Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

Method and apparatus for monitoring the quality of a weld performed with an electrode mounted on an automatically controlled electrode support arm which moves between a rest position and a series of spaced operative positions in each of which a weld operation is performed. The apparatus includes a radiation detector for connection to a monitoring system and a radiation collector attached to the support arm adjacent the electrode and coupled to the radiation detector by optical fibers to receive in use a first level of radiation from electrode and a second level of radiation from the weld zone when the arm is in its operative position. A reference source of radiation is also provided that is located such that when the support arm is in its rest position, the collector receives a third level of radiation from the reference source, whereby the radiation detector generates three signals corresponding to the three levels of radiation impinging on the detector for supply to the monitoring system.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim