Stick welding electrode with real-time feedback features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11081020-B2
Application number	US-202016876426-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2020
Priority date	Aug 12, 2015
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

Present embodiments include systems and methods for stick welding applications. In certain embodiments, simulation stick welding electrode holders may include stick electrode retraction assemblies configured to mechanically retract a simulation stick electrode toward the stick electrode retraction assembly to simulate consumption of the simulation stick electrode during a simulated stick welding process. In addition, in certain embodiments, stick welding electrode holders may include various input and output elements that enable, for example, control inputs to be input via the stick welding electrode holders, and operational statuses to be output via the stick welding electrode holders. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, a welding training system interface may be used to facilitate communication and cooperation of various stick welding electrode holders with a welding training system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A stick electrode holder comprising:
a stick electrode holding assembly configured to hold a stick electrode; and
a status indicator of the stick electrode holder configured to provide feedback relating to one or more parameters of a welding process performed by the stick electrode holder, wherein the feedback is based at least in part on whether markers fixedly connected to the stick electrode holder are detected by a position detecting system.

2. The stick electrode holder of claim 1 , wherein the feedback is based at least in part on detection of a position, orientation, movement, or some combination thereof, of markers fixedly connected to the stick electrode holder by the position detecting system.

3. The stick electrode holder of claim 1 , wherein the feedback is based at least in part on detection of a voltage or amperage of welding power delivered to the stick electrode holder.

4. The stick electrode holder of claim 1 , wherein the feedback is based at least in part on a mode of operation of the stick electrode holder.

5. The stick electrode holder of claim 1 , wherein the status indicator comprises a light emitting diode configured to be illuminated based at least in part on the one or more parameters.

6. The stick electrode holder of claim 1 , wherein the status indicator comprises a haptic feedback device configured to cause vibration of the stick electrode holder based at least in part on the one or more parameters.

7. The stick electrode holder of claim 1 , wherein the status indicator comprises an audible feedback device configured to generate an audible sound based at least in part on the one or more parameters.

8. The stick electrode holder of claim 1 , wherein the status indicator is disposed proximate a distal end of the stick electrode holder.

9. The stick electrode holder of claim 1 , wherein the status indicator comprises a graphical range indicator configured to indicate where a parameter of the one or more parameters is with respect to a predetermined upper and lower limit.

10. The stick electrode holder of claim 1 , wherein the status indicator is configured to provide feedback relating to a plurality of parameters of the welding process performed by the stick electrode holder.

11. The stick electrode holder of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of status indicators on the stick electrode holder.

12. The stick electrode holder of claim 1 , wherein the stick electrode holding assembly is configured to deliver an electrical current through the stick electrode, wherein the electrical current is sufficient to generate a welding arc to a workpiece through a tip of the stick electrode during an actual stick welding process.

13. The stick electrode holder of claim 1 , wherein the stick electrode holding assembly comprises a stick electrode retraction assembly configured to mechanically retract a stick electrode toward the stick electrode holding assembly to simulate consumption of the stick electrode during a simulated stick welding process.

14. A stick electrode holder comprising:
a stick electrode holding assembly configured to hold a stick electrode during a stick welding process; and
a display device configured to produce a display of a plurality of visual guides relating to a position, orientation, or movement of the stick electrode with respect to a workpiece during performance of the stick welding process, wherein the display reflects whether markers fixedly connected to the stick electrode holder are detected by a position detecting system.

15. The stick electrode holder of claim 14 , wherein the position or orientation of the stick electrode is based at least in part on detection of a position, orientation, movement, or some combination thereof, of markers disposed on the stick electrode holding assembly by the position detecting system.

16. The stick electrode holder of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of visual guides comprises a graphical representation of the position and orientation of the stick electrode.

17. The stick electrode holder of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of visual guides comprises a circular target relating to work and travel angles of the stick electrode with respect to the workpiece.

18. The stick electrode holder of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of visual guides comprises a horizontal linear target relating to aim of the stick electrode with respect to the workpiece.

19. The stick electrode holder of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of visual guides comprises a vertical linear target relating to travel speed of the stick electrode with respect to the workpiece.

20. A welding system for a stick electrode, the welding system comprising:
a stick electrode holder configured to hold a stick electrode;
one or more markers fixedly connected to the stick electrode holder;
a position detecting system configure to track the one or more markers; and
a status indicator configured to provide feedback relating to one or more parameters of a welding process performed by the welding system, wherein the feedback is based at least in part on whether the markers are detected by the position detecting system.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Becker William Joshua
• Marcusen David Paul

Classifications

• B23K9/282

  Electrode holders not supplying shielding means to the electrode · CPC title

• B23K9/0956

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

• G09B19/24

  Use of tools · CPC title

• G09B5/02

  with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip · CPC title

• B23K9/0953

  using computing means · CPC title