SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING REMOTE WELDING OPERATIONS ON AN APPARATUS

• US 20140014637A1
• Filed: 07/13/2012
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hunt, Mark Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 9,505,130 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/124.22
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1689 Teleoperation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39387 Reflex control, follow movement, track face, work, hand, visual servoing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40169 Display of actual situation at the remote site
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40195 Tele-operation, computer assisted manual operation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45104 Lasrobot, welding robot

Abstract

A system for performing remote welding operations on an apparatus is disclosed. The system may generally include a welding chamber configured to house the apparatus and a robotic welder positioned within the welding chamber. The robotic welder may be configured to perform an actual welding operation on the apparatus. In addition, the system may include a welding simulation device positioned outside the welding chamber and a controller communicatively coupled to the robotic welder and the welding simulation device. The welding simulation device may be configured to perform a simulated welding operation corresponding to the actual welding operation. The controller may be configured to track the movement of the welding simulation device and control the operation of the robotic welder based on the movements of the welding simulation device.

Claims

1. A system for performing remote welding operations on an apparatus, the system comprising:

a welding chamber configured to house the apparatus;

a robotic welder positioned within the welding chamber, the robotic welder being configured to perform an actual welding operation on the apparatus;

a welding simulation device positioned outside the welding chamber, the welding simulation device being configured to perform a simulated welding operation corresponding to the actual welding operation; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the robotic welder and the welding simulation device, the controller being configured to track the movement of the welding simulation device and control the operation of the robotic welder based on the movements of the welding simulation device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an imaging system configured to capture images of the actual welding operation as it is being performed and a display device communicatively coupled to the imaging system, the display device being configured to display images transmitted from the imaging system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the imaging system is coupled to a robotic arm positioned within the welding chamber.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the display device is configured as a head-mounted display device, the controller being configured to track the movements of the head-mounted display device and control the operation of the robotic arm based on the movements of the head-mounted display.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the head-mounted display device is configured as a welder'"'"'s hood.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fixture positioned within the welding chamber, the apparatus being configured to be mounted to the fixture.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the orientation of at least a portion of the fixture is adjustable within the welding chamber.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the robotic welder comprises a robotic arm and a welding torch coupled to the robotic arm.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor mounted to or within the welding simulation device, the sensor being configured to monitor at least one of a position or an orientation of the welding simulation device.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a microphone configured to record sounds emitted within the welding chamber and a speaker positioned outside the welding chamber, the speaker being configured to generate the sounds recorded by the microphone.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the welding simulation device is configured as a welding torch.

12. A method for performing remote welding operations an apparatus contained within a welding chamber, the method comprising:

performing a simulated welding operation with a welding simulation device positioned outside the welding chamber;

tracking the movements of the welding simulation device as the simulated welding operation is being performed; and

controlling a robotic welder positioned within the welding chamber based on the movements of the welding simulation device such that the robotic welder performs an actual welding operation on the apparatus.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein performing a simulated welding operation with a welding simulation device positioned outside the welding chamber comprises performing the simulated welding operation on a model apparatus positioned outside the welding chamber.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein tracking the movements of the welding simulation device as the simulated welding operation is being performed comprises receiving with a controller signals from a sensor associated with at least one of a position or an orientation of the welding simulation device.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

capturing images of the actual welding operation as it is being performed; and

transmitting the images to a display device positioned outside the welding chamber.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein capturing images of the actual welding operation as it is being performed comprises capturing the images with an imaging system mounted to a robotic arm positioned within the welding chamber.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the display device is configured as a head-mounted display device, further comprising:

tracking the movement of the head-mounted display device; and

controlling the movement of the robotic arm based on the movement of the head-mounted display device.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is mounted to a fixture positioned within the welding chamber, further comprising adjusting the orientation of at least a portion of the fixture.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

recording sounds emitted within the welding chamber; and

generating the sounds with a speaker positioned outside the welding chamber.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the welding simulation device is configured as a welding torch.