Virtual reality GTAW and pipe welding simulator and setup
First Claim
1. A system for facilitating simulated welding activity, comprising:
- a mock welding coupon;
a mock gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) tool;
a logic processor based subsystem operable to execute coded instructions for generating an interactive welding environment that emulates GTAW activity on a simulated welding coupon, which is based on the mock welding coupon, by the mock GTAW tool, wherein the interactive welding environment simulates a weld puddle on the simulated welding coupon responsive to performing the simulated welding activity in real time;
a spatial tracking subsystem operatively connected to the logic processor based subsystem and one or more first sensors configured to facilitate tracking movement of at least a tip of the mock GTAW tool in real time by communicating data about a temporally changing position of the mock GTAW tool to the spatial tracking subsystem,wherein the logic processor based subsystem accepts tracking information from the spatial tracking subsystem and determines when the tip of the mock GTAW tool simulatively intersects a surface of the simulated weld puddle during the simulated welding activity, and wherein the logic processor based subsystem is further configured to generate an indication, to be provided to a user, that the mock GTAW tool has simulatively become contaminated due to the intersecting.
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Abstract
A simulator facilitating virtual welding activity. The simulator may include a logic processor based subsystem operable to generate an interactive welding environment in virtual reality space that emulates welding activity by simulating a virtual weld puddle having dynamic, real time molten metal fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics, responsive to performing a simulated welding activity in real time. The simulator may include a foot pedal device in operative communication with the logic processor based subsystem and configured to affect a characteristic of the virtual weld puddle in real time, responsive to user control of the foot pedal device. The simulator may be configured to track the movements of a mock welding tool and a mock filler wire and determine interaction between the virtual weld puddle, a corresponding virtual welding tool, and a corresponding filler wire in virtual reality space that would result in the welding tool becoming contaminated.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for facilitating simulated welding activity, comprising:
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a mock welding coupon; a mock gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) tool; a logic processor based subsystem operable to execute coded instructions for generating an interactive welding environment that emulates GTAW activity on a simulated welding coupon, which is based on the mock welding coupon, by the mock GTAW tool, wherein the interactive welding environment simulates a weld puddle on the simulated welding coupon responsive to performing the simulated welding activity in real time; a spatial tracking subsystem operatively connected to the logic processor based subsystem and one or more first sensors configured to facilitate tracking movement of at least a tip of the mock GTAW tool in real time by communicating data about a temporally changing position of the mock GTAW tool to the spatial tracking subsystem, wherein the logic processor based subsystem accepts tracking information from the spatial tracking subsystem and determines when the tip of the mock GTAW tool simulatively intersects a surface of the simulated weld puddle during the simulated welding activity, and wherein the logic processor based subsystem is further configured to generate an indication, to be provided to a user, that the mock GTAW tool has simulatively become contaminated due to the intersecting. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for facilitating simulated welding activity, comprising:
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generating an interactive welding environment that emulates GTAW activity on a simulated welding coupon, which is based on a mock welding coupon, by a mock gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) tool, wherein the interactive welding environment simulates a weld puddle on the simulated welding coupon responsive to performing the simulated welding activity in real time; tracking movement of at least a tip of the mock GTAW tool in real time using one or more first sensors mounted on a helmet and communicating data about a temporally changing position of the mock GTAW tool; accepting tracking information related to the temporally changing position of the mock GTAW tool and determining when the tip of the mock GTAW tool simulatively intersects a surface of the simulated weld puddle during the simulated welding activity; and generating an indication, to be provided to a user, that the mock GTAW tool has simulatively become contaminated due to the intersecting. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification