Remote detection of induction weld temperature
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsYannick Martijn Buser, Ulrich Sachs, Pedro Pablo Martin Alonso, Francis J. Samalot, Alexander Rubin
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for controlling welding. One embodiment is a method for controlling welding of a composite part. The method includes locating a linear fiber optic sensor along a composite part comprising a matrix of thermoplastic reinforced by fibers, measuring temperatures along the weld line via the linear fiber optic sensor, performing induction welding at the composite part along the weld line, determining a continuum of weld temperatures along the weld line, and controlling the induction welding based on the continuum of weld temperatures.
Claims22
A method for controlling welding of a composite part, the method comprising:
- locating a linear fiber optic sensor along a composite part comprising a matrix of thermoplastic reinforced by fibers;
- measuring temperatures along a weld line via the linear fiber optic sensor;
- performing induction welding at the composite part along the weld line;
- determining a continuum of weld temperatures along the weld line;
- and
- controlling the induction welding based on the continuum of weld temperatures,
- wherein determining the continuum of weld temperatures along the weld line comprises:
- determining sensor temperatures along the linear fiber optic sensor based on differences between a reference optical frequency shift and a weld optical frequency shift for each of multiple elements of the linear fiber optic sensor;
- and
- determining a weld temperature from each sensor temperature, based on a known relationship between sensor temperatures and welding temperatures, and
- wherein the known relationship is based on a material that the composite part is made from, a thickness of the composite part, a fiber orientation within the composite part, and a distance of the linear fiber optic sensor to the weld line.
An apparatus for facilitating welding of a composite part, the apparatus comprising:
- an end effector that generates an electromagnetic field which causes a weld line of a composite part to generate heat resulting in induction welding;
- a linear fiber optic sensor disposed at the composite part along the weld line;
- and
- a controller that measures temperatures along the weld line via the linear fiber optic sensor, determines a continuum of weld temperatures along the weld line, and controls the induction welding based on the continuum of weld temperatures,
- wherein determines the continuum of weld temperatures along the weld line comprises:
- determines sensor temperatures along the linear fiber optic sensor based on differences between a reference optical frequency shift and a weld optical frequency shift for each of multiple elements of the linear fiber optic sensor, and
- determines a weld temperature from each sensor temperature based on a known relationship between sensor temperatures and welding temperatures, and
- wherein the known relationship is based on a material that the composite part is made from, a thickness of the composite part, a fiber orientation within the composite part, and a distance of the linear fiber optic sensor to the weld line.
A method for controlling welding of a composite part, the method comprising:
- locating a linear fiber optic sensor along a composite part comprising a matrix of thermoplastic reinforced by fibers;
- measuring reference optical frequency shifts for a laser travelling from an end of the linear fiber optic sensor to elements within the linear fiber optic sensor before induction welding;
- performing induction welding at the composite part along a weld line;
- measuring reference optical frequency shifts for a laser travelling from an end of the linear fiber optic sensor to elements within the linear fiber optic sensor during induction welding;
- determining a continuum of weld temperatures along the weld line;
- and
- controlling the induction welding based on the measured reference optical frequency shifts before and during induction welding,
- wherein determining the continuum of weld temperatures along the weld line comprises:
- determining sensor temperatures along the linear fiber optic sensor, based on differences between a reference optical frequency shift and a weld optical frequency shift for each of multiple elements of the linear fiber optic sensor, and
- determining a weld temperature from each sensor temperature, based on a known relationship between sensor temperatures and welding temperatures, and
- wherein the known relationship is based on a material that the composite part is made from, a thickness of the composite part, a fiber orientation within the composite part, and a distance of the linear fiber optic sensor to the weld line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.