System and method for pendant component for a welding system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10821539-B2
Application number	US-201815892533-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2018
Priority date	Nov 12, 2013
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

The invention described herein generally pertains to a system and method related to controlling a welding system having a tractor welder engaged with a track by utilizing a pendant component that is configured to receive an input from a user and displaying data via a graphical display. The pendant component includes one or more inputs that correspond to data displayed, wherein the one or more inputs include a first toggle switch and a second toggle switch, an encoder knob, a first set of buttons and a second set of buttons.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device, comprising:
a display configured to render screens for a graphical user interface;
a communication interface configured to communicatively couple the device to a welding system and to transmit information to and receive information from the welding system; and
a set of input devices configured for interaction by a user to supply input corresponding to the screens on the display, the set of input devices comprising:
a first toggle switch;
a second toggle switch;
an encoder knob;
a first set of buttons respectively configured for selection of a respective function respectively depicted the display in association with each button of the first set of buttons; and
a second set of buttons respectively configured for selection of a screen of the screens, that enables configuration of at least one welding parameter; and

the device further comprising:
a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor and storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, configured the processor to:
control the display to render a screen of the screens for the graphical user interface;
interpret interactions by the user with set of input devices based on the screen displayed on the display; and
direct communications with the welding system via the communication interface in accordance with input received from the user via the set of input devices.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein interaction with the first toggle switch by the user causes navigation on the graphical user interface.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein interaction with the second toggle switch by the user causes a change in value of a parameter selected on the graphical user interface.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein a screen, of the one or more screens, for the graphical user interface depicts a pair of parameters on the display such that user interaction with the first toggle switch causes a change in value of a first parameter of the pair and user interaction with second toggle switch causes a change in value of a second parameter of the pair.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to receive a value for a welding parameter from the welding system via the communication interface and display the value for the welding parameter on the display; and
the device is configured to transmit, to the welding system via the communication interface, an updated value for the welding parameter changed according to input received from the user via the set of input devices.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the encoder knob is configured for rotation by the user to control a movement of a torch of the welding system.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the encoder knob is further configured to be depressible by the user to cause a centering of the torch of the welding system.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the welding system includes a power source for a tractor welder, the torch, a motor for moving the tractor welder along a track, one or more motors for moving the torch, a wire feeder, and a weld power supply for energizing a wire supplied by the wire feeder.

9. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a casing for housing the display, the set of input devices, and the communication interface,
wherein the casing include an indented region to facilitate hand-held operation of the device by the user.

10. A hand-held device for controlling a welding system, comprising:
a display for displaying a graphical user interface;
a communication interface configured to communicatively couple the device to the welding system to enable transmission and reception of information to and from the welding system;
a set of input devices configured for manipulation by a user to interact with at least one of the graphical user interface or the welding system, the set of input devices includes:
a first toggle switch,
a second toggle switch,
an encoder knob,
a first set of buttons respectively configured for selection of functions respectively associated each button of the first set of buttons via the graphical user interface, and
a second set of buttons respectively configured for quick selection of a screen of the graphical user interface that enables configuration of at least one welding parameter; and

a processor coupled to a memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed, configure the processor to:
control the display to render one or more screens of the graphical user interface;
interpret input obtained from the user via the set of input devices in accordance with a state of the graphical user interface on the display; and
direct communications with the welding system via the communication interface to receive and transmit information.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein interaction with the first toggle switch by the user causes navigation on the graphical user interface.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein interaction with the second toggle switch by the user causes a change in value of a parameter selected on the graphical user interface.

13. The device of claim 10 , wherein the graphical user interface is configured to depict a pair of parameters on the display simultaneously such that user interaction with the first toggle switch causes a change in value of a first parameter of the pair and user interaction with second toggle switch causes a change in value of a second parameter of the pair.

14. The device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive a value for a welding parameter from the welding system via the communication interface and display the value for the welding parameter on the display; and
transmit, to the welding system via the communication interface, an updated value for the welding parameter changed according to input received from the user via the set of input devices.

15. The device of claim 10 , wherein the encoder knob is configured for rotation by the user to control a movement of a torch of the welding system.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the encoder knob is further configured to be depressible by the user to cause a centering of the torch of the welding system.

17. The device of claim 10 , wherein the communication interface is a wired interface and the device further comprises a connector to couple the device to the welding system.

18. The device of claim 10 , wherein the set of input device further comprises a third set of button configured to enable selection of a welding program by the user, starting of a selected welding program, and halting of an executing welding program.

19. A welding system, comprising:
a tractor welder configured to move along a track mounted adjacent to a pipe;
a welding torch mounted to the tractor welder and having an electrode configured to perform a welding operation on the pipe;
a wire feeder configured to deliver a welding wire to a weld puddle; and
a welding power supply configured to supply power to generate an arc between the electrode and the pipe; and
a pendant device configured to be hand-held operation by a user, the pendant device comprising:
a display for displaying a graphical user interface;
a communication interface configured to communicatively couple the device to the welding system to enable transmission and reception of information to and from the welding system;
a set of input devices configured for manipulation by a user to interact with at least one of the graphical user interface or the welding system, the set of input devices includes:
a first tog

Assignees

• Lincoln Global Inc

Inventors

• Cole Stephen R

Classifications

• B23K9/1087 Primary

  Arc welding using remote control · CPC title

• B23K9/0286

  with an electrode moving around the fixed tube during the welding operation · CPC title