Welding systems having non-contact temperature measurement systems

• US 9,415,459 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2013
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Bornemann, Brian J., Pfeifer, Kyle A., Achtner, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Geoffrey S
• Application Number:
  US13/759,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20130264322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0956 using sensing means, e.g. optical
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/167 and of a non-consumable electrode
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/173 and of a consumable electrode
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/32 Accessories earthing connections H01R
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/061 by controlling the temperature of the apparatus or parts thereof, e.g. using cooling means or thermostats
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/10 using electric radiation detectors

Abstract

Welding systems including welding torch assemblies are provided. The welding torch assembly may include a welding torch adapted to be utilized in a welding operation to establish a welding arc between the welding torch and a workpiece. Shielding gas may be supplied to the welding torch for establishment of a gas shielding area around a weld pool. The welding torch assembly may also include a temperature sensing system having a non-contact temperature sensor coupled to the welding torch and adapted to sense a temperature of the workpiece at a location outside of the molten weld pool.

Claims

1. A welding system, comprising:

a welding torch configured to be utilized in a welding operation to establish a welding arc between the welding torch and a workpiece, wherein shielding gas is supplied to the welding torch for establishment of a gas shielding area around a weld pool;

a temperature sensing system comprising a non-contact temperature sensor coupled to the welding torch and configured to sense a temperature of the workpiece at a location outside of the molten weld pool; and

a gooseneck coupled to the temperature sensing system and the welding torch, wherein the gooseneck is configured to adjust between multiple positions to position the temperature sensing system in a variety of configurations with respect to the workpiece.

2. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the non-contact temperature sensor comprises a radiation thermometer configured to detect infrared radiation from the workpiece and to determine the temperature of the workpiece based on the detected infrared radiation.

3. The welding system of claim 2, wherein the radiation thermometer comprises a sensor configured to convert the detected infrared radiation into a digital or analog signal corresponding to the temperature of the workpiece.

4. The welding system of claim 2, wherein the radiation thermometer comprises a lens and a sensor.

5. The welding system of claim 4, comprising a coolant circuit configured to circulate an inert gas to the lens for protection from smoke and particulate and to the sensor for cooling.

6. The welding system of claim 5, comprising gas control valving configured to control the shielding gas supplied to the welding torch and the inert gas provided to the coolant circuit.

7. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the gooseneck is configured to be manually adjusted by an operator into the multiple positions.

8. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the gooseneck is configured to be digitally or analog controlled by weld control circuitry.

9. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the welding torch comprises a tungsten inert gas torch configured to establish the welding arc between a tungsten electrode and the workpiece.

10. A welding system, comprising:

a welding torch configured to be utilized in a welding operation to establish a welding arc between the welding torch and a workpiece; and

a temperature sensing system comprising a non-contact temperature sensor coupled to the welding torch and configured to sense a temperature of the workpiece, wherein a position of the temperature sensing system with respect to the welding arc is configured to be adjusted during the welding operation.

11. The welding system of claim 10, wherein the non-contact temperature sensor is coupled to the welding torch via an adjustable gooseneck configured to be manually adjusted by an operator.

12. The welding system of claim 10, wherein the non-contact temperature sensor comprises lead selenide, lead sulfide, gallium indium arsenide, a fiber optic material, or a combination thereof.

13. The welding system of claim 10, wherein the non-contact temperature sensor comprises an optical pyrometer configured to detect infrared radiation emitted from the workpiece, to convert the detected infrared radiation into a digital or analog signal, and to determine the temperature of the workpiece based on the digital or analog signal.

14. The welding system of claim 10, wherein the welding torch comprises a tungsten inert gas torch configured to establish the welding arc between a tungsten electrode and the workpiece.

15. The welding system of claim 10, wherein the non-contact temperature sensor is configured to sense the temperature of the workpiece at a location outside of the molten weld pool.

16. A welding system, comprising:

a welding torch configured to be utilized in a welding operation to establish a welding arc between an electrode of the welding torch and a workpiece; and

a temperature sensing system coupled to the welding torch, wherein the temperature sensing system comprises a temperature probe disposed at an opposite end of the welding torch than the electrode, wherein the temperature sensing system is configured to sense a temperature of the workpiece when the temperature probe is near the workpiece and to communicate the temperature to a display.

17. The welding system of claim 16, wherein the temperature probe of the temperature sensing system is integral with the welding torch.

18. The welding system of claim 16, wherein the temperature sensing system comprises the display, and the display is configured to communicate the temperature to an operator at a location of the welding operation.

19. The welding system of claim 16, wherein the temperature probe is configured to sense the temperature of the workpiece via contact with the workpiece.

20. The welding system of claim 16, wherein the electrode comprises a tungsten electrode, and the welding torch comprises a tungsten inert gas torch configured to establish the welding arc between the tungsten electrode and the workpiece.