Arc welding simulator

Abstract

An arc welding simulator for instructional use includes a handpiece that supports a retractably mounted heat tube. The handpiece and heat tube are sized and shaped to resemble an actual electric arc welding apparatus, including an electrode. The simulator includes a drive mechanism for retracting the heat tube at a predetermined rate that simulates consumption of an actual arc welding electrode. A source of hot, pressurized air provides a stream of hot air through the heat tube. The simulator is used in combination with heat-sensitive paper that is preferably imprinted with a predetermined pattern resembling the pattern of movement that is followed during actual arc welding. A trainee uses the simulator by attempting to superimpose a thermal trace on the imprinted pattern. The resulting trace provides a permanent record of a trainee's success in tracking the imprinted pattern and correctly holding the simulator so as to maintain the tip of the heat tube positioned at a proper angle and distance with respect to the surface of the paper. In preferred embodiments of the welding simulator, a heating element is provided at the tip of the heat tube in combination with a small diameter air orifice tube so as to provide a narrow stream of heated air from the tip of the tube. Additionally, the simulator may be provided with a tilt switch and an acoustic alarm to alert the trainee when the simulator is moved from a predetermined angular position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.