Weld training system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9875665-B2
Application number	US-201414462286-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2014
Priority date	Aug 18, 2014
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

Systems and methods for a weld training system are provided. In particular, components of the weld training system may be removably disposed within an interior volume of a portable enclosure. The portable enclosure may be easy to transport by a welding operator from various training and/or recruiting locations. In some embodiments, the components of the weld training system include a weld training device, a work surface, a sensing device, a virtual reality interface, and processing circuitry.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A weld training system, comprising:
a weld training device configured to perform a virtual welding procedure on a simulated weld joint via an interface, wherein the simulated weld joint is simulated on a work surface;
a portable enclosure comprising a body and a cover;
an internal display attached to the cover and configured to provide a visualization of the simulated weld joint, wherein the portable enclosure is configured to be opened to provide access to the weld training device, the work surface, and the internal display;
the virtual welding procedure on the simulated weld joint configured to be performed on the work surface when the work surface is coupled to the portable enclosure and the portable enclosure is open;
a sensing device configured to detect position or orientation information of the weld training device via processing circuitry; and
the body of the portable enclosure comprising an interior volume and configured to support the work surface during the virtual welding procedure, wherein at least one of the weld training device, the work surface, the sensing device, or the processing circuitry are removably disposed within the interior volume, and wherein the portable enclosure is configured to be transported by an operator of the weld training system.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the portable enclosure is functionally self-contained and is configured to operate independent of an external computing system, an external display, an external power source, or a combination thereof.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises a wireless virtual vision device, wireless virtual gloves, wireless virtual audio features, or a combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the wireless virtual reality vision device is a virtual reality head piece worn by the operator of the weld training system, and wherein the wireless virtual vision device is configured to provide a visualization to the operator of the simulated weld joint within a virtual welding environment.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the wireless virtual vision device comprises virtual goggles, virtual glasses, a virtual helmet, or a combination thereof.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the weld training device comprises a virtual welding torch configured to simulate welding functions of a welding torch within a real welding operation.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the virtual welding torch is configured with wireless capabilities.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the virtual welding torch is configured with wired capabilities.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an external display operatively coupled to the portable enclosure, wherein the external display is configured to provide a visualization of the simulated weld joint.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a power source within the interior volume, wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery, a battery pack, a disposable battery, a replaceable battery, or a combination thereof.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the power source is configured to power at least one of the weld training device, the sensing device, the processing circuitry, the virtual reality interface, or a combination thereof.

12. A weld training system, comprising:
a weld training device configured to perform a virtual welding procedure on a simulated weld joint via an interface, wherein the simulated weld joint is simulated on a work surface;
a portable enclosure comprising a body and a cover;
an internal display attached to the cover and configured to provide a visualization of the simulated weld joint, wherein the enclosure is configured to be opened to provide access to the weld training device, the work surface, and the internal display;
the work surface comprising a coupon attachment, and the virtual welding procedure on the simulated weld joint configured to be performed on the work surface when the work surface is coupled to the portable enclosure and the portable enclosure is open;
one or more coupons configured to be operatively coupled to the coupon attachment disposed on the work surface within the portable enclosure during the virtual welding procedure;
a sensing device configured to detect position or orientation information of the weld training device based on the one or more coupons via processing circuitry; and
the body of the portable enclosure comprising an interior volume and configured to support the work surface during the virtual welding procedure, wherein at least one of the weld training device, the work surface, the sensing device, or the processing circuitry are removably disposed within the interior volume, and wherein the portable enclosure is configured to be transported by an operator of the weld training system.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the portable enclosure is functionally self-contained and is configured to operate independent of an external computing system, an external display, an external power source, or a combination thereof.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the weld training device comprises a virtual welding torch configured to simulate welding functions of a welding torch within a real welding operation, wherein the virtual welding torch is configured for wired or wireless communication with the processing circuitry.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the position or orientation information is provided as sensor feedback to the virtual reality interface, and wherein the virtual reality interface utilizes the position or orientation information to generate a virtual reality simulated welding environment.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the position or orientation information is utilized to determine one or more operating parameters of the virtual welding procedure.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the one or more operating parameters comprise a work angle, a travel angle, a contact tip to work piece distance, a travel speed of the weld training device, a proximity of the weld training device to the simulated weld joint, a simulated welding voltage, a simulated welding current, an orientation of the weld training device, a position of the weld training device, or a combination thereof.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to calculate a welding score based at least in part on the one or more operating parameters.

19. A weld training method, comprising:
operating a weld training system within a portable enclosure, wherein the portable enclosure is configured to be transported by an operator of the weld training system, and wherein operating the weld training system comprises:
performing, via a weld training device, a virtual welding procedure on a simulated weld joint, wherein the weld joint is simulated on a work surface via an interface, the work surface is disposed within the portable enclosure, and the work surface is removably coupled to the portable enclosure via a first hinge configured to position the work surface vertically within the portable enclosure or horizontally within the portable enclosure;
receiving, via a sensing device, position or orientation information of the weld training device; and
determining, via processing circuitry, an updated position or orientation information of the weld training device based on the received position or orientation information of the weld training device, wherein the updated position or orientation information is utilized to determine one or more current operating parameters of the virtual wel

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Beeson Richard

Classifications

• G09B9/00 Primary

  Simulators for teaching or training purposes (for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; {protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131}) · CPC title

• B23K9/322

  Head protecting means · CPC title

• B23K9/173

  and of a consumable electrode · CPC title

• B23K9/167

  and of a non-consumable electrode · CPC title

• B23K10/00

  Welding or cutting by means of a plasma · CPC title