Method and apparatus for assessing weld quality

Patent · 01 January 2001

OSTI ID:873758

Smartt, Herschel B ^[1]; Kenney, Kevin L ^[1]; Johnson, John A ^[1]; Carlson, Nancy M ^[1]; Clark, Denis E ^[1]; Taylor, Paul L ^[2]; Reutzel, Edward W ^[3]

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1. Idaho Falls, ID
2. Boise, ID
3. State College, PA

Apparatus for determining a quality of a weld produced by a welding device according to the present invention includes a sensor operatively associated with the welding device. The sensor is responsive to at least one welding process parameter during a welding process and produces a welding process parameter signal that relates to the at least one welding process parameter. A computer connected to the sensor is responsive to the welding process parameter signal produced by the sensor. A user interface operatively associated with the computer allows a user to select a desired welding process. The computer processes the welding process parameter signal produced by the sensor in accordance with one of a constant voltage algorithm, a short duration weld algorithm or a pulsed current analysis module depending on the desired welding process selected by the user. The computer produces output data indicative of the quality of the weld.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-94ID13223
• Assignee: Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC (Idaho Falls, ID)
• Patent Number(s): US 6236017
• OSTI ID: 873758
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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