Apparel – Guard or protector – For wearer's head
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-22
2001-05-15
Neas, Michael A. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Guard or protector
For wearer's head
C345S008000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230327
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a welding helmet or mask, especially one which allows viewing in the near infrared of the welding scene.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A welding mask usually comprises facial protection means allowing the operator's face or part of his face, to be protected from possible splashes of materials, the facial protection means being provided with holding means allowing the welding mask to be held in position on the operator's head.
The scene of the welding carried out by the operator is viewed through a window made within the facial protection means, which window is generally fitted with a tinted glass allowing the radiation emitted by the electric arc during the welding operation proper to be attenuated.
There are many grades of tinted glass allowing the light radiation to be attenuated to a greater or lesser extent, the grade to be used therefore depending on the task to be accomplished and increasing with the welding current.
Furthermore, this type of mask fitted with tinted sheets of glass therefore allows the operator, on the one hand, to see the arc and the weld pool and, on the other hand, to protect the operator from the light radiation emitted by the electric arc, namely ultraviolet, infrared and/or visible radiation.
There are also liquid-crystal helmets or masks for which the tinted glass is replaced by a cassette composed of a liquid-crystal matrix sandwiched between two polarizing sheets of glass.
These masks especially have the advantage of allowing the desired level of attenuation to be adjusted, either automatically or manually.
These two types of mask allow the operator to observe the welding scene only in the visible, i.e. from the visible radiation emitted or reflected by the welding scene.
However, in the visible spectrum, the welding arc is the main source of illumination and it follows that the radiation which emanates therefrom is predominant compared with all the other potential sources of illumination.
In other words, it is difficult to distinguish, through these conventional-type masks, anything else other than the electric arc itself and those parts of the welding scene illuminated by the electric arc, namely essentially part of the weld pool and of its immediate environment.
Thus, it is almost impossible with these masks of the prior art to distinguish the zones located near the weld pool but beneath the arc, as well as any possible transfer of material likely to occur in the electric arc itself.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is therefore to remedy these drawbacks of the masks of the prior art by proposing a welding mask allowing the operator to discern, in particular, those elements of the welding scene that he could not perceive with an ordinary mask.
The present invention therefore relates to a protective mask, in particular for welding or cutting, comprising,
facial protection means,
holding means,
means for capturing and transmitting at least one image, and
means for displaying the image, these being linked to the means for capturing and transmitting the image.
It should be noted in the context of the present invention that the terms “welding mask” are employed in a general sense, i.e. they denote a protective mask capable of being used in any operation, not only a welding operation but also a cutting, thermal-spraying or similar operation.
Likewise, the terms “protective mask” and “protective helmet” are also used indiscriminately in the context of the invention.
Depending on the case, the mask of the present invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics:
the capture and transmission means are linked to the means for displaying at least one image via optical means;
the means for displaying the image comprise at least one video screen, preferably at least one liquid-crystal screen;
the means for capturing and transmitting the image comprise at least one camera, preferably a camera whose bandwidth is less than or equal to 10 &mgr;m, preferably less than or equal to 1100 nm;
the means for capturing and transmitting the image are provided with at least one filtering means, such as a filter;
it furthermore includes a window made within the facial protection means, the window being provided with means for attenuating the radiation in the visible;
the means for displaying the image are linked to an optical display system which moves the image far enough away to allow the operator to see it effectively;
the means for displaying the image are arranged on or inside the welding mask.
The invention also relates to the use of a mask according to the invention in a welding, cutting or heat-treatment process requiring the use of such a welding mask, so as to protect the operator.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4523808 (1985-06-01), Miller et al.
patent: 5089914 (1992-02-01), Prescott
patent: 5200827 (1993-04-01), Hanson et al.
patent: 5481622 (1996-01-01), Gerhardt et al.
patent: 5515070 (1996-05-01), Kawada
patent: 5796374 (1998-08-01), Cone et al.
patent: 5812101 (1998-09-01), Monarchie et al.
patent: 5959705 (1999-09-01), Fergason
patent: 6008780 (1999-12-01), Clarke et al.
patent: 6028627 (2000-02-01), Helmsderfer
patent: 6091546 (2000-07-01), Spitzer
patent: 33 14 113 (1984-10-01), None
patent: 2 320 726 (1977-03-01), None
Briand Francis
Caillibotte Georges
La Soudure Autogene Francaise
Neas Michael A.
Young & Thompson
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