Not applicable.
Not applicable.
1. Field
The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods of applying a treatment to a surface and, in particular, manually applying a uniform plasma treatment to a surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
Surfaces of some materials must be treated to improve properties of the surface prior to operations such as bonding. One traditional method of surface treatment is use of a gas plasma stream to activate the material on the surface, wherein a plasma is created by an arc operating at a frequency in the kilohertz to megahertz range. Treating a surface using a gas plasma stream requires that a delicate balance must be maintained with regard to the type and amount of gas provided as well as the voltage of the arc and the distance that the plasma has to travel from the plasma gun nozzle to the surface being treated. Other types of surface treatment include plasma spray treatment where a feedstock material, such as a ceramic or oxide, is introduced into a plasma jet created by a high-voltage arc and thereby melted and driven toward the surface where the feedstock material is deposited as a coating. These types of surface treatment are typically carried out in a robotically controlled environment, such as the robotic work station depicts in
It is sometimes necessary to apply a gas plasma or other type of surface treatment to a surface that is located within a structure or in the field as part of a repair. It is very difficult to accomplish this type of surface treatment using a robotic system. Manual application of a surface treatment requires that the treatment device be passed over the surface to be treated at a constant distance and at a constant speed. This is, at best, difficult to accomplish even with a skilled operator. In addition, variations in technique between different operators may lead to variations in the surface treatment, leading to variable results in the overall results of the process.
There is a need for a surface treatment system that is as easy to use as a paint spraying system and capable of providing uniform and predictable results when used by multiple operators. The most difficult operational variable to control is the speed of movement of the treatment device over the surface to be treated.
The systems and methods disclosed herein provide feedback to an operator who is manually applying a surface treatment using a treatment device, such as a plasma sprayer. A reference module, such as a laser pointer, is attached to the treatment device and emits an optical beam, and a sensing module is positioned adjacent to the surface to be treated. As the operator moves the treatment device over the surface, the optical beam strikes the sensing module which detects the speed of the optical beam across the sensing module. The sensing module includes a feedback indicator, such as a variable color light wherein the color of the light changes to indicate whether the operator is moving the treatment device at the proper speed. This feedback enables the operator to maintain the proper speed of the treatment device.
In certain embodiments, a system for providing feedback to an operator regarding a speed at which the operator is passing a treatment device over a surface compared to an ideal speed is disclosed. The system includes a reference module configured to provide an optical beam, a sensing module configured to detect the optical beam and providing a signal related to a speed of the optical beam passing over the sensing module, and an electronics module configured to receive the signal from the sensing module and provide an indication of whether the speed of the beam is less than, equal to, or greater than an ideal speed.
In certain embodiments, a system for providing feedback to an operator regarding a speed at which the operator is passing a treatment device over a surface compared to an ideal speed is disclosed. The system includes a reference module configured to be coupled to the treatment device and provide an optical beam and a sensing module that includes a grating configured to be disposed such that the optical beam strikes the grating as the treatment device is passed over the surface. The grating has a plurality of transmissive regions arranged in a row and separated by opaque regions. The sensing module also includes a detector coupled to the grating. The detector is configured to detect whether the optical beam has passed through a transmissive region of the grating and providing a signal indicating whether the beam has passed through the grating. The system also includes an electronics module that includes an indicator and a processor coupled to the detector and the indicator. The processor is configured to accept the signal from the detector, calculate the speed of the treatment device, and actuate the indicator to indicate whether the calculated speed is less than, equal to, or greater than the ideal speed.
In certain embodiments, a system for treating a surface is disclosed. The system includes a treatment device configured to treat the surface when passed over the surface at an ideal speed. The system also includes a reference module configured to be coupled to the treatment device and provide an optical beam and a sensing module that includes a grating configured to be disposed such that the optical beam strikes the grating as the treatment device is passed over the surface. The grating has a plurality of transmissive regions arranged in a row and separated by opaque regions. The sensing module also includes a detector coupled to the grating. The detector is configured to detect whether the optical beam has passed through a transmissive region of the grating and providing a signal indicating whether the beam has passed through the grating. The system also includes an electronics module that includes an indicator and a processor coupled to the detector and the indicator. The processor is configured to accept the signal from the detector, calculate the speed of the treatment device, and actuate the indicator to indicate whether the calculated speed is less than, equal to, or greater than the ideal speed.
In certain embodiments, a method of providing feedback to an operator regarding the speed at which the operator is passing a treatment device over a surface compared to an ideal speed is disclosed. The method includes the steps of emitting an optical beam from a reference module coupled to the treatment device, passing the optical beam over a sensing module as the treatment device is passed over the surface, calculating with a processor a calculated speed at which the optical beam is being passed over the sensing module, and proving an indication of whether the calculated speed is less than, equal to, or greater than an ideal speed.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate disclosed embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosed embodiments. In the drawings:
The following description discloses embodiments of a system for providing feedback to an operator regarding a speed at which the operator is passing a treatment device over a surface compared to an ideal speed.
Within this disclosure, the phrase “optical” covers electromagnetic radiation from ultraviolet to infrared, including wavelengths in the range of 10 nanometers to 1 millimeter. Within this disclosure, the phrase “visible” covers light visible to the human eye, including wavelengths in the range of 380-760 nanometers. Within this disclosure, the phrase “audible” covers sounds that can be perceived by the human ear, including frequencies in the range of 20 Hz-20 kHz.
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a full understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one ordinarily skilled in the art that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without some of the specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the disclosure.
The method and system disclosed herein are presented in terms of a handheld plasma sprayer. This exemplary utilization of the disclosed system is sufficient to describe the attributes and use of the components of a variety of embodiments of the system. Utilization of the disclosed system is not limited to plasma sprayers, however, and advantageous application may be found in other systems wherein it is desirable for an operator to move a handheld device at a constant speed. Nothing in this disclosure shall be interpreted to limit the application of the disclosed systems and processes to plasma spraying unless explicitly stated as such.
The system 30 also comprises a sensing module 40 that is positioned next to the surface 28 to be treated. The sensing module 40 comprises a grating 42 and a detector 44. The construction and operation of the sensing module are discussed in greater detail with respect to
The electronics module 100 is discussed in greater detail with respect to
In certain embodiments, the width W of the transmissive regions 46 is greater than a diameter of the optical beam 35 such that the entire beam 35 passes through a transmissive portion 46 at some point as the optical beam 35 passes across the transmissive portion 46. In certain embodiments, the width W of the transmissive regions 46 is less than the diameter of the optical beam 35. In certain embodiments, the separation S between the transmissive portions 46 is greater than the diameter of the optical beam 35.
In certain embodiments, the detector 44 comprises a plurality of individual sensing elements (not shown) that are respectively arranged under the transmissive regions 46 and individually report whether the optical beam is passing the transmissive region 46 above the respective individual sending element.
With reference to the embodiment of
In certain embodiments, the processor 52 is configured to retrieve executable instructions from the memory 54 and execute the retrieved instructions. The processor 52 is configured to accept the signal 50 from the detector 44 and calculate the current actual speed of the optical beam 35 moving over the sensing module 40, which is presumed to be very close to the speed of the plasma sprayer 32 passing over the surface 38, and compare this calculated actual speed to an ideal speed that is retrieved from the memory 54. Systems and methods of entering a value of the ideal speed in the memory are known to those of skill in the art. The processor 52 is further configured to actuate the at least one of the visual indicator 56 and audible indicator 58 to indicate whether the calculated speed is less than, equal to, or greater than the ideal speed.
In certain embodiments, the processor 52 is configured to cause the visual indicator 56 to emit light of a specified frequency in response to the relationship between the calculated speed and the ideal speed. In certain embodiments, the processor 52 is configured to cause the indicator 56 to emit light at a frequency that is monotonically related to the calculated speed. In certain embodiments, the processor 52 is configured to cause a portion of the selectively illuminated indicators to be illuminated, wherein the number of selectively illuminated indicators that are illuminated is monotonically related to the calculated speed.
In certain embodiments, the feedback indicator is a series of selectively illuminated lights, wherein steps 225, 235, and 240 determine which of the lights to illuminate. In certain embodiments, the feedback indicator is an audible tone and steps 225, 235, and 240 determine what frequency of sound to emit.
The concepts disclosed herein provide a system and method of providing feedback to an operator regarding a speed at which the operator is passing a treatment device over a surface compared to an ideal speed. The system includes a reference module that is attached to the treatment device and a sensing module that is positioned adjacent to the surface to be treated. The reference module is adjusted such that an optical beam emitted by the reference module passes across the sensing module as the treatment device is passed over the surface. The sensing module provides a signal to an electronics module that provides actuates an indicator to indicate whether the calculated speed of the treatment device over the surface is less than, equal to, or greater than the ideal speed.
It will be obvious to those of skill in the art that the various elements of the disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure may be used to provide feedback to an operator with respect to other types of manually manipulated devices that must be moved at a specified rate. Such devices may include paint sprayers, cameras, or sensors that are in contact with or spaced apart from a surface or used in free space without regard to a surface.
The previous description is provided to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the best mode and/or other examples, it is understood that various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the terms “a set” and “some” refer to one or more. Pronouns in the masculine (e.g., his) include the feminine and neuter gender (e.g., her and its) and vice versa. Headings and subheadings, if any, are used for convenience only and do not limit the invention.
It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes disclosed is an illustration of exemplary approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged. Some of the steps may be performed simultaneously. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.
Terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear” and the like as used in this disclosure should be understood as referring to an arbitrary frame of reference, rather than to the ordinary gravitational frame of reference. Thus, a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, and a rear surface may extend upwardly, downwardly, diagonally, or horizontally in a gravitational frame of reference.
A phrase such as an “aspect” does not imply that such aspect is essential to the subject technology or that such aspect applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an aspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A phrase such as an aspect may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa. A phrase such as an “embodiment” does not imply that such embodiment is essential to the subject technology or that such embodiment applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to an embodiment may apply to all embodiments, or one or more embodiments. A phrase such an embodiment may refer to one or more embodiments and vice versa.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example or illustration.” Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs.
All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.” Furthermore, to the extent that the term “include,” “have,” or the like is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20130099932 A1 | Apr 2013 | US |