System and method for pendant component for a welding system

Abstract

The invention described herein generally pertains to a system and method related to controlling a welding system having a tractor welder engaged with a track by utilizing a pendant component that is configured to receive an input from a user and displaying data via a graphical display. The pendant component includes one or more inputs that correspond to data displayed, wherein the one or more inputs include a first toggle switch and a second toggle switch, an encoder knob, a first set of buttons and a second set of buttons.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device, comprising:
 a processor coupled to a memory, the processor configured to execute the following computer- executable components stored in the memory:
 a display component that is configured to render a graphic to display at least one screen; 
 an input component that is configured to receive an input associated with the graphic; and 
 an output component that is configured to communicate a first electronic signal to a welding system based on the input, wherein the electronic signal controls a portion of the welding system; 
   the input component further comprises the following:
 a first toggle switch that is configured to receive an input for navigation on the at least one screen; 
 a second toggle switch that is configured to receive an input for selection of a value for one or more parameters displayed on the at least one screen; 
 an encoder knob that is configured to receive at least one of a rotational input to control a motion for a torch to move to and from a track and a depressing input to move the torch to a center position; 
 a first set of inputs that are configured to allow selection based on the at least one screen; and 
 a second set of inputs that are configured to allow selection of one or more parameters, wherein the second toggle switch provides selection for a value of the parameter selected; and 
   a power source that is configured to generate a portion of electrical power for consumption by at least one of the processor, the memory, the display component, the input component, or the output component.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the welding system includes a power source for a tractor welder, the torch, a motor that moves the tractor welder on the track, a motor that moves the torch to and from the track, a wire feeder, a motor that moves the torch to and from the workpiece, a motor that oscillates the torch, or a power source for a wire that is supplied by the wire feeder. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a casing having a front opposite of a back, a first side opposite a second side, a top side, a bottom side, and a thickness that separates the front and the back, wherein the casing houses at least one of the processor, the memory, the display component, the input component, or the output component;   a connector component on at least one of the first side or the second side;   an indentation region at least one of the first side or the second side of which the connector component resides;   a strap member that connects to at least one of the first side or the second side of which the connector component resides; and   the connector component counter-balances a weight of a wired connection to the connector component to facilitate carrying the device.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , the output component is configured to receive a second electronic signal from the welding system, wherein the second electronic signal is representative of a detected value of the welding system. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first toggle switch is further configured to receive an input for a value change of one or more parameters displayed on the at least one screen. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first electronic signal is representative of a setting from a user for one or more parameters. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first electronic signal is representative of an arc current, an arc voltage, a wire feed speed, a movement for the torch, a left dwell, a right dwell, a travel speed of a tractor welder for the welding system, an oscillation speed, or an oscillation width. 
     
     
         8 . A device, comprising:
 the device being in an electrical communication with an orbital welding system that includes:
 a welding torch detachably coupled to a track affixed adjacently to a pipe, wherein the welding torch includes an electrode to perform a welding operation to deposit a layer of material onto the pipe and the welding operation is on an inner diameter of the pipe or an outer diameter of the pipe; and 
 a welding power source that creates an arc between the electrode and the workpiece; 
   a processor coupled to a memory, the processor configured to execute the following computer-executable components stored in the memory:
 a display component that is configured to render a graphic to display at least one screen; 
 an input component that is configured to receive an input associated with the graphic; and 
 an output component that is configured to communicate an electronic signal to the orbital welding system based on the input, wherein the electronic signal controls a portion of the welding system; 
   the input component further comprises the following:
 a first toggle switch that is configured to receive an input for navigation on the at least one screen; 
 a second toggle switch that is configured to receive an input for selection of a value for one or more parameters displayed on the at least one screen; 
 an encoder knob that is configured to receive at least one of a rotational input to control a motion for a torch to move to and from a track and a depressing input to move the torch to a center position; 
 a first set of inputs that are configured to allow selection based on the at least one screen; and 
 a second set of inputs that are configured to allow selection of one or more parameters, wherein the second toggle switch provides selection for a value of the parameter selected; and 
   a power source that is configured to generate a portion of electrical power for consumption by at least one of the processor, the memory, the display component, the input component, or the output component.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device is hosted on a first network and communicates with the orbital welding system that is hosted on a second network., wherein the communication is via the Internet. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising a controller that performs the welding operation with the orbital welding system based on the electrical signal. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the electrical communication is a wireless communication. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 8 , the display component further renders one or more graphics to represent a pairing of parameters that can be selected by the first toggle switch and adjusted by the second toggles switch, wherein the pairing is at least one of the following:
 a wire feed speed and a current;   a left dwell and a right dwell;   an oscillation speed and an oscillation width; or   a travel speed and a voltage.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one of the following:
 a motor that moves the tractor welder on the track;   a motor that moves the torch to and from the track;   a wire feeder; a motor that moves the torch to and from the workpiece;   a motor that oscillates the torch;   a power source for a wire that is supplied by the wire feeder;   a settings component that is configured to receive a user input that automatically sets an orientation from a perspective of a user in which the orientation defines which direction is a left direction, a right direction, a left dwell, a right dwell, a forward direction, a backward direction, or a steering direction in relation to the encoder knob; and   a welding progress component that is configured to automatically maneuver the torch to a user- defined position based on a user input from at least one of the first first toggle switch, the second toggle switch, one of the first set of inputs or one of the second set of inputs.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a casing having a front opposite of a back, a first side opposite a second side, a top side, a bottom side, and a thickness that separates the front and the back, wherein the casing houses at least one of the processor, the memory, the display component, the input component, or the output component;   a connector component on at least one of the first side or the second side;   an indentation region at least one of the first side or the second side of which the connector component resides;   a strap member that connects to at least one of the first side or the second side of which the connector component resides; and   the connector component counter-balances a weight of a wired connection to the connector component to facilitate carrying the device.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the output component is configured to receive an additional electronic signal from the orbital welding system. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the additional electronic signal is representative of a measured value of the orbital welding system. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic signal is representative of a setting from a user for one or more parameters used in for the welding operation. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the electronic signal is representative of at least one of an arc current, an arc voltage, a wire feed speed, an amount of movement for the torch, a left dwell, a right dwell, a travel speed of a tractor welder for the welding system, an oscillation speed, or an oscillation width. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 the device is in an electrical communication with an additional orbital welding system; and   the device communicates an electronic signal to control a welding operation performed by one of the orbital welding system or the additional welding system.   
     
     
         20 . An orbital welding system, comprising:
 a welding torch detachably coupled to a track affixed adjacently to a pipe, wherein the welding torch includes an electrode to perform a welding operation to deposit a layer of material onto the pipe and the welding operation is on an inner diameter of the pipe or an outer diameter of the pipe;   a welding power source that creates an arc between the electrode and the workpiece;   a pendant component that includes:
 a processor coupled to a memory, the processor configured to execute the following computer-executable components stored in the memory: 
 a display component that is configured to render a graphic to display at least one screen; 
 an input component that is configured to receive an input associated with the graphic; and 
 an output component that is configured to communicate an electronic signal to the orbital welding system based on the input, wherein the electronic signal controls a portion of the welding system; and 
   the input component further comprises the following:
 a first toggle switch that is configured to receive an input for navigation on the at least one screen; 
 a second toggle switch that is configured to receive an input for selection of a value for one or more parameters displayed on the at least one screen; 
 an encoder knob that is configured to receive at least one of a rotational input to control a motion for a torch to move to and from a track and a depressing input to move the torch to a center position; 
 a first set of inputs that are configured to allow selection based on the at least one screen; 
 a second set of inputs that are configured to allow selection of one or more parameters, wherein the second toggle switch provides selection for a value of the parameter selected; and 
 the display component further renders one or more graphics to represent a pairing of parameters that can be selected by the first toggle switch and adjusted by the second toggles switch, wherein the pairing is at least one of the following: 
 a wire feed speed and a current; 
 a left dwell and a right dwell; 
 an oscillation speed and an oscillation width; or 
 a travel speed and a voltage.