System and method for remote welding training

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9937578-B2
Application number	US-201514747690-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2015
Priority date	Jun 27, 2014
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

A welding system including a helmet having one or more sensing devices configured to detect a position and an orientation of a welding torch relative to a workpiece during performance of a welding session, and a controller coupled to the one or more sensing devices and configured to receive arc parameters corresponding to the performance of the welding session.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A welding system comprising:
a helmet comprising:
one or more sensing devices configured to detect a position and an orientation of a welding torch relative to a workpiece during performance of a live welding session; and
a controller coupled to the one or more sensing devices and configured to receive arc parameters corresponding to the performance of the live welding session.

2. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a data storage configured to store welding data, wherein the welding data comprises the position and orientation of the welding torch and arc parameters during performance of the live welding session.

3. The welding system of claim 2 , wherein the helmet comprises a network device configured to communicatively couple the data storage with a network, wherein the network device is configured to transmit the welding data to the network.

4. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to at least one of a welding power source, a wire feeder, and a welding torch.

5. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine one or more welding parameters of the live welding session based at least in part on feedback signals from the one or more sensing devices, wherein the one or more welding parameters comprises a work angle of a welding torch, a travel angle of the welding torch, a contact tip to work distance, a travel speed of the welding torch, an aim of the welding torch, or any combination thereof.

6. The welding system of claim 5 , wherein the helmet comprises a display, and the display is configured show a graphical representation based at least in part on at least one of the arc parameters, at least one of the welding parameters, or any combination thereof.

7. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the helmet comprises an operator identification system configured to receive identification information from an operator, wherein the identification information comprises a resettable identifier, a biometric identifier, a token, or any combination thereof, and the controller is configured to associate the received identification information with the position and orientation of the welding torch and the arc parameters during the performance of the live welding session.

8. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensing devices comprise a receiver, wherein the receiver is configured to receive energy signals emitted from markers disposed on the workpiece, the welding torch, or any combination thereof.

9. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensing devices of the helmet comprise an emitter and a receiver, wherein the emitter is configured to emit energy signals towards markers disposed on the workpiece, the welding torch, or any combination thereof, and the receiver is configured to receive energy signals reflected from the markers.

10. The welding system of claim 1 , wherein the helmet comprises motion sensors configured to determine an orientation and relative movement of the helmet within an environment during performance of the live welding session.

11. A welding system comprising:
a helmet comprising one or more sensing devices configured to detect a position and an orientation of a welding torch relative to a workpiece during performance of a live welding session, wherein the one or more sensing devices are configured to detect markers disposed on the welding torch, the workpiece, or any combination thereof; and
a controller configured to receive arc parameters corresponding to the performance of the live welding session, wherein the controller is coupled to the helmet via a wired or wireless connection.

12. The welding system of claim 11 , wherein the helmet comprises a memory configured to store the position and the orientation of the welding torch relative to the workpiece during the performance of the live welding session, wherein the controller is configured to receive the stored position and orientation.

13. The welding system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensing devices comprise an emitter and a receiver, wherein the emitter is configured to emit energy signals, and the receiver is configured to receive energy signals reflected from the workpiece, the welding torch, or any combination thereof.

14. The welding system of claim 11 , wherein the helmet comprises motion sensors configured to determine an orientation and relative movement of the helmet within an environment during performance of the live welding session.

15. The welding system of claim 11 , wherein the helmet comprises an operator identification system configured to receive identification information from an operator, wherein the operator identification system comprises a biometric scanner, and the controller is configured to associate the received identification information with the position and orientation of the welding torch and the arc parameters during the performance of the live welding session.

16. The welding system of claim 11 , wherein the helmet comprises a display, and the display is configured to show a graphical representation based at least in part on at least one of the arc parameters, at least one welding parameter, or any combination thereof.

17. The welding system of claim 16 , wherein content shown on the display of the helmet is based at least in part on a selected mode of a plurality of modes of the welding system, wherein the plurality of modes comprise a live welding mode, a simulated welding mode, a virtual reality welding mode, and an augmented reality mode.

18. A method of operating a welding system comprising:
emitting first energy signals from a welding helmet during performance of a live welding session, wherein the first energy signals are emitted towards a welding torch, a workpiece, or any combination thereof;
receiving second energy signals via the welding helmet during performance of the live welding session, wherein the second energy signals comprise reflected first energy signals from markers disposed on the welding torch, the workpiece, or any combination thereof; and
determining a position and an orientation of the welding torch relative to the workpiece during performance of the live welding session based at least in part on the received second energy signals.

19. The method of claim 18 , comprising showing on a display disposed within the welding helmet a graphical representation based at least in part on welding data, wherein the welding data comprises welding parameters, arc parameters, or any combination thereof, wherein welding parameters comprise at least one of a work angle of a welding torch, a travel angle of the welding torch, a contact tip to work distance, a travel speed of the welding torch, or an aim of the welding torch, and arc parameters comprise a weld voltage, a weld current, or a wire feed speed.

20. The method of claim 18 , comprising determining an orientation and relative movement of the welding helmet within an environment during performance of the live welding session based at least in part on feedback from motion sensors coupled to the welding helmet.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Becker William Joshua
• Beeson Richard

Classifications

• G06T11/26

  Drawing of charts or graphs · CPC title

• G09B19/24

  Use of tools · CPC title

• G09B9/00

  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

• B23K9/32

  Accessories · CPC title

• B23K9/0953

  using computing means · CPC title