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US 8,316,462 B2Granted
Tip-to-work distance communication system for a welding mask
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsWilliam Joshua Becker, Kyle Andrew Pfeifer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system enables transmitting a torch angle and/or a torch-to-workpiece distance error to a welding operator when these parameters are outside of a preset optimal range via real time audio cues. Weld characteristics are communicated via audio signals, which indicate to the welding operator the direction and severity of the torch angle error. Audio cues, such as pulsed or continuous tones, are used to communicate torch-to-workpiece distance to the welding operator.
Claims20
A welding helmet, comprising:
- an audio device disposed in or on the welding helmet and configured to generate audio signals at a plurality of different pitches having a continuous or pulsed tone;
- and
- a communication system configured to receive information regarding an error in a detected tip-to-work distance and to activate the audio device to generate an audio signal having a pitch and/or a tone that corresponds to the error in the detected tip-to-work distance.
A method of supplying welding information, comprising:
- receiving data regarding a detected tip-to-work distance of a welding torch relative to a workpiece in a receiver;
- determining, in a microcontroller, whether the detected tip-to-work distance is within a preset tip-to-work distance range;
- determining, in a microcontroller, an error between the detected tip-to-work distance and a preset upper limit or a preset lower limit when the detected tip-to-work distance is not within the preset tip-to-work distance range;
- and
- activating an audio device disposed in a welding mask to generate an audio signal having a pitch that varies in correspondence with the determined error.
2 more elements
A welding mask, comprising:
- a viewing area;
- an audio device configured to generate an audio signal at a plurality of different pitches having a continuous or pulsed tone;
- and
- a communication system configured to receive information regarding error values for positioning of a torch relative to a workpiece, wherein the error values include at least one of an error in a detected tip-to-work distance relative to a first preset value, an error in a detected torch angle vector relative to a second preset value, and/or an error in a detected travel speed relative to a third preset value, wherein the communication system is configured to activate the audio device to generate the audio signal with a selected pitch and a continuous or pulsed tone each corresponding to the direction of the error values.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.