WELDING TRAINING SYSTEM

• US 20160358503A1
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Published: 12/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Batzler, Todd Gerald, Albrecht, Bruce Patrick, Becker, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,748,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 37/00 Auxiliary devices or processes, not specially adapted to a procedure covered by only one of the preceding main groups eye-shields for welders worn on the operator's body or carried in the hand A61F9/00 , i.e. A61F9/02; applicable to metal-working machines other than soldering, welding, or flame-cutting machines B23Q; laser protective screens B23K26/706; protective shields for other welding methods F16P1/06
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/095 Monitoring or automatic control of welding parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/32 Accessories earthing connections H01R
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37396 Tactile feedback, operator feels reaction, force reflection
• 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 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/00 Simulators for teaching or training purposes for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131

Abstract

A welding training system includes one or more welding operator device which provides positional feedback relevant to a quality weld. The positional feedback is analyzed and, when the positional feedback is outside of a predetermined range, a signal is provided to the welding operator. In one embodiment, tactile feedback is provided in a welding gun.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A welding system comprising:

a sensor configured to detect position or orientation data of a welding device; and

a tactile feedback device configured to provide directional feedback based at least in part on a comparison of the position or orientation data detected by the sensor and stored position or orientation data defining a position or orientation of the welding device for a stored weld to correct a position or orientation of the welding device during an actual weld or a simulated weld.

22. The welding system of claim 21, wherein the directional feedback provides feedback to correct the position or orientation of the welding device during the actual weld.

23. The welding system of claim 21, wherein the directional feedback provides feedback to correct the position or orientation of the welding device during the simulated weld.

24. The welding system as recited in claim 21, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of an angle sensor and an altimeter.

25. The welding system of claim 21, wherein the sensor comprises a global positioning sensor, a gyroscopic sensor, an accelerometer, or a micro-electromechanical gyroscope.

26. The welding system of claim 21, wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor.

27. The welding system of claim 21, wherein the tactile feedback device comprises a vibrational motor, a piezeo-electric device, an air bladder, or an exoskeleton.

28. The welding system of claim 21, comprising the welding device, wherein the welding device comprises a protective eye shielding device, a welding gun, a glove, or a wrist band.

29. The welding system of claim 21, wherein the directional feedback provides feedback to correct an angle of the welding device.

30. The welding system of claim 21, wherein the tactile feedback device comprises a plurality of spaced vibrational motors.

31. A welding system, comprising:

a sensor configured to detect position or orientation data of a welding device;

a tactile feedback device; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the welding device, wherein the controller is configured to receive the position or orientation data from the sensor, to compare the position or orientation data to stored position or orientation data, and to activate the tactile feedback device to provide directional feedback to prompt a welding operator to adjust a position or orientation of the welding device based at least in part on the comparison during an actual weld or a simulated weld.

32. The welding system of claim 31, wherein the controller is configured to prompt the welding operator to adjust the position or orientation of the welding device during the actual weld.

33. The welding system of claim 31, wherein the controller is configured to prompt the welding operator to adjust the position or orientation of the welding device during the simulated weld.

34. The welding system of claim 31, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of an angle sensor and an altimeter.

35. The welding system of claim 31, wherein the sensor comprises a global positioning sensor, a gyroscopic sensor, an accelerometer, or a micro-electromechanical gyroscope.

36. The welding system of claim 31, wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor.

37. The welding system of claim 31, wherein the tactile feedback device comprises a vibrational motor, a piezeo-electric device, an air bladder, or an exoskeleton.

38. The welding system of claim 31, comprising the welding device, wherein the welding device comprises a protective eye shielding device, a welding gun, a glove, or a wrist band.

39. The welding system of claim 31, wherein the directional feedback provides feedback to correct an angle of the welding device.

40. The welding system of claim 31, wherein the welding device includes a plurality of stimulation devices selectively positioned to provide the directional feedback to the welding operator.