Patent ID: 8915740
Filing Date: 2014-12-23
Classification: G09B

Abstract:
1. A simulator for facilitating virtual welding activity, comprising; a logic processor based subsystem operable to execute coded instructions for generating an interactive welding environment that emulates welding activity on a section of virtual pipe having at least one virtual weld joint wherein the interactive welding environment models fluidity of a weld puddle responsive to performing the virtual welding activity in real-time; displaying means operatively connected to the logic processor based subsystem for visually depicting the interactive welding environment, wherein said displaying means depicts the section of virtual pipe and further wherein said displaying means depicts fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics of the weld puddle in real-time; an input device for performing virtual welding activity on the at least one virtual weld joint in real time; and, one or more sensors adapted to track movement of the input device in real time for communicating data about the movement of the input device to the logic processor based subsystem, and wherein said real-time fluidity and heat dissipation characteristics of said simulated weld puddle are illustrated on a texture map comprising channels of information which comprise at least