Sensor-based power controls for a welding system.
Abstract
A welding system includes a torch motion detection system associated with a welding torch and that is configured to detect orientations or movements of the welding torch. The welding system also includes a processing system that is configured to vary the operation of an energy source based on the orientations or movements detected.

Term
8.8 yearsleft in the term
Expires 22 July 2035.
- Priority
- Filed
- Granted
- Today
- Expires
17 claims: 2 independent, 15 dependent
- 1REIVINDICACIONES 1. Un sistema tipo soldadura, que comprende:una fuente de energía;un sistema de detección de movimiento asociado con una herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura y configurado para detectar una orientación o movimiento de la herramienta o accesorio tipo de soldadura;y un sistema de procesamiento acoplado comunicativamente al sistema de detección de movimiento de herramienta y caracterizado porque está configurado para: determinar un cambio en la orientación o movimiento de la herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura antes de una demanda de energía de la herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura;determinar un tipo de herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura asociado con el sistema de detección de movimiento;con base en el tipo de herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura, seleccionar un nivel de energía suficiente para realizar una operación tipo soldadura utilizando la herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura;enviar una indicación para energizar la fuente de energía para proporcionar energía a la nivel de energía seleccionado, siendo el nivel de energía seleccionado suficiente para operar un proceso tipo de soldadura de la fuente de energía u herramientas de operador conectadas a la fuente de energía;determinar si la duración del tiempo excede un primer umbral o un segundo umbral;cuando la duración de tiempo excede un primer umbral, poner la fuente de energía en un primer estado de energía;y cuando la duración de tiempo excede un segundo umbral, poner la fuente de energía en un segundo estado de energía, en donde el primero y el segundo estados de energía son estados de generación de energía alterados a partir de un estado de energía inicial. 5
- 2El sistema tipo soldadura de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado además porque el poner la fuente de energía en el primer estado de energía comprende enviar una indicación a la fuente de energía para reducir la generación de energía a un nivel de baja energía que sea inferior al nivel listo cuando la herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura no se haya movido a lo largo de la duración de 10 tiempo.
- 3El sistema tipo soldadura de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado además porque el primer estado de energía comprende un estado ralentí de motor y el segundo estado de energía comprende un estado apagado de motor.
- 4El sistema tipo soldadura de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, .15 caracterizado porque comprende un transceptor configurado para transmitir información indicativa del cambio determinado de orientación o movimiento de la herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura.
- 5El sistema tipo soldadura de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado además porque el sistema de detección de movimiento comprende al 20 menos un acelerómetro.
- 6El sistema tipo soldadura de conformidad con la reivindicación 5, caracterizado porque el sistema de detección de movimiento comprende al menos un detector de velocidad angular configurado para medir cambios angulares de la herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura. 25
- 7El sistema tipo soldadura de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, ’ Λ ' ’ W * caracterizado además porque el sistema de detección de movimiento está configurado para determinar uno o más gestos predefinidos, y el sistema de procesamiento está configurado para cambiar un parámetro de proceso de soldadura correspondiente al progresar a través de una pluralidad de estados de proceso tipo de soldadura con base al menos en parte en uno o más gestos predefinidos determinados.
- 8El sistema tipo soldadura de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado además porque comprende una unidad de retroalimentación configurada para proporcionar una alerta de que la fuente de energía está lista para suministrar energía en uno o más niveles de energía.
- 9El sistema tipo soldadura de conformidad con la reivindicación 8, caracterizado además porque la alerta comprende retroalimentación háptica, visual o de audio.
- 10El sistema tipo soldadura de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado además porque comprende un recolector de energía configurado para proporcionar energía para la operación del sistema de detección de movimiento o del sistema de procesamiento.
- 11Un kit de ajuste retroactivo configurado para acoplarse a una herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura, que comprende:un sistema de detección de movimiento configurado para determinar la orientación o el movimiento de la herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura;un procesador acoplado comunicativamente al sistema de detección de movimiento de herramienta y caracterizado porque está configurado para: determinar un tipo de herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura asociado con el sistema de detección de movimiento;con base en el tipo de herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura, seleccionar un nivel de energía suficiente para realizar una operación tipo soldadura utilizando la herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura;enviar una indicación para energizar la fuente de energía para proporcionar energía a la nivel listo enviando la indicación para energizar la fuente de energía al nivel 5 de energía seleccionado;y enviar instrucciones a un suministro de energía para que la herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura para: proporcionar energía en respuesta al movimiento de la herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura o en respuesta a un cambio de orientación de la herramienta o 10 accesorio tipo soldadura, en donde las instrucciones comprenden instrucciones para reducir la energía proveniente del suministro de energía cuando el sistema de detección de movimiento determina que la orientación determinada corresponde a la orientación predefinida de la herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura.
- 12El kit de ajuste retroactivo de conformidad con la reivindicación 11, 15 caracterizado además porque el procesador está configurado para enviar instrucciones al suministro de energía para reducir la producción de energía cuando no se haya detectado ningún movimiento o cambio de orientación durante una duración de tiempo predeterminada.
- 13El sistema tipo soldadura conformidad con la reivindicación3, 20 caracterizado además porque la fuente de energía comprende un motor de combustión.
- 14El sistema tipo soldadura conformidad con la reivindicación1, caracterizado además porque el poner la fuente de energía en el primer estadode energía comprende poner la fuente de energía en el primer estado de energía desde un estado de operación. 25
- 15El kit de ajuste retroactivo de conformidad con la reivindicación 11, caracterizado además porque la orientación predefinida corresponde a una orientación indicativa de ralentí de la herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura.
- 16El kit de ajuste retroactivo de conformidad con la reivindicación 11, caracterizado además porque la orientación predefinida comprende la herramienta o 5 accesorio tipo soldadura que yace en su lado, siendo boca abajo, o que yace con un extremo de trabajo dando hacia abajo.
- 17El sistema tipo soldadura conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado además porque el sistema de procesamiento está configurado para determinar un tipo de herramienta o accesorio tipo soldadura asociado con el sistema de 10 detección de movimiento con base en una marca de herramienta asociada con el sistema de detección de movimiento.
Independent claims17
47 paragraphs in 1 section, as filed
Background of the invention
The invention generally relates to welding systems and, more particularly, to detection systems for controlling energy sources or accessories of a welding system using motion detectors.
Welding is a process that has become ubiquitous in various industries for a variety of types of applications. For example, welding is often done in applications such as shipbuilding, aircraft repair, construction, etc. Welding systems often include energy sources that can generate energy for consumption during the welding process. However, these energy sources can generate energy even when they are not necessary due to the inactivity of the welding torch. In addition, if the energy sources are inactive or produce reduced energy until a demand event is requested (for example, a trigger is pressed), there may be a period of time during which energy is desired but not available.
Brief Description of the Invention
In a first embodiment, a welding system includes a power source and a torch motion detection system associated with a welding torch and configured to detect orientations or movements of welding torches. The welding system also includes a processing system communicatively coupled to the torch motion detection system. The processing system is configured to determine the movement of the welding torch before a welding demand of the welding torch, and to send an indication to the power source to provide power at a generation level sufficient to operate the welding torch .
In another embodiment, a method includes detecting an initial orientation of a welding torch, through a torch motion detection system, and detecting subsequent orientations of the welding torch, through the torch motion detection system. The method also includes activating a power source associated with the welding torch if the power source is turned off and subsequent orientations differ from the initial orientation. In addition, the method includes activating a higher energy state for the energy source if the energy source is in a low energy state and subsequent orientations differ from the initial orientation.
In a further embodiment, a retroactive adjustment kit configured to engage a welding torch includes a torch motion detection system configured to determine orientations or movements of the welding torch. In addition, the retroactive adjustment kit includes a processor configured to send instructions to a power source for the welding torch to provide energy in response to the movements of the welding torch or changes in the orientations of the welding torch.
Brief description of the drawings
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the attached drawings, in which similar characters represent similar parts throughout the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a welding system using a power source and a welding torch with motion detectors.
Figure 2 is a flow chart of one embodiment of an energy control process that can be used by the welding system of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a flow chart of one embodiment of an energy control process that can be used by the welding system of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the power supply and welding torch of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a gesture control process that can be used to control the welding system of Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a welding torch 100 that can be used in the welding system of Figure 1.
Detailed description of the invention
As will be described in detail below, systems and methods for using motion detectors (e.g. inertial) in a welding torch are provided here to determine the probability of energy demand before actual demand to reduce delays in energy availability and / or waste of the energy generated. By determining that a welding torch is moving, the welding system can determine that the demand is almost imminent and that a higher level power generation state must be initiated even before explicit requests (for example, pressing a trigger on the torch). The generation of energy when the welding torch determines that the demand is almost imminent allows a source of energy to increase the energy in advance, thus reducing or eliminating an energy deficit available at the time of the initial demand.
Turning now to the figures, Figure 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a welding system 10 according to current techniques. The welding system 10 is designed to produce a welding arc 12 with a workpiece 14 (eg tube). The welding arc 12 can be generated by any type of welding system or process, and can be oriented in any desired way. For example, such welding systems may include metal gas arc welding (GMAW) systems, and may use various waveforms and programmed configurations. The welding system 10 includes a power supply 16 (for example, a motor driven generator in some embodiments) that will typically be coupled to a power source 18, such as an electrical network, a motor or a combination thereof ( for example, hybrid energy). Naturally, other energy sources, including generators, etc. can be used. In the illustrated mode, a wire feeder 20 is coupled to a gas source 22 and the power source 18, and supplies welding wire 24 to a welding torch 26. The welding torch 26 is configured to generate the arc welding 12 between welding torch 26 and workpiece 14. The welding wire 24 is fed through the welding torch 26 to the welding arc 12, cast by the welding arc 12 and deposited on the workpiece 14.
The wire feeder 20 will typically include a wire feeder control circuit 28, which regulates the feeding of the welding wire 24 from a reel 29 and orders the output of the power supply 16, among other things. Similarly, the power supply 16 may include a power supply control circuit 30 to control certain welding parameters and arc start parameters. In certain embodiments, the wire feeder control circuit 28 or the power supply control circuit 30 may include software, hardware or a combination thereof. For example, in certain embodiments, the wire feeder control circuit 28 and / or the power supply control circuit 30 may include a processor and memory configured to store instructions to be executed by the processor. In some embodiments, the wire feeder control circuit 28 can communicate with the power supply control circuit 30 through a welding cable 31 that is also used to supply power to the wire feeder 20. Reel 29 of the Wire feeder 20 will contain a length of welding wire 24 that is consumed during the welding operation. Welding wire 24 is advanced through a wire conducting assembly 32, typically by using an electric motor under the control of control circuit 28. In addition, workpiece 14 is coupled to power supply 16 by means of a clamp. 34 connected to a work cable 36 to complete an electrical circuit when welding arc 12 is established between welding torch 26 and workpiece 14.
Placing the welding torch 26 in a place close to the workpiece 14 allows the electric current, which is provided by the power supply 16 and directed to the welding torch 26, to form an arc of the welding torch 26 to the Workpiece 14. As described above, this arc formation completes an electrical circuit that includes the power supply 16, the welding torch 26, the workpiece 14 and the work lead 36. Particularly, in operation, the electric current passes from the power supply 16 to the welding torch 26, to the workpiece 14, which is typically connected back to the power supply 16 through the work cable 36. The arc generates a relatively large amount of heat that causes part of the workpiece 14 and the weld wire supply metal 24 to change to a molten state that melts the materials, forming the weld.
In certain embodiments, to protect the welding area from oxidizing or contaminating during welding, improving arc performance and improving the resulting welding, welding system 10 can also feed an inert protective gas to welding torch 26 from the source. of gas 22. However, it is worth noting that a variety of protective materials can be used to protect the welding site, in addition to or inert protection gas, or instead of it, including active gases and particulate solids. In addition, in other welding processes, such gases cannot be used, although the techniques described in the present invention are equally applicable.
Although Figure 1 illustrates a GMAW system, the techniques described in the present invention can be similarly applied to other types of welding systems, including tungsten gas arc welding (GTAW) systems and protected metal arc welding systems. (SMAW) Accordingly, modalities of the detector-based power supply controls can be used with welding systems that include wire feeder 20 and gas source 22, or with systems that do not include a wire feeder 20 and / or a gas source 22 (for example, modes in which the welding torch 26 is directly coupled to the power supply 16), depending on the specific considerations of the implementation.
The modalities currently described are directed to control based on detectors of the power supply 16. In some embodiments, the wire feeder control circuit 28 and / or the power supply control circuit 30 can control the power supply 16 based on derived inertial data using at least one accelerometer 38, a gyroscope detector 40 and / or a magnetometer <sup>;</sup> 'Ϊ!
(collectively referred to as detectors) located in, on or associated with the welding torch 26. For example, in some embodiments, the detectors may be located in a retroactive adjustment kit that may be mounted on the welding torch 26. In addition, in In some embodiments, circuit 30 can individually control the welding energy supplied by the power supply 16 based at least in part on the feedback of the detector. In certain embodiments, circuit 28 can individually adjust the wire feed rate based at least in part on the detector feedback. In other modalities, any of the circuits (28 or 30) can carry out its control and send a control signal to the other so that the other can carry out its control in other modalities.
In certain embodiments, the accelerometer 38 may include a single triaxial accelerometer capable of measuring dynamic movement, such as welding tissue. In other embodiments, the accelerometer 38 may include one or more orientation detectors (eg, accelerometers) to determine a change in the orientation of the welding torch 26 in one or more dimensions. For example, a two-dimensional position can be calculated with respect to a plane parallel to a direction of gravity based on two accelerometers. Using the accelerometer 38, the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feed control circuit 28 can determine that the welding torch 26 is in an active state (eg, vertical position) or an inactive state . For example, welding torch 26 may be considered inactive when it remains substantially motionless for a period of time in a position that indicates inactivity, such as lying on its side, upside down or lying with welding torch 26 directed downward.
In some embodiments, the gyroscope detector 40 may include one or
O / * more gyroscope detectors, such as a single triaxial gyroscope detector. The power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28 can use the gyroscope detector 40 to complement the accelerometer data 38 to measure low value movements, such as oscillatory movements used in certain processes welding (for example TIG).
In certain embodiments, magnetometer 41 may include one or more gyroscope detectors, such as a single triaxial magnetometer. The power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feed control circuit 28 may use the magnetometer 41 to determine changes in magnetic fields such as the movement of the welding torch 26 or other objects in the welding area.
Using data from one or more of the detectors, the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28 can control the power supply 16 to ensure that sufficient power is produced when an operator begins to use welding torch 26. In certain embodiments, the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28 can control the power supply 16 by implementing an energy control process 50, as illustrated in the figure two. In some embodiments, the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feed control circuit 28 may implement the process 50 by means of instructions stored in a non-transient, computer-readable medium (eg, memory) and executed by a processor The power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feed control circuit 28 receive indicative activity data (block 52). In some embodiments, activity indicative data may be received from welding torch 26 as data indicating that torch 26 has moved or that some other object (e.g., through magnetometer 41) has moved within the welding area. . As will be discussed later, the data can be transmitted to the power supply control circuit 30 and / or to the wire feed control circuit 28 through a transmitter located within the torch 26.
Upon receiving these indications of activity, the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feed control circuit 28 determines that the torch 26 is likely to be used (for example, that a depression of the torch trigger 26 , to start a welding arc, it can be imminent). Accordingly, the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28 determines whether the energy should be increased by determining if the power source is active and producing sufficient energy (block 54). For example, the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28 determines if a motor is producing enough power or if the AC line power is sufficient for welding. Because the power supply 16 may be beyond the operator's vision or ear, in some embodiments, if the power supply 16 is active and produces the desired energy, the welding system 10 may indicate that energy is available. enough (block 56). As described below, the available energy may be indicated by haptic, visual or audio feedback through the welding torch 26, a welding helmet or an external feedback device to an operator indicating that the welding system 10 is ready to provide a desired energy level. However, if the power supply 16 is not active or is not ready to provide a desired energy level (for example, the power supply 16 is idling), the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the Wire feeder control circuit 28 can cause the power supply 16 to turn on or increase the power consumption (block 58) of the input line energy, or motor power production. Once sufficient energy consumption has been reached, the available energy can be indicated to the operator through haptic, visual or audio feedback.
In addition, in some situations, it may be desirable to reduce energy during periods of inactivity. For example, if the power supply 16 includes a motor, the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28 may allow the motor to run or shut down when it receives indications of inactivity, reducing thus the production of energy based on a lack of demand detected. A typical form of inactive state is to disconnect the input power to the main power converter for the output, but it allows the control power to be connected for communications to the motion detectors and reconnect the main power. A typical power consumption of the main power converter is the magnetization current of the main transformer. By eliminating the power consumption of the main transformer, less energy is lost while welding torch 26 is inactive. In addition, when the power supply 16 includes a motor, the motor can be completely shut down when the welding or grooving tool is not in use. The power supply controls can be battery powered to communicate with the motion detectors and start the engine when the operator takes the torch ready for welding. An alternative is to run the engine at low speed for controls only but not enough to provide welding power but to increase at high speed when the torch is picked up or moved by the operator after periods of no movement. Often for rod welding, a high initial energy is needed for the first hundreds of milliseconds for arc ignition so the motion detector can drive the motor to go at high speed for the start of the arc, then lower to a lower speed for the rest of the weld. On the other hand, the increase in energy consumption using an engine may imply greater fuel consumption, engine wear and noise production, thus reducing energy consumption, being able to reduce fuel consumption, engine wear, production of noise and so on.
It is also possible to mark different motion detectors with energy levels for specific tools. For example, arc grooving uses a much greater energy than arc welding. It is possible that the movement of the grooving tool triggers a higher motor speed sufficient for grooving, and the movement of the welding tool will cause a lower motor speed sufficient to weld when the motor wakes from the idle state ( off).
Accordingly, Figure 3 illustrates an energy control process 60 that can be implemented by the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28. The power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28 may receive an indication of inactivity (block 62). For example, if the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28 determines that the welding torch 26 has remained substantially still or in a position indicating inactivity, such as set aside, upside down or resting with welding torch 26 down, for a given period of time. If the power supply 16 is active or produces power (block 64), the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28 determines whether an energy reduction duration has elapsed (block 66 ). In other words, in some embodiments, the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feed control circuit 28 may allow a certain amount of inactivity (for example, less than one minute) without controlling the energy production . In some embodiments, more than one duration may be used. For example, in some embodiments, the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28 may cause a motor to run after a first threshold (for example, 5 minutes) of inactivity is exceeded. and turn off when a second threshold (for example, 10 minutes) is exceeded.
Upon determination that the welding torch 26 is inactive for some period and the power supply 16 is producing unused energy, the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feed control circuit reduces production of energy (block 68). Otherwise, the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28 does not adjust the energy production. As discussed above, in some embodiments, the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28 can reduce energy in one or more stages. For example, the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28 can reduce a level of energy production at various idle intervals and cut off the power production after another duration of inactivity.
Figure 4 illustrates a block diagram view of one embodiment of a power supply 16 and a welding torch 26 that can be used to implement the energy control processes 50 and 60 described above. The welding torch 26 may include at least one of the magnetometer 41, the accelerometer 38 and the gyroscope 40. In some embodiments that have one or more of the detectors, a data fusion unit 70 can receive the measurements of the magnetometer 41, the accelerometer 38 and the gyroscope 40 and can merge the data for transmission through a transmitter 72. For example, a magnetometer 41 can detect changes in a magnetic field while accelerometer 38 detects movement. The data fusion unit 70 can merge the data using data from both detectors for a precise movement model of the welding torch. In some embodiments, the data fusion unit 70 can merge data from external detectors to welding torch 26 (eg, a light detector in the welding area) with internal detectors. In other embodiments, only one of the detectors can be trusted at a time without merging the data or having a data fusion unit 70. In some embodiments, the detector data can be transmitted by the transmitter 72 without first being merged such that the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28 can receive the data separately and analyze the information. In some embodiments, the data fusion unit 70 may include hardware, software or some combination thereof (eg, processor and memory storage instructions).
The transmitter 72 used to transmit information from the welding torch 26 to the power supply control circuit 30 and / or to the wire feed control circuit 28 may include wired or wireless connections. For example, in the illustrated mode, the transmitter 72 transmits detector data to a receiver 74 of the power supply control circuit 30 using the welding cable 31 that is used to power the welding torch 26. In certain embodiments, the wire feeder 20 may also include a transmitter, a receiver or a transceiver. In some embodiments, transmitter 72 can transmit detector data to receiver 74 using a separate data line from welding cable 31. In some embodiments, transmitter 72 and receiver 74 may include wireless communication radios configured to transmit and receive data. wirelessly For example, in some embodiments, transmitter 12. and receiver 74 may include transceivers configured to communicate through technologies.
802.11 (WiFi), 802.15.4, ZigBee®, 802.15.1, Bluetooth, Cellular Machine to Machine (M2M).
In some embodiments, the welding torch 26 includes a storage of torch energy 76 (e.g., batteries or chemical capacitors) that can be used to provide power to operate the detectors, the data fusion unit 70 and / or the transmitter 72. In some embodiments, the detectors, the data fusion unit 70 and / or the transmitter 72 can be at least partially operated by the power supply 16 when the power supply 16 is producing power. However, in certain embodiments, the welding torch 26 may also include an energy collector 78 that can be used to fill the torch energy storage 76 during the operation of the welding torch 26. The energy collector 78 cleans the energy (eg, electricity, heat, magnetic fields, etc.) from the immediate environment to power the detectors. For example, an inductive unit of the energy collector 78 can extract a small amount of energy from the fluctuating current in the welding cable 31 to charge the torch energy storage 76.
In some embodiments, a feedback unit 80 may be used to alert the operator that an energy level is being produced to allow the operator to determine if sufficient power is available to use the welding torch 26. In some embodiments, the feedback unit 80 may include one or more LEDs, one or more sound emitting units (eg, speakers), one or more haptic feedback units, dials, meters, other units suitable for indicating the availability of energy, or some combination thereof. The present embodiment illustrates the feedback unit 80 as part of the welding torch 26. In some embodiments, the feedback unit 80 may be located within a welding helmet, separated from the operator in the welding area, in the welding torch 26, or some combination thereof.
In some embodiments, detectors can be used to determine more than the presence of movement. In some embodiments, the detectors can be used to determine various gestures to a change in the welding process. For example, Figure 5 illustrates a flow chart of a gesture control process 90 that can be used to control the welding system 10. The welding system 10 receives a recognized gesture (block 92). In some embodiments, various gestures can be preprogrammed by the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28 or be learned later using welding torch 26. For example, gestures can include a horizontal slide (for example, left or right), a vertical slide (for example, up or down), a circular movement (for example, a clockwise or counterclockwise movement) , a torsion (for example, clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the torch 26), or other gestures that can be recognized by the detectors. In other words, the raw data generated by the detectors can be analyzed to determine when certain gestures are being performed by the operator using welding torch 26. In some embodiments, the gestures can be analyzed by a pre-processor (for example, the data fusion unit 70, in certain embodiments) prior to its communication to the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28. In other words, in such modalities, the raw data can be analyzed by the data fusion unit 70 and the data fusion unit 70 transmits which gestures are recognized to the power supply control circuit 30 and / or to the power circuit. wire feed control 28. In other embodiments, the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28 can analyze raw data from the detectors to recognize the gestures.
Upon receiving a recognized gesture, the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28 changes a corresponding welding process parameter (block 94). For example, if a rapid slip to the left or right is recognized , the power supply control circuit 30 and / or the wire feeder control circuit 28 may decrease or increase a corresponding welding parameter, such as voltage for MIG or current welding for protected metal arc welding (SMAW) and tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding. In addition or as an alternative, the welding parameter may include a current for the carbon arc grooving process (CAG), plasma cutting, or welding process, or a current for tools energized from auxiliary output of the source of energy, such as a grinder or pump. In some modalities, a recognized gesture can make the energy supply progress through a number of states.
Additionally or alternatively, if a circular movement in the clockwise direction or a twist in the clockwise direction is recognized, a motor of the power supply 16 may be started while the corresponding movements in the direction of The hands of the watch can turn off the engine from the power supply. Such gestures and associated actions are merely exemplary and are not intended to be limiting. Other resulting gestures and actions can also be used.
Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a welding torch 100 that can be used in the welding system 10 of Figure 1. The welding torch 100 includes a handle 102 for a welding operator to hold while It performs a welding. At a first end 104, the handle 102 is coupled to a wire 106 in which welding consumables are supplied to the weld. Welding consumables generally travel through the handle 102 and exit at a second end 108 opposite the first end 104. The welding torch 100 includes a neck 110 extending out of the end 108. In this manner, the neck 110 is engaged between the handle 102 and a nozzle 112. As it should be noted, when the trigger 111 is pressed or actuated, welding wire travels through the wire 106, the handle 102, the neck 110 and the nozzle 112, so that the welding wire extends out of one end 114 (i.e. torch tip) of nozzle 112.
As illustrated, the handle 102 is secured to the neck 110 through fasteners 116 and 118, and to the cable 106 through fasteners 120 and 122. The nozzle 112 is illustrated with a portion of the nozzle 112 removed to show the wire. welding 124 that extends outside a guide or contact tip 126 (or other guiding device). The guide tip 126 is used to guide the welding wire 124 out of the end 114 of the welding torch 100. Although one type of welding torch 100 is illustrated, any suitable type of welding torch may include indicator 128. For example, a torch having indicator 128 may be configured for protected metal arc welding (SMAW), arc welding Tungsten gas (GTAW), metallic gas arc welding (GMAW), and so on.
The welding torch 100 may also include one or more motion detectors 130 (eg, accelerometer) that can detect movement of or near the welding torch 100. As explained above, by detecting movement through the welding torch 100 , the welding system 10 can receive indications of activity or inactivity to control the corresponding energy management processes. In other words, relying on the detectors 130, the welding system 10 can produce energy when desired by increasing the production of energy before the actual demand (for example, trigger actuation 111) thus allowing the welding system 10 to reduce energy during inactivity without significant delay between energy demand and energy availability. For example, when detectors 130 detect movement, the power supply 16 can provide energy in anticipation of trigger depression 111.
Although the discussion above mainly discusses motion detection for a welding torch, some modalities may include motion detection for other tools or accessories. For example, motion detection can be used for any welding tool or accessory associated with a welding type process. As used herein, the type of welding refers to any process related to welding, such as welding, cutting or grooving. In addition, a welding tool or accessory can be any tool or accessory used in such processes. For example, welding type tools may include torches, electrode holders, machining tools or other similar tools that can be used in welding type processes. In addition, welding type accessories may include a helmet, jackets, gloves or other equipment that can be used in welding processes.
Although only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur for those skilled in the art. Therefore, it should be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all modifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of the invention.
CLAIMS
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Priority claims9
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14516281 | United States of America | – | |
| 201414516281 | United States of America | A | |
| 201414516281 | United States of America | A | |
| 2015041462 | United States of America | W | |
| 2015041462 | United States of America | W | |
| 14516281 | – | – | – |
| PCTUS2015041462 | – | – | – |
| US201414516281 | – | – | – |
| WO2015US41462 | – | – | – |
Members12
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2958203A1 | Canada | A1 | |
| US2016107257A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| WO2016060721A1 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A1 | |
| CN106794535A | China | A | |
| EP3206826A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| MX2017002035A | Mexico | A | |
| BR112017007848A2 | Brazil | A2 | |
| US10239147B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| CN106794535B | China | B | |
| MX364720BThis record | Mexico | B | |
| US2019168333A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| EP3206826B1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | B1 |
1 legal event, as the office reported them to INPADOC
Events
| Event | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Grant or registrationFG | FG |
Numbers
- Publication
- 364720
- Publication, DOCDB
- 364720
- Publication, EPODOC
- MX364720
- Application
- 2017002035
- Application, DOCDB
- 2017002035
- Application, EPODOC
- MX20170002035
Titles2
- Spanish
- CONTROLES DE ENERGIA A BASE DE DETECTORES PARA UN SISTEMA DE SOLDADURA.
- English
- DETECTOR BASED ENERGY CONTROLS FOR A WELDING SYSTEM.
Classification
- CPC, 3
- B23K9/1006
- B23K9/1087
- B23K9/0956
- IPC, 2
- B23K9 095
- B23K9 10