SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING WELDING

• Main Authors: RAMASWAMY SIVARAMANIVAS, BUECHLER JOHANNES GEORG, ROYE WERNER, BATZINGER THOMAS JAMES, DAHMEN THOMAS RUDOLF, FAIDI WASEEM IBRAHIM, SPLITT GERHARD, OBERDOERFER YORK
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 19.11.2009
• Subjects: CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MACHINE TOOLS; MEASURING; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; TESTING; TRANSPORTING; WELDING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM

A system for monitoring a weld process is provided. The system includes an ultrasonic wave generator adapted to deliver an ultrasonic signal to a target material during a weld operation. The system also includes a pair of ultrasonic receiver elements with opposite directions of polarization relative to each other, the ultrasonic receiver elements configured to receive the ultrasonic signal propagated through the target material. The system further includes an electronic circuit coupled to the pair of ultrasonic receiver elements. The electronic circuit is configured to receive respective signals from the pair of ultrasonic receiver elements; wherein the respective signals comprise the ultrasonic signal and a noise signal. The electronic circuit is also configured to output the ultrasonic signal devoid of the noise signal. The system also includes a signal processor coupled to the electronic circuit, wherein the signal processor is configured to determine a quality level of a weld created during the weld operation by extracting data corresponding to the ultrasonic signal and comparing the data to a profile that corresponds to an acceptable quality level.