Feedback from a welding torch of a welding system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10964229-B2
Application number	US-201816014162-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 21, 2018
Priority date	Jan 7, 2014
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

A welding system includes a welding torch. The welding torch includes a sensor configured to detect a motion associated with the welding torch, a temperature associated with the welding torch, or some combination thereof. A display of the welding torch is activated, a determination is made that the welding torch has been involved in a high impact event, live welding using the welding torch is disabled, a software selection is made, or some combination thereof, based on the motion, the temperature, or some combination thereof.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
selecting a parameter corresponding to a welding operation using a welding torch:
detecting the parameter corresponding to the welding operation using control circuitry; determining whether the parameter is within a first predetermined range, vibrating the welding torch at a first pattern in response to the parameter being within the first predetermined range;
determining whether the parameter is within a second predetermined range in response to the parameter being outside the first predetermined range; and
vibrating the welding torch at a second pattern in response to the parameter being within the second predetermined range, wherein the second pattern is different than the first pattern
wherein the welding torch is vibrated at a frequency that is different than a natural vibration frequency of natural vibrations that occur during live welding, to enable a welding operator to differentiate between the vibration in the first pattern or the second pattern and the natural vibrations that occur during live welding.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pattern comprises a first frequency and the second pattern comprises a second frequency different than the first frequency.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pattern comprises a first modulation and the second pattern comprises a second modulation different than the first modulation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pattern comprises a first amplitude and the second pattern comprises a second amplitude different than the first amplitude.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the welding operation comprises a live welding operation.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the welding operation comprises a simulated welding operation, a virtual reality welding operation, or some combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing audible indications in conjunction with vibrating the welding torch.

8. The method of claim 1 , comprising selecting the parameter using a user interface of the welding torch.

9. A method comprising:
selecting a parameter corresponding to a welding operation using a welding torch:
detecting the parameter corresponding to the welding operation using control circuitry; determining a representation of the parameter;
vibrating the welding torch based on the representation of the parameter; and providing an audible indication based on the representation of the parameter while vibrating the welding torch
wherein the welding torch is vibrated at a frequency that is different than a natural vibration frequency of natural vibrations that occur during live welding, to enable a welding operator to differentiate between the vibration in the first pattern or the second pattern and the natural vibrations that occur during live welding.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the audible indication identifies the parameter corresponding to the welding operation.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the audible indication identifies how to fix the parameter corresponding to the welding operation.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the parameter comprises at least one of a work angle, a travel angle, a travel speed, a tip-to-work distance, or an aim.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising showing, on a display screen of the welding torch, the representation of the welding parameter in relation to a target value or a threshold.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the frequency is approximately 3.5 Hz.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the natural vibration frequency is approximately 9 Hz.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising showing, on a display screen of the welding torch, a representation of the welding parameter in relation to the first predetermined range or the second predetermined range in response to the selection.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frequency is approximately 3.5 Hz.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the natural vibration frequency is approximately 9 Hz.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Becker William J
• Walker James M
• Erdmann Jeremy J

Classifications

• B23K9/0956 Primary

  using sensing means, e.g. optical · CPC title

• B23K9/10

  Other electric circuits therefor; Protective circuits; Remote controls · CPC title

• B23K9/30

  Vibrating holders for electrodes (B23K9/022 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23K37/006

  Safety devices for welding or cutting · CPC title

• B23K9/32

  Accessories · CPC title