Connection boxes for gas tungsten arc welding training systems
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorWilliam Joshua Becker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Connection boxes for gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) training systems are described. In some examples, a connection box of the GTAW training system coordinates delivery of welding-type power to a GTAW torch during training. In some examples, a remote control (e.g., foot pedal) may be activated at different levels to command different levels of welding-type power be delivered to the GTAW torch from a welding-type power supply. In some examples, the connection box may selectively enable or disable communication between the remote control and welding-type power supply during training. In some examples, this selective enablement/disablement may be based on whether the GTAW training system is in a live-arc mode or simulation mode.
Claims20
A connection box of a gas tungsten arc weld (GTAW) training system, comprising:
- a connection box housing;
- a power input port configured for connection to a welding-type power supply;
- a power output port configured for connection to a GTAW welding torch;
- a power line that constantly connects together the power input port and the power output port, the power line being housed within the connection box housing;
- a remote control input device configured to receive a remote control signal from a remote control for the GTAW welding torch, the remote control input device being at least partly housed within the connection box housing;
- a remote control output device configured to provide the remote control signal received at the remote control input device to a welding-type power supply when the remote control output device is coupled to the remote control input device, the remote control output device being at least partly housed within the connection box housing;
- a switch configured to selectively couple the remote control input device to the remote control output device, the switch being housed within the connection box housing;
- and control circuitry in electrical communication with the remote control input device, the control circuitry being housed within the connection box housing, the control circuitry configured to:
- receive the remote control signal from the remote control input device;
- provide a training signal representative of the remote control signal to a weld training controller;
- in a live arc mode, control the switch to selectively couple the remote control input device to the remote control output device to enable communication of the remote control signal to the welding-type power supply;
- and
- in a simulation mode, control the switch to selectively decouple the remote control input device from the remote control output device to prevent communication of the remote control signal to the welding-type power supply.
A method for operating a connection box of a GTAW training system, the method comprising:
- receiving, at the connection box, a remote control signal from a remote control of a GTAW welding torch via a remote control input device of the connection box, the GTAW welding torch being separate from the connection box, and the remote control input device being at least partly housed within a connection box housing of the connection box;
- providing, from the connection box, a training signal representative of the remote control signal to a weld training controller via a training connection device of the connection box, the training connection device being at least partly housed within the connection box housing;
- determining, using control circuitry of the connection box, a mode of the GTAW training system, the control circuitry being housed within the connection box housing;
- and
- in a live arc mode, providing the remote control signal to a welding-type power supply by controlling a switch of the connection box to selectively couple the remote control input device to a remote control output device of the connection box, the switch being housed within the connection box housing, and in a simulation mode, preventing the remote control signal from being provided to the welding-type power supply by controlling the switch to selectively decouple the remote control input device from the remote control output device of the connection box;
- and
- measuring, via a sensor of the connection box housed within the connection box housing, a current or voltage at a power line of the connection box, the power line being housed within the connection box housing, the power line constantly connecting together a power input port of the connection box and a power output port of the connection box, the power input port being configured for electrical connection to the welding-type power supply, and the power output port being configured for electrical connection to the GTAW welding torch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.