System and device for welding training

• US 9,583,014 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Becker, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Utama, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fletcher, Jerry-Daryl
• Application Number:
  US13/799,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20140134579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 434/219, 434/234, 434/260
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/095 Monitoring or automatic control of welding parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/0956 using sensing means, e.g. optical
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/16 making use of shielding gas selection of media B23K35/38
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/32 Accessories earthing connections H01R
• 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 system and device for welding training. In one example, a welding training system includes a position detecting system configured to detect a distance between the position detecting system and objects within a field of view of the position detecting system, and to produce a map corresponding to the objects. The welding training system also includes a markers configured to be coupled to a device of the welding training system. Furthermore, the markers are configured to be detected by the position detecting system.

Claims

1. A welding training system comprising:

a position detecting system configured to detect a device distance between the position detecting system and a device within a field of view of the position detecting system, to detect a plurality of distances between the position detecting system and all other objects within the field of view of the position detecting system, and to produce a map corresponding to the device and to the other objects based at least in part on the detected device distance and the detected plurality of distances; and

a plurality of markers configured to be coupled to the device of the welding training system, wherein the plurality of markers is configured to be detected by the position detecting system to detect the device distance.

2. The welding training system of claim 1, comprising a processing device configured to determine a position of the device based at least partly on data received from the position detecting system.

3. The welding training system of claim 1, comprising a processing device configured to determine an orientation of the device based at least partly on data received from the position detecting system.

4. The welding training system of claim 1, comprising a processing device configured to determine a pitch of the device, a roll of the device, a yaw of the device, or some combination thereof, based at least partly on data received from the position detecting system.

5. The welding training system of claim 1, comprising a processing device configured to determine a travel speed of the device based at least partly on data received from the position detecting system.

6. The welding training system of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a welding torch having the plurality of markers coupled thereon.

7. The welding training system of claim 1, wherein the position detecting system is configured to create a three-dimensional (3D) point cloud, to detect the device distance between the position detecting system and the device within the field of view of the position detecting system based at least in part on the 3D point cloud, and to detect the plurality of distances between the position detecting system and all other objects within the field of view of the position detecting system based at least in part on the 3D point cloud.

8. The welding training system of claim 1, wherein the position detecting system comprises a commercially available off-the-shelf computer accessory.

9. The welding training system of claim 1, comprising a welding workpiece having the plurality of markers coupled thereon.

10. The welding training system of claim 1, wherein each marker of the plurality of markers is different in shape, size, or color, or any combination thereof.

11. A welding training system comprising:

a position detecting system configured to detect a device distance between the position detecting system and a welding torch within a field of view of the position detecting system, to detect a plurality of distances between the position detecting system and other objects within the field of view of the position detecting system, and to produce a map corresponding to the welding torch and to the other objects, wherein the other objects comprise a display;

a first plurality of markers configured to be coupled to the welding torch, wherein the first plurality of markers is configured to be detected by the position detecting system to detect the device distance; and

the display configured to present a virtual workpiece and a simulated weld on the virtual workpiece when the welding torch is moved along the virtual workpiece.

12. The welding training system of claim 11, comprising a processing device configured to determine a position and an orientation of the welding torch based at least partly on data received from the position detecting system.

13. The welding training system of claim 11, comprising a processing device configured to determine a pitch of the welding torch relative to the virtual workpiece, a roll of the welding torch relative to the virtual workpiece, a yaw of the welding torch relative to the virtual workpiece, or some combination thereof, based at least partly on data received from the position detecting system.

14. The welding training system of claim 11, comprising the welding torch having the first plurality of markers coupled thereon.

15. The welding training system of claim 11, wherein the virtual workpiece comprises a second plurality of markers, and the second plurality of markers is configured to be detected by the position detecting system.

16. The welding training system of claim 11, wherein the position detecting system comprises one or more emitters, an infrared camera, and an RGB camera.

17. The welding training system of claim 11, wherein the display comprises a touchscreen.

18. The welding training system if claim 11, wherein the virtual workpiece comprises a liquid crystal display screen, a computer monitor, or a television.

19. The welding training system of claim 11, wherein the display is synchronized with the position detecting system to minimize flicker.

20. The welding training system of claim 11, wherein the display is configured to present virtual guides to adjust a torch angle of the welding torch relative to the simulated weld, a travel speed of the welding torch relative to the simulated weld, or any combination thereof.