Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F9/00—Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand
  • A61F9/04—Eye-masks ; Devices to be worn on the face, not intended for looking through; Eye-pads for sunbathing
  • A61F9/06—Masks, shields or hoods for welders
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
  • G06F1/26—Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof
  • G06F1/266—Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips

Definitions

• the present invention relates to welding helmets and especially to a system for power supply from an external power source to the welding helmet.
• the invention is also related to a display, especially a display integrated to an Auto Darkening Filter (ADF) and a method for controlling operations of a display of a welding helmet, as well as a helmet with powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) and a carbon dioxide sensor in the helmet as defined in the preambles of the independent claims.
• ADF Auto Darkening Filter
• PAPR powered air purifying respirator
• the object of the invention is to provide a system for supplying power to a welding helmet from an outer source to enable use of multiple parts requiring power in the helmet, such as a sensor for a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) , especially a carbon dioxide sensor, an ADF with a graphic display or work lights.
• PAPR powered air purifying respirator
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a sensor, especially a carbon dioxide sensor for measuring carbon dioxide levels in the helmet and control an air flow rate based on the measured level.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a ADF Display for a welding mask or helmet, with a user interface for adjusting functions essential for the use of the helmet or mask during a welding process and for displaying basic information essential for the welder.
• Figure 1 depicts a system including a welder wearing a helmet and a powered air purifying respirator, as well as a welding unit;
• FIG. 2 is a schematic presentation of an arrangement according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprising a welding helmet including a work light, an ADF, a sensor and a communication or power terminal connected to a power source of a PAPR;
• Figure 3 discloses an ADF display including LED
• FIG. 1 shows an exemplary welding system wherein a welder 5 is wearing a helmet 1 according to the invention, a powered air purifying respirator 6, a fresh-air hose 7 connecting the powered air purifying respirator 6 to the helmet 1, and a welding unit 8
• the helmet is powered by an outer power source by means of a cable from the power source .
• the helmet is powered by the powered air purifying respirator. This is very advantageous since no additional cables or power units are needed. It is also advantageous since no additional devices have to be integrated into the helmet and no extra space needs to be allocated in the helmet for a power source or a connection to a power source.
• the welder has a powered air purifying
• the powered air purifying respirator is powered by a chargeable battery.
• work lights are also powered by this battery. The power is distributed both to the powered air purifying respirator and the work lights.
• An air hose is connected from the powered air purifying respirator to the helmet, into which hose an electrical cable and a data cable are integrated.
• the hose is extensible, like the hose of a vacuum cleaner, into which the cables are fixedly integrated. Because of the hose being extensible or flexible, the cables are helically wound among the surface of the hose, preferably the inner surface, and cast in the same plastic as the hose itself.
• the hose is attached to the back of the helmet.
• the clamping surface for the attachment of the hose also comprises couplings or clips for power and data. Electrical cables are led in the helmet shell to the work lights.
• the contact surfaces of the cables may be placed at a single terminal to which all additional accessories, such as work lights 4 in figure 1, are connected. Alternatively, contact surfaces may be placed at multiple places on the helmet depending on the placement of the accessories.
• Power feed from an outer source would enable use of components requiring a higher power consumption than which can be provided for by a smal1 size battery.
• Figure 2 depicts an arrangement wherein the accumulator of the PAPR supplies power to work lights and an ADF-screen on the helmet.
• the helmet may have a terminal for an electrical connection and for a two-way communication between the PAPR-unit and the helmet.
• Status information of the PAPR-unit such as battery charge level, device power level or filter condition may be displayed at the screen .
• a carbon dioxide (C02) sensor is provided in the helmet, the sensor in figure 2.
• C02-sensor would enable measuring of the carbon dioxide level inside the helmet, in the breathing air of the welder.
• Normal air has a level of about 370 ppm of C02.
• a level of 1500 ppm of C02 causes headache and fatigue.
• High concentrations of C02 in the breathing air of a welder could occur for example at high altitudes or when welding in confined spaces, such as in a tank. This might also appear it a filter of the powered air purifying respirator is blocked.
• the C02 content of the air may be measured with a C02 sensor inside the helmet. If a higher content of C02 is detected in the helmet the fan speed of the powered air purifying respirator may be adjusted automatically to keep the C02 content of the air inside the helmet within safe limits. If a level of C02 above a set threshold is detected by the C02-sensor the fan speed may be automatically adjusted or a warning of an excessive amount of C02 may be displayed at the ADF screen .
• the speed of the powered air purifying respirator may automatically compensate for thin air at high altitudes, for example in mountain ranges and the like, that is compensate for the increased need for oxygen due to the altitude without any altitude
• the speed of the powered air purifying respirator may automatically compensate for a low level of oxygen during welding performed in closed containers or tanks, where carbon dioxide may be used as welding shielding gas, and the level of which may rise to levels that are too high to breath.
• the helmet comprises one or more work lights for illuminating the work area of the welder.
• the light or lights may be conventional lights or led lights.
• the light or lights may be powered by an outer power source.
• the light or lights may be places anywhere on the helmet.
• the helmet comprises an ADF display.
• the display may comprise a led membrane user interface, wherein the display information may become visible when adjusting functions or switching between functions with a remote button.
• the display may have LED indications of basic ADF
• the display may have an integrated micro controller that handles all functions according to user settings.
• the basic ADF-settings may comprise delay, shade and sensitivity of the visor. Alternatively extra shade may be chosen with an extra buttons for conditions where a higher degree of shade of the visor is needed than in most common conditions.
• the function to be adjusted is glowing bright, while the rest are showing only current setting. This is helpful as it minimizes the distraction caused during the welding process, and also helps the user to see which setting he is currently adjusting.
• PAPR's fan setting info is shown on the display. Fan info may be shown as currently being 1-speed or 2-speed.
• PAPR low battery info is shown on the display. Low battery info may be shown as glowing or blinking.
• a fan setting may be displayed on the screen.
• the control of the PAPR is usually at the back of the welder, it is very useful that a scale for the control may be shown on the display. This enables
• a control for ADF controls is situated at the outside of the helmet placed to be easily found and used wearing welding gloves. While adjusting, a setting of an adjustable function may be shown on the display, both the setting and the available scale. This enables adjustment without taking the helmet off.
• a remote button is used for choosing a function to be adjusted and a roll is used to adjust value of the function.
• the remote button and roll may be situated on the outside of the helmet for easy access when the helmet is used. In an alternative embodiment only one button may be used. By holding the button down for various periods of time or pushing it in different frequencies, values may be adjusted or a
• change of a memory channel may be carried out from a separate remote control or from a welding machine panel.
• a choice of memory channel may be shown on the display.
• the memory channel info may be displayed numerically on the display.
• every function shown on the display may have a colour of its own in order for the user to be able to separate the functions from each other easily .
• a function scale is shown as dots for each function in order to be visually easily perceived.
• the scales may be visible on each side of the screen, situated such that they are visible for the welder but not obstructing his direct field of vision when welding.
• the dots of the function scales may be realised by led lights.
• communication between the ADF-display and the PAPR may be realised as a wired connection.
• Bluetooth may be used for communication between the ADF-display and the PAPR.
• NFC NFC is only used for triggering a pairing.
• the helmet may be a passive NFC device and the power source may be an active NFC device.
• an external antenna is needed.
• the antenna may be a sticker type antenna for example fastened inside the ADF .
• the helmet After pairing is completed the helmet will lit all leds of the ADF to indicate pairing and at the same time the user may see that all leds are functioning.
• the NFC circuit in the ADF receives a signal it may wake the controller in case the controller is in sleep mode.
• An ADF Bluetooth transmitter of the helmet may then reduce its transmitting power to a level where its range is about 1-2 meter. Then Bluetooth controller start pairing process with power source found near. Once a connection is
• one parameter that may be visually shown on a function scale is wire stick length or tip-to-work distance. This is a parameter that may help the welder to find the optimal distance between the tip of the burner and a work piece for achieving an optimal welding result. The parameter may show if the tip should be brought closer to the work piece or be removed further away from it .

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• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
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• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• Helmets And Other Head Coverings (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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Cited By (7)

Citations (8)

• 2013
  • 2013-12-13 FI FI20136263A patent/FI20136263L/fi not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2014
  • 2014-09-11 WO PCT/FI2014/050692 patent/WO2015036652A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (8)

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