Helmet-integrated weld travel speed sensing system and method

• US 9,511,443 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Pfeifer, Kyle Andrew, Watson, William Todd, Hutchison, Richard Martin, Becker, William Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thien S
• Application Number:
  US13/755,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20130206741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121.83, 219/124.34, 219/130.01, 219/130.1, 219/130.21, 219/132, 219/137.R, 434/234
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/095 Monitoring or automatic control of welding parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0953 using computing means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0956 using sensing means, e.g. optical
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/36 Devices characterised by the use of optical means, e.g. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light G01P3/68 takes precedence; gyrometers using the Sagnac effect, i.e. rotation-induced shifts between counter-rotating electromagnetic beams G01C19/64
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/38 using photographic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/14 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/58 Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems

Abstract

A welding system includes a first sensor associated with a welding helmet and configured to sense a parameter indicative of a position of a welding torch relative to the welding helmet. The travel speed sensing system also includes a processing system communicatively coupled to the first sensor and configured to determine a position of the welding torch relative to a workpiece based on the sensed first parameter.

Claims

1. A welding system, comprising:

a first sensor associated with a welding helmet and configured to sense a first parameter indicative of a position of a welding torch relative to the welding helmet;

a second sensor configured to sense a second parameter indicative of a position and an orientation of the welding helmet, wherein the second sensor is external to the welding helmet and configured to monitor the second parameter by identifying a marking on the welding helmet; and

a processing system communicatively coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor, wherein the processing system is configured to determine a position of the welding torch relative to a workpiece based on the first parameter and the second parameter.

2. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to determine a travel speed of the welding torch based on the determined position of the welding torch.

3. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the marking comprises a passive visual marking.

4. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the marking comprises an infrared LED.

5. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the marking comprises a geometric feature of the welding helmet.

6. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the marking comprises an edge of the welding helmet.

7. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises an array of sound sensors disposed on the welding helmet, and the first parameter comprises a sound emitted from the welding torch.

8. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a sound sensor disposed on the welding torch, wherein the sound sensor is configured to detect one or more sounds emitted from an array of sound emitters disposed on the welding helmet.

9. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises an optical sensor disposed on the welding helmet, wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect light emitted from an arc produced by the welding torch, a target on the welding torch, or both.

10. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises an optical sensor disposed on the welding torch, wherein the optical sensor is configured to detect a marking on the welding helmet.

11. The welding system of claim 1, wherein the welding helmet comprises a display configured to provide a visualization to an operator based on the first parameter.

12. A weld travel speed sensing system, comprising:

a sensor disposed in a welding helmet and configured to identify a plurality of actions performed by an operator wearing the welding helmet; and

a processing system communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to determine a travel speed of a welding torch based on a timing of at least one action of the plurality of actions identified by the sensor, wherein the at least one action of the plurality of actions indicates the welding torch passing one of a plurality of indicators in a field of view of the operator.

13. The weld travel speed sensing system of claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises a microphone configured to identify a plurality of sounds from the operator, and the plurality of actions comprises the plurality of sounds.

14. The weld travel speed sensing system of claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor configured to identify a pressure applied thereto by the operator, and the plurality of actions comprises a plurality of instances of pressure applied to the pressure sensor by the operator.

15. A weld travel speed sensing system, comprising:

a sensor disposed in a welding helmet and configured to identify a plurality of actions performed by an operator wearing the welding helmet, wherein the sensor comprises a microphone configured to identify a plurality of sounds from the operator, and the plurality of actions comprises the plurality of sounds; and

a processing system communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to determine a travel speed of a welding torch based on a timing of at least one action of the plurality of actions identified by the sensor.