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US 12,583,046 B2Granted
Tool based welding technique monitoring systems with multiple tool orientations
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorWilliam Joshua Becker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein are examples of tool based welding technique monitoring systems that provide an inexpensive, intuitive, and relatively robust way of tracking an orientation of a welding-type tool, and providing welding technique feedback based on the orientation. The system requires no sensors apart from a simple and/or relatively inexpensive sensor module that can travel with the welding-type tool, which makes the system highly portable. The system can also provide some feedback with minimal calibration, which can be valuable in situations where an operator forgets, or is unwilling, to take the time to fully calibrate the system. Additionally, full calibration of the system can be accomplished with a fast, simple, intuitive calibration technique.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- determining, via processing circuitry, a first joint characteristic vector and a second joint characteristic vector based on a joint orientation and first sensor data detected during a first time period by a sensor system attached to, or integrated with, a stick electrode holder;
- identifying, via the processing circuitry, an active electrode slot from a plurality of electrode slots of the stick electrode holder, the active electrode slot being identified as corresponding to a first electrode slot of the plurality of electrode slots, and the active electrode slot being configured to hold a stick electrode;
- tracking, in real time during a second time period, via the processing circuitry, an electrode orientation of the stick electrode based on the active electrode slot and second sensor data detected by the sensor system during the second time period;
- identifying, via the processing circuitry, a first welding technique parameter value based on the electrode orientation during the second time period and the first or second joint characteristic vector;
- determining, via the processing circuity, the active electrode slot corresponds to a second electrode slot of the plurality of electrode slots in response to an input;
- tracking, in real time during a third time period, via the processing circuitry, the electrode orientation based on the active electrode slot and third sensor data detected by the sensor system during the third time period;
- and
- identifying, via the processing circuitry, a second welding technique parameter value based on the electrode orientation during the third time period and the first or second joint characteristic vector.
5 more elements
A method, comprising:
- determining, via processing circuitry, a first joint characteristic vector and a second joint characteristic vector based on a joint orientation and first sensor data detected during a first time period by a sensor system attached to, or integrated with, a stick electrode holder;
- identifying, via the processing circuitry, a pivotal position, from a plurality of potential pivotal positions, of an electrode holding head of the stick electrode holder, the pivotal position being identified as corresponding to a first pivotal position of the electrode hold head, the electrode holding head being pivotable relative to a handle of the electrode holder, and the electrode holding head being configured to hold a stick electrode;
- tracking, in real time during a second time period, via the processing circuitry, an electrode orientation of the stick electrode based on the pivotal position of the electrode holding head and second sensor data detected by the sensor system during the second time period;
- and
- identifying, via the processing circuitry, a first welding technique parameter value based on the electrode orientation during the second time period and the first or second joint characteristic vector;
- in response to an input, identifying, via the processing circuitry, the pivotal position of the electrode holding head of the stick electrode holder as corresponding to a second pivotal position;
- tracking, in real time during a third time period, via the processing circuitry, the electrode orientation based on the pivotal position of the electrode holding head and third sensor data detected by the sensor system during the third time period;
- and
- identifying, via the processing circuitry, a second welding technique parameter value based on the electrode orientation during the third time period and the first or second joint characteristic vector.
6 more elements
A method, comprising:
- determining, via processing circuitry, a first joint characteristic vector and a second joint characteristic vector based on a joint orientation and first sensor data detected during a first time period by a sensor system attached to, or integrated with, a welding-type tool;
- identifying, via the processing circuitry, from a plurality of stored tool orientations, an active tool orientation of the welding-type tool, the active tool orientation corresponding to an electrode slot configured to hold a stick electrode or a pivotal position of an electrode holding head configured to hold the stick electrode;
- tracking, in real time during a second time period, via the processing circuitry, the active tool orientation of the welding-type tool using second sensor data detected by the sensor system during a second time duration;
- and
- identifying, via the processing circuitry, a welding technique parameter value based on the first or second joint characteristic vector and the active tool orientation of the welding-type tool.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.