Weld characteristic communication system for a welding mask

• US 7,962,967 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2009
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Becker, William Joshua, Pfeifer, Kyle Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): MUROMOTO JR, ROBERT H
• Application Number:
  US12/425,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20090276930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 241/0, 2/61, 2/63, 2/66, 2/67, 2/7, 2 81- 88, 2417-422, 218/130.01, 218/147
• US Class Current: 2/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/06 Masks, shields or hoods for welders safety devices for welding in general F16P1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0956 using sensing means, e.g. optical
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/322 Head protecting means masks, shields or hoods for weldersp A61F9/06

Abstract

Methods and systems for transmitting a torch angle and/or a torch-to-workpiece distance error to a welding operator when these parameters are outside of a preset optimal range via real time visual and/or audio cues are provided. One embodiment of the present disclosure relates to weld characteristic communication via intuitive arrays of visual indicators located on the periphery of a lens, which indicate to the welding operator the direction and severity of the torch angle error. In one embodiment, audio cues, such as pulsed or continuous tones may be used to communicate torch-to-workpiece distance to the welding operator. In certain embodiments, vertical visual indicator arrays may be used to indicate additional weld or auxiliary information, such as battery charge state, torch speed and so forth, to the welding operator. All the components of the communication system may be located in or on the welding helmet or the components may be split between the helmet and a belt pack.

Claims

1. A welding mask, comprising:

a viewing area;

a plurality of visual indicators arranged about the viewing area in positions correlative to a range of potential operational positions of a welding torch; and

a communication system configured to receive information regarding a detected torch angle vector of a welding torch relative to a workpiece, to calculate an error in the detected torch angle vector relative to a threshold value, and to activate one or more visual indicators of the plurality of visual indicators such that the positioning of the one or more activated visual indicators correlates to a direction of the error in the detected torch angle vector.

2. The welding mask of claim 1, comprising a welding helmet, glasses, or goggles.

3. The welding mask of claim 1, wherein the communication system is configured to receive information regarding a detected tip-to-work distance of the welding torch or an error in the detected tip-to-work distance.

4. The welding mask of claim 3, comprising an array of aligned visual indicators, wherein the communication system is configured to activate each of the visual indicators in the array in a sequential fashion to correspond with the error in the detected tip-to-work distance.

5. The welding mask of claim 1, wherein the communication system is configured to activate the one or more visual indicators when the detected torch angle vector passes the threshold value.

6. The welding mask of claim 5, wherein the communication system is configured to activate the one or more of the plurality of visual indicators at an intensity level based on a difference between a detected torch angle vector and the threshold value.

7. The welding mask of claim 1, wherein the communication system is configured to receive information regarding a detected travel speed of the welding torch or an error in the detected travel speed.

8. The welding mask of claim 7, comprising an array of aligned visual indicators, wherein the communication system is configured to activate each of the visual indicators in the array in a sequential fashion to correspond with the error in the detected travel speed.

9. The welding mask of claim 1, wherein the plurality of visual indicators are arranged in two semicircles that appear to be arranged in a continuous circle to a welding operator when the welding operator is wearing the welding mask.

10. The welding mask of claim 9, wherein the communication system is configured to activate the one or more of the plurality of visual indicators at an intensity level based on a difference between a detected travel speed and a second threshold value.

11. The welding mask of claim 1, wherein the communication system is configured to activate the one or more visual indicators when a detected tip-to-work distance passes a second threshold.

12. The welding mask of claim 1, wherein the communication system is configured to activate the one or more of the plurality of visual indicators at an intensity level based on a difference between a detected tip-to-work distance and a threshold value.

13. The welding mask of claim 1, wherein the viewing area comprises an opening in a mask frame, a goggle lens, a glasses lens, or a helmet lens.

14. The welding mask of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of visual indicators is an LED.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of visual indicators include redundant visual indicators.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication system is configured to activate a number of visual indicators corresponding to a degree to which the torch angle vector exceeds a second threshold value.

17. A welding mask, comprising:

a viewing area;

an audio device configured to generate an audio signal at a plurality of different magnitudes; and

a communication system configured to receive information regarding error values for positioning of a torch relative to a workpiece, wherein the error values include an error in a detected tip-to-work distance relative to a first preset value, an error in a detected torch angle vector relative to a second preset value, and/or an error in a detected travel speed relative to a third preset value, wherein the communication system is configured to activate the audio device to generate the audio signal with a selected magnitude corresponding to the error values.

18. The welding mask of claim 17, wherein the audio device is configured to emit a first distinct tone from a right or left audio source when the tip-to-work distance, the torch angle vector and/or the travel speed is above an upper threshold, and emit a second distinct tone when the tip-to-work distance, the torch angle vector, and/or the travel speed is below a lower threshold.

19. A method of supplying welding information, comprising:

receiving information regarding a detected angle of a welding torch relative to a workpiece in a receiver;

determining whether the detected angle exceeds a threshold value in a microcontroller; and

activating one or more of a plurality of visual indicators arranged about a viewing area of a welding mask in positions correlative to a range of potential operational positions of the welding torch with one or more visual drivers, wherein the one or more visual drivers activate the one or more visual indicators of the plurality of visual indicators based on a correspondence between the detected angle or a calculated angle error and a position of the one or more activated visual indicators of the plurality of visual indicators.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising detecting the angle with a sensor.

21. The method of claim 19, comprising receiving data regarding a detected tip-to-work distance or a detected travel speed of the welding torch.

22. The method of claim 21, comprising activating one or more visual indicators in an array of aligned visual indicators in a sequential fashion such that there is a correspondence between a number of the visual indicators in the array of aligned visual indicators that are activated and the detected tip-to-work distance, calculated distance error, detected travel speed or calculated travel speed error.

23. The method of claim 19, comprising activating the one or more of the plurality of visual indicators at an intensity level based on a difference between the detected angle and the threshold value.

24. The method of claim 21, comprising activating the one or more of the plurality of visual indicators at an intensity level based on a difference between the detected tip-to-work distance or the detected travel speed and the threshold value.

25. A system, comprising:

a welding mask;

a control pack communicatively coupled with the welding mask, wherein the control pack is configured for attachment to a welding operator;

a plurality of visual indicators arranged about a viewing area of the welding mask in positions correlative to a range of potential operational positions of a welding torch; and

a communication system with components disposed in the welding mask and the control pack, wherein the communication system is configured to receive information regarding a detected torch angle vector of a welding torch relative to a workpiece or an error in the detected torch angle vector and to activate one or more visual indicators of the plurality of visual indicators such that the positioning of the one or more activated visual indicators correlates to a direction of an error in the torch angle vector.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the control pack comprises a belt pack configured for attachment to a belt.