile signals formed into a corresponding multiple-signal pattern according to said communication protocol.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said multiple-signal pattern comprises a plurality of distinct signals.