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US 12,734,618 B2Granted
Welding technique monitoring systems with sloped workpiece calibrations
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsWilliam Joshua Becker, Brett Sheleski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein are examples of tool based welding technique monitoring systems with sloped workpiece calibrations. Using two calibration steps (or one fluid calibrating movement), the disclosed system is able to monitor welding technique along a straight welding joint of any slope, be the slope 0/180/360 degrees (i.e., horizontal), 90/270 degrees (i.e., vertical), or any slope in between. The system provides an inexpensive, intuitive, and relatively robust way of tracking an orientation of a welding-type tool in relation to a welding joint and/or workpiece, and providing welding technique feedback based on the relationship.
Claims20
A method of monitoring welding technique, the method comprising:
- determining, via processing circuitry, a first joint characteristic vector based on first sensor data detected during a first time period by a sensor system, the first sensor data being representative of a tool orientation of a welding-type tool during the first time period;
- determining, via processing circuitry, a second joint characteristic vector based on second sensor data detected during a second time period by the sensor system, the second sensor data being representative of the tool orientation of the welding-type tool during the second time period;
- tracking, during a third time period, via the processing circuitry, the tool orientation of the welding-type tool using third sensor data detected by the sensor system during a third time period;
- and
- identifying, via the processing circuitry, a welding technique parameter value based on the tool orientation of the welding-type tool during the third time period and the first and second joint characteristic vectors;
- determining, via the processing circuitry, a slope of a workpiece or joint, or a travel direction, based on the first joint characteristic vector or the second joint characteristic vector;
- and
- providing feedback, via a user interface, based on the travel direction or the slope of the workpiece.
5 more elements
A method of monitoring welding technique, the method comprising:
- determining, via processing circuitry, a joint parallel plane, or joint perpendicular vector, based on first sensor data detected during a first time period by a sensor system;
- determining, via processing circuitry, a first joint characteristic vector and a second joint characteristic vector based on the joint parallel plane, or the joint perpendicular vector, and second sensor data detected during a second time period by the sensor system;
- tracking, during a third time period, via the processing circuitry, a tool orientation of a welding-type tool using third sensor data detected by the sensor system during a third time period;
- and
- identifying, via the processing circuitry, a welding technique parameter value based on the first and second joint characteristic vector and the tool orientation of the welding-type tool,
- wherein
- the sensor system is attached to, or integrated with, the welding-type tool,
- the tool orientation of the welding-type tool corresponds to a tool orientation vector defined relative to a sensor reference frame of the sensor system,
- the first or second sensor data is representative of the tool orientation vector or the sensor reference frame, or
- the sensor system comprises an inertial measurement unit comprising an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a magnetometer.
7 more elements
A weld monitoring system, comprising:
- a sensor system;
- and
- processing circuitry configured to:
- determine a first joint characteristic vector based on first sensor data detected during a first time period by a sensor system, the first sensor data being representative of a tool orientation of a welding-type tool during the first time period,
- determine a second joint characteristic vector based on second sensor data detected during a second time period by the sensor system, the second sensor data being representative of the tool orientation of the welding-type tool during the second time period,
- track, during a third time period the tool orientation of the welding-type tool using third sensor data detected by the sensor system during a third time period;
- and
- identify a welding technique parameter value based on the tool orientation of the welding-type tool during the third time period and the first and second joint characteristic vectors,
- wherein
- the sensor system is attached to, or integrated with, the welding-type tool,
- the tool orientation of the welding-type tool corresponds to a tool orientation vector defined relative to a sensor reference frame of the sensor system,
- the first or second sensor data is representative of the tool orientation vector or the sensor reference frame, or
- the sensor system comprises an inertial measurement unit comprising an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a magnetometer.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.