SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR WELDING TRAINING

• US 20130040270A1
• Filed: 07/31/2012
• Published: 02/14/2013
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 9,101,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/234
• 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 welding training 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;

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

a training torch comprising an optical sensor, wherein 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.

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

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to show a travel speed and/or a torch angle of 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 the optical sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, 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 the 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 1, wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect image data shown on the display.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the training torch comprises an optical emitter, and wherein the optical sensor of the training torch is configured to detect emissions from the optical emitter after the emissions reflect off of the training workpiece.

11. A welding training system comprising:

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

a training torch comprising a sensor configured to detect data corresponding to a position of the training torch relative to the training workpiece during the training welding operation.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic sensor configured to detect a magnetic field of the training workpiece.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor having a multi-surface lens.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a gyroscope configured to detect an orientation of the training torch.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the display is configured to show the orientation of the welding torch during the training welding operation.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the display is configured to show a virtual weld bead formed during the training welding operation.

17. A welding training system comprising:

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

a training torch comprising an optical sensor, wherein 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 a training workpiece.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the training workpiece comprises a virtual workpiece.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the display is configured to show the virtual workpiece.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the training torch comprises an optical emitter, and wherein the optical sensor of the training torch is configured to detect emissions from the optical emitter after the emissions reflect off of the training workpiece.