Inventors:
Richard A. Morris - Severna Park MD
William E. Lukens - Annapolis MD
Charles A. Zanis - Bowie MD
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC
International Classification:
B23K 910
Abstract:
A weld metal cooling rate indication system is provided for a welding mace. The welding machine has a torch which is capable of producing a weld bead and has a speed sensor which senses the speed at which the torch travels as selected by an operator. The indication system includes a device for continuously sensing a profile of temperatures along the weld bead, this profile including a predetermined weld temperature. Another device receives the temperature profile and travel speed of the torch information for calculating and producing a signal which represents rate of change of weld temperature at the predetermined weld temperature. A range of acceptable rates of change of weld temperatures at the predetermined weld temperature is provided so that the rate of change of weld temperature at the predetermined weld temperature can be compared with this range. A device is then provided which is responsive to the comparing information for indicating whether the rate of change of weld temperature is within, above, or below the range of acceptable rates of change of weld temperatures. With this arrangement the welding operator can adjust the speed of the welding torch so that a proper rate of change of weld temperature is maintained at all times to increase the quality of the weld.