Thermal-Sensing Welding Helmet for Real-Time Heat Input Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing welding technologies face challenges in maintaining consistent heat input during the welding process, leading to inconsistencies in weld quality due to difficulties in adjusting heat parameters in real-time, which can result in defects such as internal cracking, stress, or increased pores in the workpiece.

Innovation Solution

A welding system and helmet equipped with a temperature sensor to detect thermal energy and generate thermal data, which is analyzed to provide control parameters for adjusting welding parameters like current, voltage, or wire feed speed, ensuring consistent heat input by communicating these adjustments to the welding system in real-time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If welding parameters are set to achieve maximum heat input, then welding productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inconsistent heat input and weld quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding speedVSAvoidheat input consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors workpiece temperature during welding and feeds this information back to the power supply controller, which automatically adjusts welding parameters to maintain consistent heat input. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables high welding speeds while preserving heat input consistency through real-time parameter modulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts welding parameters (current, voltage, wire feed speed) based on real-time temperature measurements. Rather than using fixed parameters, the system continuously adapts the welding process to maintain optimal heat input levels, enabling both high productivity and consistent weld quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If welding parameters are adjusted to maintain consistent heat input, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat input consistencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The welding helmet serves multiple functions: it protects the welder's vision, houses the temperature sensor, contains the control electronics, and displays process information. This multi-functional integration reduces overall system complexity while enabling precise heat input control through the embedded temperature monitoring and feedback capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system combines the temperature sensor, control electronics, power supply, and display into an integrated welding helmet unit. This consolidation of components into a single wearable device reduces the number of separate system elements while maintaining full temperature-monitoring and parameter-adjustment functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If real-time temperature monitoring is implemented, then manufacturing precision is improved through heat input control, but loss of time increases due to data processing and parameter adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweld quality consistencyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-establishes the temperature-monitoring capability and control algorithms before welding begins. The helmet is equipped with ready-to-use temperature sensors and pre-programmed control logic that automatically activates during welding, eliminating setup time and enabling immediate real-time adjustments without processing delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature monitoring and parameter adjustment operate continuously throughout the welding process without interruption. The system maintains constant surveillance of workpiece temperature and continuously modulates welding parameters, ensuring uninterrupted heat input control that prevents quality variations rather than correcting them after the fact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system achieves consistent heat input and improved weld quality by allowing for real-time adjustments of welding parameters based on thermal data, reducing defects and ensuring the heat-affected zone is maintained within tolerances, thus enhancing the reliability of the welding process.

Implementation Method 1

a thermal sensing device integrated with the shell and configured to sense thermal energy of the weld environment and generate thermal data based on the thermal energy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation detection: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP3395487B1Welding helmet with temperature detector, and welding system with such and welding helmet
Publication Date: 2021.12.22 LINCOLN GLOBAL INC
  • EP3395487B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3395487B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3395487B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present application relates to a welding system and a welding helmet (1510) having a thermal sensing device (1515). In particular, the welding helmet (1510) has a shell (1610) to be worn by a human welder to protect the human welder while viewing a weld environment through a viewing window (1620) of the shell (1610) during a welding operation using a welding system. A thermal sensing device (1515) is integrated with the shell (1610) to sense thermal energy of the weld environment and generate thermal data based on the thermal energy. A thermal analysis module is integrated with the shell (1610) to analyze the thermal data and generate control parameters. A transmitter device (1520) is integrated with the shell (1610) to transmit the control parameters to the welding system. The control parameters control at least one welding parameter of the welding system during the welding operation.