WO2001081037A1

WO2001081037A1 - Aid for welding or cutting

Info

Publication number: WO2001081037A1
Application number: PCT/AU2000/000789
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dennis James O'connell
Original assignee: Connell Dennis James O
Priority date: 2000-04-26
Filing date: 2000-06-30
Publication date: 2001-11-01
Also published as: CA2445544A1; NZ522758A; AU2005100981A4; EP1294525A1

Abstract

Products for aiding welding or high temperature cuttingoperations comprise a workpiece marker and a welding or cuttingaid system. The marker includes a luminescent material which isexcited by UV radiation generated during arc welding to emitlight in the visible spectrum, e.g. orange light. The aidsystem includes a light filter matched to the visible emissionwavelength of the marker interposed in the light path, e.g.adjacent the dark filter of a welder's mask. The marker is usedto mark a weld or cutting path trace visible to the welderduring the operation. A method of aiding a welding or cuttingoperation using the marker and matched light filter is also provided.

Description

AID FOR WELDING OR CUTTING

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to products and methods for aiding welding or high

temperature cutting operations.

Background of the invention

Prior to welding or high temperature cutting operations, it is known to use chalk as a

marker for creating markings on a workpiece, such as the path which the weld or cut is to

follow. However the mask which the operator interposes to protect the eyesight includes a

dark filter to substantially attenuate the very intense electromagnetic radiation from the

welding or cutting site. This can make it very difficult or impossible for the operator to see

the chalk markings during the welding or cutting operation. As a result, the weld or cut is

frequently inaccurate and sometimes it is necessary for the operation to be performed again

to achieve the required standard of accuracy or neatness. Also, the difficulty of seeing the

chalk markings often means that the operator stops the operation, removes the mask to

inspect the progress of the operation before resuming. These interruptions can significantly

increase the time taken for the welding or cutting operation.

Object of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide products and methods which can

enable a person carrying out a welding or high temperature cutting operation to see markings

on a workpiece during the welding or cutting operation.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a workpiece marker for

use in a welding or high temperature cutting operation, the marker including a luminescent

material in a form or medium for application to a workpiece, the luminescent material having the property of enabling creation of markings on the workpiece which are visible during the

welding or cutting operation through eyesight protecting means of the operator to thereby

provide a visible aid for the welding or cutting operation.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a welding or cutting

aid system for aiding a welding or high temperature cutting operation, the system including:

a workpiece marker which includes a luminescent material in a form or medium for

application to a workpiece, the luminescent material having the property of enabling creation

of markings on the workpiece which are visible during the welding or cutting operation

through eyesight protecting means of the operator, and a light filter to be interposed in use

between the workpiece and the operator's eyes, the light filter being translucent to a band of

frequencies which includes the frequency or frequencies of visible light emission of the

luminescent material of the marker, the light filter substantially attenuating radiation at

frequencies spaced from said band of frequencies.

According to a tl ird aspect of the invention there is provided a method of aiding a

welding or high temperature cutting operation being carried out on a workpiece, the method

including the steps of: applying to the workpiece a luminescent material so as to

create markings on the workpiece at locations intended to guide or inform an operator

monitoring or controlling the welding or cutting operation, the luminescent material having

the property of emitting visible radiation, when excited during the welding or cutting

operation, and conducting a welding or high temperature cutting operation on the workpiece

while viewing the workpiece through an eyesight protector apparatus, the eyesight protector

apparatus being translucent to a band of frequencies which includes the frequency or

frequencies of visible light emission of the luminescent material, and controlling the welding or cutting operation in accordance with the visible markings of luminescent material on the

workpiece.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

In the embodiments of the invention, preferably the luminescent material which

enables creation of markings on the workpieces emits radiation in the visible spectrum upon

excitation during the welding or cutting operation. In particular, it is preferable that the

welding or cutting operation generates the exciting radiation which stimulates the

luminescent material to emit the visible radiation.

The products and methods of the present invention are particularly applicable to arc

weldmg including stick welding, TIG welding and MIG weldmg or plasma cutting

operations. It is possible that the principles of the invention may be applicable to other types

of welding or cutting operations but the radiation generated in other types of welding and

cutting may not be as readily amenable to stimulating or exciting a luminescent material to

emit sufficient light in the visible part of the spectrum. In the preferred or expected principal

field of use in which the welding or cutting operation includes generation of an electric arc,

the radiation being emitted by the arc preferably constitutes the exciting radiation which

impinges on the luminescent material to stimulate it to emit the visible radiation. For

example, the luminescent material may be excited by ultraviolet radiation emitted by the

electric arc to emit the visible radiation.

The luminescent material may be a fluorescent material, or may be a phosphorescent

material.

Preferably the luminescent material emits visible radiation in the middle or higher

wavelengths of the visible spectrum, particularly in the yellow to orange to red regions of the

visible spectrum. The luminescent material may for example emit light predominantly in the range of wavelengths from 580 nm to 660 nm, e.g. primarily at or around about 620 nm

(orange-red). The yellow to orange to red region of the visible spectrum is preferred since it

is found that these colours are more readily visible in or through the fume or smoke created

during the welding or cutting operations than colours towards the blue-violet end of the

spectrum.

Suitable luminescent materials can be chosen from organic and inorganic materials,

and from liquid or solid formulations, having the required excitation and emission properties.

Organic dyes known as "daylight fluorescent pigments" can provide suitable markers.

Rhodamine and fluorescein dyes may be suitable, although specific and optimum fluorescent

materials have not been identified at this stage of development. It is expected however that

an ordinarily skilled chemist could readily identify suitable materials by reference to

published properties for luminescent materials or by routine empirical testing.

The workpiece marker preferably further includes a filler mixed with the luminescent

material. The filler may be a solid material whereby the workpiece marker can be held by

hand and manipulated by a user to apply the markings to the workpiece. Preferably, the filler

itself creates a marking on the workpiece which is visible in daylight or other illumination

conditions enabling human visibility of the markings formed by the filler. The filler may

comprise chalk in a particulate form mixed with the luminescent material. In the case of a

luminescent material in solid solution or suspended in a solid transparent material such as an

organic resin, the chalk may be mixed in a proportion of 60%o by weight with 40% by weight

of the resin/luminescent material particles.

The workpiece marker may further include a binder which binds the luminescent

material in a solid form which can be held and manipulated by a user to apply the markings

to the workpiece. The binder may comprise a resin material which is substantially translucent to the visible radiation emitted by the luminescent material making the markings

on the workpiece visible during the welding or cutting operation. A suitable resin binder

may be a thermosetting or thermoplastic resin binder. Melamine sulphonamide

formaldehyde resin may be suitable as a carrier or medium for the luminescent material

and/or as a binder for the chalk and active material mixture.

As mentioned above in the summary of the invention, the second aspect of the

invention provides a welding or cutting aid system for aiding a welding or high temperature

cutting operation, the system including: a workpiece marker which includes a luminescent

material in a form or medium for application to a workpiece, the luminescent material having

the property of enabling creation of markings on the workpiece which are visible during the

welding or cutting operation through eyesight protecting means of the operator, and a light

filter to be interposed in use between the workpiece and the operator's eyes, the light filter

being translucent to a band of frequencies which includes the frequency or frequencies of

visible light emission of the luminescent material of the marker, the light filter substantially

attenuating radiation at frequencies spaced from said band of frequencies.

The light filter preferably includes a panel of coloured light filter material to be

interposed in use between the workpiece and the eyes of the operator, the panel being

arranged to be mounted by the eyesight protecting means through which the operator views

the welding or cutting operation. In the case of a conventional eyesight protecting means

which comprises a mask having a window through which the operator views the welding or

cutting operation, the window is provided with a dark filter medium interposed in the light

path to reduce the intensity of light from the welding or cutting operation reaching the

operator's eyes, and is also provided with the light filter additionally interposed in the light

path from the site of the welding or cutting operation to the operator's eyes. The dark filter may be the conventional dark glass which cuts out ultraviolet and infrared radiation and

substantially attenuates visible radiation so as to protect the operator's eyes. The light filter

can be also a panel, e.g. of the standard 180 mm by 50 mm size, to fit into the mountings

provided by welder's masks for the dark filter. The light filter is desirably selected to pass

light at frequencies or wavelengths which the dark filter also passes and also if desired to

substantially attenuate UV and/or IR radiation. The frequencies that the light filter passes

preferably match the visible emission frequencies of the luminescent material. For example

for luminescent material emitting at a wavelength of about 620 nm, an orange-red light filter

would be preferred.

The light filter may be a lighting gel of the kind used for projecting coloured light

such as in theatre stage lighting, the lighting gel having a characteristic colour substantially

matched to the colour of visible light emission of the luminescent material. For the

suggested orange-red luminescent material emissions, an "Amber-rose No. 22" gel filter is

suitable.

The light filter enhances the visibility of the markings on the workpiece by

attenuating or cutting out other wavelengths and helping the operator's eyes be more sensitive

to the wavelength of the emissions from the luminescent material.

Also as mentioned above in the summary of the invention, the third aspect of the

invention provides a method of aiding a weldmg or high temperature cutting operation being

carried out on a workpiece, the method including the steps of: applying to the workpiece a

luminescent material so as to create markings on the workpiece at locations intended to guide

or inform an operator monitoring or controlling the welding or cutting operation, the

luminescent material having the property of emitting visible radiation, when excited during

the welding or cutting operation, and conducting a^" welding or high temperature cutting operation on the workpiece while viewing the workpiece through an eyesight protector

apparatus, the eyesight protector apparatus being translucent to a band of frequencies which

includes the frequency or frequencies of visible light emission of the luminescent material,

and controlling the welding or cutting operation in accordance with the visible markings of

luminescent material on the workpiece.

The most common situation for application of the method of the invention would be

where the visible markings applied to the workpiece define or at least include a welding or

cutting path which the welding or cutting operation is to follow. However, other marks such

as prompts for the nature or location of the welds and/or cuts can also be used.

In the preferred method, the step of applying markings comprises the application of

markings to the workpiece using a workpiece marker according to the first aspect of the

invention.

Likewise in the preferred method the steps of applying the markings and conducting

the weldmg or cutting operation comprises using an aid system according to the second

aspect of the invention by application of markings to the workpiece using the workpiece

marker of the aid system and interposing the light filter in the light path during the welding

or cutting operation.

It is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be

made to the features of the possible and preferred embodiment(s) of the invention as herein

described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the

following claims.

Claims

1. A workpiece marker for use in a welding or high temperature cutting operation, the

marker including a luminescent material in a form or medium for application to a workpiece,

the luminescent material having the property of enabling creation of markings on the

workpiece which are visible during the welding or cutting operation through eyesight

protecting means of the welder to thereby provide a visible aid for the welding or cutting

operation.

2. A workpiece marker as claimed in claim 1 wherein the luminescent material emits

radiation in the visible spectrum upon excitation during the welding or cutting operation.

3. A workpiece marker as claimed in claim 2 wherein the weldmg or cutting operation

generates the exciting radiation which stimulates the luminescent material to emit the visible

radiation.

4. A workpiece marker as claimed in claim 3 wherein the welding or cutting operation

includes generation of an electric arc, the radiation being emitted by the arc constituting the

exciting radiation which impinges on the luminescent material to stimulate it to emit the

visible radiation.

5. A workpiece marker as claimed in claim 4 wherein the luminescent material is

excited by ultraviolet radiation emitted by the electric arc to emit the visible radiation.

6. A workpiece marker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the

luminescent material is a fluorescent material.

7. A workpiece marker as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the luminescent

material is a phosphorescent material.

8. A workpiece marker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the

luminescent material emits visible radiation in the middle or higher wavelengths of the

visible spectrum.

9. A workpiece marker as claimed in claim 8 wherein the luminescent material emits

visible radiation in the yellow to orange to red regions of the visible spectrum.

10. A workpiece marker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and further

including a filler mixed with the luminescent material.

11. A workpiece marker as claimed in claim 10 wherein the filler is a solid material

whereby the workpiece marker can be held by hand and manipulated by a user to apply the

markings to the workpiece.

12. A workpiece marker as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein the filler itself creates a

marking on the workpiece which is visible in daylight or other illimiination conditions

enabling human visibility of the markings formed by the filler.

13. A workpiece marker as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein the filler

comprises chalk in a particulate form mixed with the luminescent material.

14. A workpiece marker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and further

including a binder which binds the luminescent material in a solid form which can be held

and manipulated by a user to apply the markings to the workpiece.

15. A workpiece marker as claimed in claim 14 wherein the binder comprises a resin

material which is substantially translucent to the visible radiation emitted by the luminescent

material making the markings on the workpiece visible during the welding or cutting

operation.

16. A welding or cutting aid system for aiding a welding or high temperature cutting

operation, the system including: a workpiece marker which includes a luminescent material in a form or medium for

through eyesight protecting means of the operator, and

a light filter to be interposed in use between the workpiece and the operator's eyes, the

light filter being translucent to a band of frequencies which includes the frequency or

frequencies of visible light emission of the luminescent material of the marker, the light filter

substantially attenuating radiation at frequencies spaced from said band of frequencies.

17. A system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the light filter includes a panel of coloured

light filter material to be interposed in use between the workpiece and the eyes of the

operator, the panel being arranged to be mounted by the eyesight protecting means through

which the operator views the welding or cutting operation.

18. A system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the eyesight protecting means comprises a

mask having a window through which the operator views the welding or cutting operation,

the window being provided with a dark filter medium interposed in the light path to reduce

the intensity of light from the welding or cutting operation reaching the operator's eyes, the

light filter being additionally interposed in the light path from the site of the welding or

cutting operation to the operator's eyes.

19. A system as claimed in claim 17 or 18 wherein the light filter is a lighting gel of the

k nd used for projecting coloured light such as in theatre stage lighting, the lighting gel

having a characteristic colour substantially matched to the colour of visible light emission of

the luminescent material.

20. A system as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 19 wherein the marker consists of a

workpiece marker as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 15.

21. A method of aiding a welding or high temperature cutting operation being carried out

on a workpiece, the method including the steps of:

applying to the workpiece a luminescent material so as to create markings on the

workpiece at locations intended to guide or inform an operator momtoring or controlling the

welding or cutting operation, the luminescent material having the property of emitting visible

radiation, when excited during the welding or cutting operation, and

conducting a welding or high temperature cutting operation on the workpiece while

viewing the workpiece through an eyesight protector apparatus, the eyesight protector

frequencies of visible light emission of the luminescent material, and controlling the welding

or cutting operation in accordance with the visible markings of luminescent material on the

workpiece.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the visible markings applied to the

workpiece include a welding or cutting path which the welding or cutting operation is to

follow.

23. A method as claimed in claim 21 or 22 wherein the step of applying markings

comprises the application of markings to the workpiece using a workpiece marker as claimed

in any one of claims 1 to 15.

24. A method as claimed in claim 21 or 22 wherein the steps of applying the markings

and conducting the welding or cutting operation comprises using an aid system as claimed in

any one of claims 16 to 20 by application of markings to the workpiece using the workpiece

or cutting operation.