Method and apparatus for temperature characterization in welding

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11800604-B2
Application number	US-202117175812-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2021
Priority date	Aug 22, 2019
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

An example system for controlling heating of a workpiece includes: an interface configured to receive a target temperature (T T ) for the workpiece; a processor configured to: select a current temperature (T S ) for the workpiece based on monitoring one or more temperature sensors; and set a control temperature (T C ) based on the received target temperature and T S ; and a control system configured to: control heating of the workpiece via a heating device until the workpiece reaches T C as measured by at least one of the one or more temperature sensors, and controlling the heating device to stop heating the workpiece in response to the workpiece reaching T C ; wherein: the processor is configured to characterize a temperature ramp rate based on a measured temperature overshoot at the workpiece after turning off the heating device; and the control system is configured to control heating of the workpiece to T T by controlling the heating device based on the temperature ramp rate.

First claim

What are claimed:

1. A system for controlling heating of a workpiece, comprising:
an interface configured to receive a target temperature (T T ) for the workpiece;
a processor configured to:
select a current temperature (T S ) for the workpiece based on monitoring one or more temperature sensors; and
set a control temperature (T C ) based on a received target temperature (T T ) and the selected current temperature (T S ); and
a controller configured to:
control heating of the workpiece via a heater until the workpiece reaches the control temperature (T C ) as measured by at least one of the one or more temperature sensors, and control the heater to stop heating the workpiece in response to the workpiece reaching the control temperature (T C );
wherein:
the processor is configured to characterize a temperature ramp rate based on a measured temperature overshoot at the workpiece when the heater is off, the processor is configured to determine an interim temperature (T I ) based on the temperature ramp rate at an expiration of a timer, wherein the controller is configured to control heating of the workpiece to the interim temperature (T I ) by controlling the heater; and
the controller is configured to control heating of the workpiece from the interim temperature (T I ) to the received target temperature (T T ) by controlling the heater based on the temperature ramp rate.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to set the control temperature (T C ) to a temperature between the selected current temperature and the received target temperature (T T ).

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to select the current temperature for the workpiece based on a selection of at least one of the one or more temperature sensors via the interface.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
update the characterization of the temperature ramp rate in response to a change in the selected current temperature or a change in the one or more temperature sensors.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the heater is configured to heat the workpiece using induction.

6. The system of claim 1 , comprising a transceiver configured to receive the target temperature (T T ) via one or more of user interface, wired communication from another device, and wireless communication from another device.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the heater based on the received target temperature (T T ), the temperature ramp rate, and feedback based on the outputs of the one or more temperature sensors.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to output an alarm or alert in response to detecting at least a threshold reduction in the selected current temperature while the heater is heating the workpiece.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to select the current temperature for the workpiece as a highest temperature measured by the one or more temperature sensors.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors comprise at least one of an armored temperature sensing device, a spot-welded temperature sensing device, a thermocouple, or an infrared temperature sensor.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein, when the received target temperature (T T ) is greater than a current highest temperature (T H ) by at least a first number of degrees Centigrade, the processor is configured to set the control temperature (T C ) to:
T C =T H +m*(T T −T H ), where ‘m’ is less than or equal to 1 and greater than or equal to 0, and
when the received target temperature (T T ) is not greater than the current highest temperature (T H ) by at least the first number of degrees Centigrade, setting the control temperature (T C ) to equal the received target temperature (T T ): T C =T T .

12. A system for controlling heating of a workpiece, comprising:
an interface configured to receive a target temperature (T T ) for the workpiece;
at least one computer configured to:
select a current temperature (T S ) for the workpiece based on monitoring one or more temperature sensors; and
set a control temperature (T C ) based on a received target temperature (T T ) and the selected current temperature (T S ); and
control heating of the workpiece via an induction heater until the workpiece reaches the control temperature (T C ) as measured by at least one of the one or more temperature sensors, and control the induction heater to stop heating the workpiece in response to the workpiece reaching the control temperature (T C );
wherein the at least one computer is configured to
characterize a temperature ramp rate based on a measured temperature overshoot at the workpiece when the induction heater is off,
determine an interim temperature (T I ) based on the temperature ramp rate at an expiration of a timer;
control heating of the workpiece to the interim temperature (T I ) by controlling the induction heater; and
control heating of the workpiece from the interim temperature (T I ) to the received target temperature (T T ) by controlling the induction heater based on the temperature ramp rate.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one computer is configured to set the control temperature (T C ) to a temperature between the selected current temperature and the received target temperature (T T ).

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one computer is configured to:
update the characterization of the temperature ramp rate in response to a change in the selected current temperature or a change in the one or more temperature sensors.

15. The system of claim 12 , comprising a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive the target temperature (T T ) from another device.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one computer is configured to control the induction heater based on the received target temperature (T T ), the temperature ramp rate, and feedback based on the outputs of the one or more temperature sensors.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one computer is configured to output an alarm or alert in response to detecting at least a threshold reduction in the selected current temperature while the induction heater is heating the workpiece.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors comprise at least one of an armored temperature sensing device, a spot-welded temperature sensing device, a thermocouple, or an infrared temperature sensor.

19. A system for controlling heating of a workpiece, comprising:
an interface configured to receive a target temperature (T T ) for the workpiece;
at least one computer configured to:
select a current temperature (T S ) for the workpiece based on monitoring one or more temperature sensors; and
set a control temperature (T C ) based on a received target temperature (T T ) and the selected current temperature (T S );
monitor the outputs of the one or more temperature sensors at an expiration of a first time timer; and
control heating of the workpiece via an induction heater until the workpiece reaches the control temperature (T C ) as measured by at least one of the one or more temperature sensors, and control the induction heater to stop heating the workpiece in response to the workpiece reaching the control temperature (T C );
wherein the at least one computer is configured to
characterize a temperature ramp rate based on a measured temperature overshoot at the workpiece when the induction heater is off,
control

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Anderson Dylan
• Mehn Peter

Classifications

• H05B6/06 Primary

  Control, e.g. of temperature, of power · CPC title

• B23K13/01 Primary

  by induction heating · CPC title

• B23K13/08

  Electric supply or control circuits therefor · CPC title

• H05B6/08

  using compensating or balancing arrangements · CPC title