Method and apparatus for in-process sensing of manufacturing quality
US6857553B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 13, 2003 |
| Grant date | Feb 22, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 4, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/267
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for determining the quality of an examined weld joint comprising the steps of providing acoustical data from the examined weld joint, and performing a neural network operation on the acoustical data determine the quality of the examined weld joint produced by a friction weld process. The neural network may be trained by the steps of providing acoustical data and observable data from at least one test weld joint, and training the neural network based on the acoustical data and observable data to form a trained neural network so that the trained neural network is capable of determining the quality of a examined weld joint based on acoustical data from the examined weld joint. In addition, an apparatus having a housing, acoustical sensors mounted therein, and means for mounting the housing on a friction weld device so that the acoustical sensors do not contact the weld joint. The apparatus may sample the acoustical data necessary for the neural network to determine the quality of a weld joint.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.