Device for training welders

A device for simulating an arc welding operation comprising

• a video monitor having a screen on which images can be displayed including images for use in establishing operating parameters for a simulated welding operation and images including a simulated joint to be welded and an associated target image located adjacent to and movable along the simulated joint,
• a simulated welding tool having a handle portion and a tip portion with first sensor means thereon for positioning adjacent to the images on the screen to respond to selected parameter images appearing on the screen to produce changes in the corresponding operating parameters and second sensor means to respond to the target image appearing on the screen to produce corresponding target responses,
• first circuit means operatively connected to the first sensor means and responsive to the responses produced when the first sensor means on the tip portion is positioned adjacent selected ones of the parameter images on the screen for establishing simulated operating parameters, second circuit means operatively connected to the second sensor means and to the target responses produced when the second sensor means is positioned adjacent the target image appearing on the screen,
• said second circuit means producing responses when positioning the tip portion adjacent the target image during a simulated welding operation representative of arc length and tool orientation relative to target image.

An instrument for training, testing and/or evaluating persons who do welding comprising,

• a video monitor having a cathode ray tube with a screen portion,
• means for generating set up images on the monitor screen including images to represent selected parameters representative of parameters of an actual welding operation such as arc length and arc angular orientation and an image to represent a simulated joint to be welded with a target image movable therealong,
• a tool representative of an actual welding tool having a handle portion, and a tip portion, said tool to be held and the tip portion manipulated adjacent to the screen by a person to be trained, tested and/or evaluated,
• first and second sensor means on the tip portion of the tool sensitive to selected distinct images appearing on the screen, the first sensor means producing responses representative of arc length and arc orientation when the tool is held and the tip portion moved to a position adjacent to the target image, the second sensor means producing responses representative of set up images appearing on the screen when positioned adjacent selected parameter images.

A device for simulating an arc welding operation comprising

• a video monitor including a cathode ray tube having means forming a tube anode on the inner surface thereof and having a screen on which images are generated including images for use in establishing operating parameters for a simulated welding operation and images including a simulated joint to be welded and an associated target image located adjacent to and movable along the simulated joint,
• a simulated welding tool having a handle portion and a tip portion with means thereon for positioning adjacent to the images on the screen,
• circuit means responsive to positioning of the tip portion adjacent selected images on the screen for establishing simulated operating parameters, and
• other circuit means responsive to positioning the tip portion adjacent the target image during a simulated welding operation to produce responses representative of arc length and tool orientation relative to target image, the position of the tip portion of the simulated tool relative to the tube anode producing electromagnetic response signals representative of the spacing between the tip portion and the target image and representative of the orientation of the tool relative to the target image.

An instrument for training, testing and/or evaluating persons who do welding comprising,

• a video monitor having a cathode ray tube with a screen portion,
• means for generating set up images on the monitor screen including images to represent selected parameters representative of parameters of an actual welding operation,
• a tool representative of an actual welding tool having a handle portion, and a tip portion, said tool to be held and manipulated by a person to be trained, tested and/or evaluated,
• means on the tip portion of the tool sensitive to selected images appearing on the screen for producing responses representative of arc length and orientation when the tool is held and the tip portion moved to a position adjacent selected ones of the images, the cathode ray tube including a closed tube with a front wall having a layer of material including a conductive material formed on the inner surface thereof to form a tube anode.