Welding simulator

Abstract

A simulator facilitates simulated welding activity of simulated weld joints. The simulator may include a logic processor based system operable to execute coded instructions for generating an interactive welding environment in which a welding activity is simulated, the welding activity occurring at an interface of a first simulated work piece and a second simulated work piece that defines a simulated weld joint. The simulator is capable of simulating the simultaneous welding of multiple users on the simulated weld joint in real time. The simulator is capable of simulating the removal of material from the work piece(s). The simulator is capable of simulating the traversal of a weld path corresponding to the simulated weld joint, with the weld path including linear and/or non-linear portions. The simulator is capable of simulating the generation of smoke during the simulated welding activity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A welding simulator comprising:
 a logic processor based subsystem operable to execute coded instructions for generating an interactive welding environment in which a welding activity is simulated, the welding activity occurring at an interface of a first simulated work piece and a second simulated work piece defining a simulated weld joint;   a display operatively connected to the logic processor based subsystem for visually depicting the interactive welding environment; and   a hand-held input device for performing a simulated welding activity on the simulated weld joint in real time,   wherein the welding simulator is operable to simulate removal of material from at least one of the first simulated work piece and the second simulated work piece.   
     
     
         2 . The welding simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the first simulated work piece is at least one of a flat plate and a cylindrical body. 
     
     
         3 . The welding simulator of  claim 2 , wherein the cylindrical body is hollow. 
     
     
         4 . The welding simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the second simulated work piece is at least one of a flat plate and a cylindrical body. 
     
     
         5 . The welding simulator of  claim 4 , wherein the cylindrical body is hollow. 
     
     
         6 . The welding simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the display depicts at least a portion of the simulated weld joint. 
     
     
         7 . The welding simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive welding environment is a virtual reality environment. 
     
     
         8 . The welding simulator of  claim 1 , wherein the display is integrated in a welding helmet. 
     
     
         9 . A welding simulator comprising:
 a logic processor based subsystem operable to execute coded instructions for generating an interactive welding environment in which a welding activity is simulated, the welding activity occurring at an interface of a first simulated work piece and a second simulated work piece defining a simulated weld joint;   a display operatively connected to the logic processor based subsystem for visually depicting the interactive welding environment; and   a hand-held input device for performing a simulated welding activity on the simulated weld joint in real time,   wherein the simulated welding activity includes traversing a weld path corresponding to the simulated weld joint, and   wherein the weld path comprises a non-linear portion.   
     
     
         10 . The welding simulator of  claim 9 , wherein the weld path further comprises a linear portion. 
     
     
         11 . The welding simulator of  claim 9 , wherein the weld path further comprises a first linear portion and a second linear portion,
 wherein the first linear portion and the second linear portion connect to form an angle θ, and   wherein 0 degrees<θ<180 degrees.   
     
     
         12 . The welding simulator of  claim 9 , wherein the weld path comprises a first non-linear portion and a second non-linear portion. 
     
     
         13 . The welding simulator of  claim 12 , wherein the first non-linear portion is connected to the second non-linear portion. 
     
     
         14 . The welding simulator of  claim 12 , wherein a linear portion is situated between the first non-linear portion and the second non-linear portion. 
     
     
         15 . A welding simulator comprising:
 a logic processor based subsystem operable to execute coded instructions for generating an interactive welding environment in which a welding activity is simulated, the welding activity occurring at an interface of a first simulated work piece and a second simulated work piece defining a simulated weld joint;   a display operatively connected to the logic processor based subsystem for visually depicting the interactive welding environment; and   a hand-held input device for performing a simulated welding activity on the simulated weld joint in real time,   wherein the welding simulator is operable to simulate generation of smoke during the welding activity.