Richard J Richardson

US Patent:

49437020, Jul 24, 1990

Filed:

Oct 29, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/114289

Inventors:

Richard W. Richardson - Columbus OH

Assignee:

The Ohio State University - Columbus OH

International Classification:

B23K 912

US Classification:

21912434

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for illuminating a weld line wherein a beam of light is directed onto a weld electrode and is reflected off of the electrode, thereby illuminating an area of the weld joint. Also disclosed are an apparatus for detecting a weld line using light from a low power arc which does not form a molten pool and a method and apparatus for locating a weld line by analyzing light reflected from a weld pool.

US Patent:

46441310, Feb 17, 1987

Filed:

Apr 22, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/854510

Inventors:

Richard W. Richardson - Columbus OH

Assignee:

The Ohio State University Research Foundation - Columbus OH

International Classification:

B23K 910

US Classification:

21912434

Abstract:

An improved electrode mounting structure for a gas tungsten arc welding torch having a coaxial imaging system. The electrode mounting structure includes a support having a central hub and a plurality of spokes which extend from the hub generally radially with respect to the axis of the torch into supporting engagement with the interior walls of the torch. The spaces between the spokes are optical passages for transmission of light to form the image. A tubular collet holder is threadedly engaged at its upper end to the hub and extends downwardly toward the open end of the torch. The collet holder has an inwardly tapering constriction near its lower end. An electrode-retaining, tubular collet is mounted within the collet holder and has a longitudinally split and tapered end seating against the tapered constriction. A spring seats against the upper end of the collet and forces the split end against the tapered constriction to wedge the split end radially inwardly to grip the electrode within the collet.

US Patent:

45324085, Jul 30, 1985

Filed:

Oct 22, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/436026

Inventors:

Richard W. Richardson - Columbus OH

Assignee:

The Ohio State University - Columbus OH

International Classification:

B23K 910

US Classification:

21913001

Abstract:

An optical apparatus for use in viewing an arc welding process wherein the view is directly parallel to and around the electrode thus allowing the electrode tip to block the arc from direct view. The light seen is reflected from the mirror-like molten pool revealing the edge of the said pool which is a parameter directly analyzed by video picture analysis to control an arc welding process.

US Patent:

47376147, Apr 12, 1988

Filed:

Oct 27, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/923431

Inventors:

Richard W. Richardson - Columbus OH

Assignee:

The Ohio State University Research Foundation - Columbus OH

International Classification:

B23K 910

US Classification:

21913001

Abstract:

An improved optical portion of a vision system for controlling an automated arc welding system. Collimated, image bearing light is rotated through an angle to maintain the weld scene at the identical orientation upon the video camera regardless of actual orientation changes during welding operation. An iris reduces the light intensity to maintain the light which is incident upon the video camera from the more intense weld pool region, within the range of the camera while light from the joint region is integrated over multiple frames so that good resolution is also obtained for the image of the joint region.

US Patent:

45019509, Feb 26, 1985

Filed:

Sep 7, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/432888

Inventors:

Richard W. Richardson - Columbus OH

Assignee:

Caterpillar Tractor Co. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

B23K 912

US Classification:

21912434

Abstract:

The performance of prior automated welding systems has been limited by their inability to independently track and weld and by their inability to accurately determine the groove profile. The adaptive welding system disclosed herein includes a weld torch (20) adapted to be controllably positioned in at least two dimensions, and means (28,38) for tracking a workpiece seam (12) to be welded. The tracking means (28,38) is pivotably connected to the weld torch (20). Means (19,40) for pivoting the tracking means (28,38) relative to the weld torch (20) is included to permit both the tracking means (28,38) and the weld torch (20) to be independently maintained over the seam (12). The tracking means (28,38) monitors the seam (12) by optical triangulation of a rotating laser beam (60) projected against the workpieces. This rotating laser beam (60) crosses the seam twice during each cycle of the beam (60).

US Patent:

50618415, Oct 29, 1991

Filed:

May 9, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/349435

Inventors:

Richard W. Richardson - Columbus OH

Assignee:

The Ohio State University - Columbus OH

International Classification:

B23K 910

US Classification:

21913001

Abstract:

A method of controlling an arc welding process includes establishing an arc between a welding electrode and weld joint wherein light generated by the arc is reflected by the weld pool and by the metal surrounding the weld pool. The rays of reflected light travelling substantially parallel to the axis of the electrode are collected in a video camera. The output of the video camera is fed to a monitor where an image of the weld pool is displayed in which the arc is obscured by the electrode and the arc process can be manually controlled on the basis of the image. In another method, the width of a weld pool is determined by analyzing a video image of the weld pool area.

US Patent:

47394048, Apr 19, 1988

Filed:

Apr 17, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/853233

Inventors:

Richard W. Richardson - Columbus OH

Assignee:

The Ohio State University - Columbus OH

International Classification:

H04N 514

US Classification:

358160

Abstract:

A monitoring method and apparatus for storing video data is provided comprising storing at a video-computer interface location data defining a selected area of a video frame to be stored, supplying video data to the interface, identifying the beginning of a frame of video data and storing the data of the selected area of the frame as it is supplied to the interface.

US Patent:

45958203, Jun 17, 1986

Filed:

Apr 23, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/603296

Inventors:

Richard W. Richardson - Columbus OH

Assignee:

The Ohio State University

International Classification:

B23K 909

US Classification:

219137PS

Abstract:

Video data generated at a high rate by a camera observing a welding operation is selectively stored in a video-computer interface to permit later computer analysis of the data. Special multiple memory techniques can be employed when the rate of which the data is generated is too fast for storage in a single memory in the interface. The width of the weld pool is detected by finding local minima of light intensity associated with these edges. The mass of the weld pool and the weld penetration can be measured and controlled by causing oscillations in the weld pool and measuring the natural frequency of such oscillations. The weld line can be tracked either by bouncing a beam of light off the welding electrode so as to form an illuminated area and detecting the resulting irregularity where the illuminated area crosses the weld line, or by detecting the deformation in the surface of the weld pool as the pool flows into the gap between the metal portions being joined. Prior to welding, the weld line can be detected by establishing a low power welding arc insufficient to create a molten weld pool but generating enough light to produce an irregularity in the reflected light at the location of the weld line.