Grinding assembly, grinding apparatus, weld joint defect repair system, and methods

A grinder apparatus for grinding a weld joint of a workpiece, comprising:

• an inspection assembly configured to inspect a weld joint of the workpiece to identify weld joint defects:
• a grinding wheel configured to grind the weld joint and configured to be driven by a motor;
• circuitry configured to receive weld defect information of the weld joint from the inspection assembly to create a grinding profile and to cause the grinding wheel to grind the weld joint based on the weld defect information from the inspection assembly;
• and
• a sensor assembly in communication with the motor, the sensor assembly configured to detect a contact between the grinding wheel and the workpiece to operate the grinding wheel to grind the weld joint.

A weld joint defect repair system, comprising:

• an inspection assembly having a first processor in communication therewith, the inspection assembly configured to inspect weld joints of a workpiece to identify weld joint defects;
• a grinding assembly having a grinding apparatus and second processor in communication therewith, the second processor configured to receive information related to the weld joint defects from the first processor, the second processor further configured to create a distinct contour grinding profile based on the received information, the grinding apparatus including:
• a grinding wheel configured to grind the weld joints to rectify the weld joint defects;
• a removably attachable member configured to detachably receive individual ones of a plurality of tools including the grinding wheel;
• and
• a sensor assembly configured to detect a contact between the grinding wheel and the workpiece to operate the grinding wheel to grind the weld joints based on the contour grinding profile created by the second processor;
• and
• a welding assembly having a third processor in communication with the welding assembly and the first and second processors, the third processor configured to receive information related to the weld joint defects from the first processor and a contact location of the grinding wheel with the workpiece from the second processor, the third processor further configured to manipulate at least one of the workpiece or a platform carrying the inspection assembly, the grinding assembly, and the welding assembly in order to accurately position the grinding wheel and the workpiece to grind the weld joints to rectify the weld joint defects.

A method of correcting weld joint defects of an object, comprising:

• machine inspecting a weld joint of the object to determine a defect;
• collecting information corresponding to the defect;
• providing the collected information to a grinding assembly having a grinder apparatus and a processing circuitry that is in communication with the grinder apparatus, the grinder apparatus having a grinding wheel, a sensor switch, and a manipulator arm configured to carry the grinding wheel;
• generating a contour grinding profile based on the collected information to grind the weld joint to rectify the defect;
• rotating one of the object and a platform carrying the grinding assembly to position the grinding wheel to grind the weld joint;
• and
• operating the grinding wheel based on the contour grinding profile to remove the defect of the weld joint.