Description:“AN APPARATUS TO SIMULATE UNDERWATER WELDING FOR TRAINING”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to the field of underwater welding, a welding technique that is carried out being submerged in water in certain applications. This invention, more specifically is related to the skill training of welders for underwater welding to simulate the gravity head and underwater current. The present invention is particularly directed to an apparatus to simulate underwater welding for training.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION/PRIOR ART:
Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

Welding is a joining process that is used to produce permanent joints between similar / dissimilar materials, by locally fusing both the materials along the interface of the joint. When welding is carried out submerged in water, then it is called as ‘Underwater Welding’. This is required to weld certain components that are used for marine applications and offshore structures. These are the components that cannot be transported from their locations and hence underwater welding becomes necessary for such cases. The welder who does the underwater welding is called a ‘Diver’ and dives under water, who does welding with his whole body completely submerged in water.

Majority of the underwater welding takes place in docks/offshore locations wherein the welders may be required to go depths as high as 125 meters below the sea level, to carry out the welding under water. In such conditions, the gravity head of water (pressure) will be acting on the body of the welder and the welder should be able to withstand this pressure and should be able to weld by withstanding such pressures. Further, due to rapid ascent and descent, possibilities of disintegration of the dissolved nitrogen and the alteration of the nature of gases at higher depth causing nitrogen narcosis increases. Therefore, whenever an underwater welding training is required to be given, besides the welding skill training, it also becomes important to train the welders to acclimatise and withstand the water pressures that are likely to act on their body when they do underwater welding.

Thus, for underwater welding training to be safe and easier, it is proposed in this invention, an apparatus for providing such a training wherein the pressurised environment is artificially created and under this pressurised condition, the welder undergoes training to acquire skill in underwater welding.

PRIOR ART:
Reference may be made to the following patents:

Chinese patent CN101254563B relates to a portable underwater dry-type welding device, which comprises an electric welding machine, an air compressor, and a welding handle and a common welding electrode used in typical underwater welding applications. In this prior art, a local dry welding space is created and then the welding is carried out, but the proposed invention discloses an apparatus wherein welders can be trained to perform underwater welding actually in a water submerged conditions, unlike this prior art where water is removed locally to create a dry space.

Chinese patent CN103785923B describes a kind of local dry underwater welding robot based on Remote Operating Vehicle (ROV). The welding manipulator is arranged on the ROV, which is guided from a ship and does welding in harsh conditions successfully. The present invention is significantly different from this prior art because it is pertaining to an underwater welding, where water is not removed unlike what is stated in this prior art and further the instant invention is only meant for providing a pressurised and enclosed chamber for providing training to welders in underwater welding.

US patent US9101994B2 discloses a system and device for welding training, wherein the welding training system includes a display configured to show welding features related to a training welding operation. The system also includes a training work piece having a substantially transparent weld joint configured to be placed adjacent to the display during the training welding operation. The present invention is totally different from this prior art since the main objective of the apparatus disclosed therein is to specify a pressure vessel for the purpose of providing underwater welding training and not ordinary welding training arrangement as disclosed in this prior art.

US patent US4568813A is directed to an electrode comprising a base rod and a hard coating is coated with a powder coating comprising thermite, a gelling agent, and optionally particles of hard coating material that swells upon contact with water and forms a gelatinous coating upon use in underwater arc welding, and acts as an insulating coating, and fluxing agent in underwater arc welding is disclosed. But, the present invention is totally different from this prior art as the former is pertaining to an apparatus meant for training of welders in underwater welding in a pressurised condition and does not claim regarding the electrode used for welding, unlike the prior art.

None of the prior arts cited above, have disclosed an apparatus for providing underwater training to welders with trainee welder actually submerged under water and with provisions of creating a pressurised environment that simulates the real time conditions prevalent under the sea water.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus to simulate underwater welding for training.

Further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that would facilitate the welders to undergo underwater welding training, wherein the water pressure is also built that an exact replication of real time underwater welding conditions are simulated as closely as possible.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus to simulate underwater welding for training, which is simple in construction.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present invention is illustrated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
One or more drawbacks of conventional systems and process are overcome, and additional advantages are provided through the apparatus/composition and a method as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be part of the claimed disclosure.

According to the invention, a novel apparatus for providing underwater welding training is disclosed. The apparatus is capable of providing training to welders for acquiring skill of welding, acclimatising the higher pressures and the capability of sustaining the water pressures that would generally prevail in typical underwater welding applications.

The apparatus is a pressure vessel, made of a cylindrical member that is joined to a hemispherical dished end portion on the one end and to a flat end cover on the other end. This vessel is kept upright and holds the water up to a level which is greater than the height of the welder to be trained. Then, there are also certain attachments that need to be fitted on to the vessel, for various purposes. There is an inlet for pumping water into the vessel, an outlet for gradual draining of water, yet another larger sized vent for rapid draining of water meant for emergency purposes, a stirrer present in the inside of the vessel for gently stirring the water filled in the vessel, two peep holes covered by transparent glass, an air vent for filling the required quantity of compressed air (obtained externally) above the water level so as to create a pressurised environment, another vent that would relieve the pressurised air out of the vessel when a pre-set pressure is exceeded, yet another vent for quick venting out of all the compressed air out of the vessel, inlet port for connecting the welding torch and other cables to external power supply, internally available provisions for providing illumination, a camera and further, there are certain other constructional features that include a monkey ladder, a circular banister on the hemispherical portion of the vessel, a circular hatch for enabling entry into the vessel.

Initially water will be filled to a height exceeding the height of the welder, then the welder will enter into the vessel through the hatch in the hemispherical portion. Then, pressurised air is filled until a pre-set pressure is reached. Any excess pressurisation will activate an outlet through which the extra air will be vented out. There will be illumination provisions inside the vessel. Thus, the welder will be able to undergo welding training in a simulated under water conditions that exist in real times.
Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and processes that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:

Figure 1 shows: Apparatus for providing underwater welding training according to the present invention.

Figure 2 shows: Apparatus with the welder positioned therein in accordance with the invention.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
While the embodiments of the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof have been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.

The present invention discloses a novel apparatus designed for providing skill training to welders to perform underwater welding. The vessel has provisions for providing welding skill training in a pressurized environment that very closely resembles the conditions that prevail in typical underwater welding situation that are done submerged in sea water.

The apparatus is a pressure vessel, as shown in Figure 1, made by joining a cylindrical portion to a circular end cover in the bottom (13) and a hemispherical dished end (4) on the top side. On the exterior of the vessel, a monkey ladder (2) is fixed to enable the welder to climb up the steps so as to reach the hemispherical dished end portion (4) wherein a circular hatch (6) with an air-tight cover is provided. This can be opened and the welder can gain entry into the vessel. There is also circular banister (5) fixed on the hemi-spherical dished end portion to hold on to, while moving on the hemispherical dished end portion. There is provided a water vent (1) through which water is pumped into the vessel and also drained out of the vessel whenever required. There is also an emergency vent (11) for draining out the water rapidly, which can be opened as and when required.

The vessel is kept upright and water is firstly filled through inlet (1) to a height exceeding the height of the welder who is needed to be trained. Then above the water level, only air at atmospheric pressure is present initially. Then, compressed air is pumped into the vessel through compressed air inlet (3). The compressed air is continuously fed into the vessel until the pressure of the vessel rises up to a pre-set pressure. Once the pre-set pressure is exceeded, the pumping of compressed air is stopped and any excess pressure generated is released through a vent (8) controlled by a diaphragm opening. There is also an outlet (9) for relief of all the pressurized air back into the atmosphere. There is an airtight inlet port (7) through the cables and other wires associated with the externally placed power source, are taken into the vessel. There are preplanned provisions (12) placed inside the vessel for mounting stirrer, for producing a gentle current in the water, an illumination arrangement and a CCTV camera that will record the welder’s movements, in the course of the training activity.

Besides this, there are two airtight, glass covered peep holes (10) through which the activities and movements of the welder can be observed from the exterior side.

Thus, the invention proposes an apparatus for providing training in underwater welding to welders in an environment most closely resembles the conditions that are prevalent below sea water, wherein the said apparatus is a pressure vessel composed of at least one cylindrical portion, one flat end cover and a hemispherical dished end portion or a cylindrical portion with two sided hemispherical / toroidal / ellipsoidal dished ends or a spherical pressure vessel or a pressure vessel of any shape that can serve the purpose having the following:

- a ladder on the exterior side for enabling the climbing on the vessel
- a circular banister to enable the movement on the exterior of the hemispherical portion of the vessel
- an airtight hatch with cover in the hemispherical dished end portion that facilitates the welder to enter into and exit out of the vessel
- a water inlet line through which the water is pumped in for filling the vessel with water and water is also drained out whenever required
- an emergency water vent for rapid draining out of water
- a compressed air inlet line to pump in compressed air to the vessel, after filling of water into the vessel, so that a pressurized environment is created inside the vessel
- A controller for controlling the rate of pressurization and depressurization to simulate the rate of ascent and descent of the diver for simulating the change of gravity head
- an air outlet line that enables the relief of excess air when a pre-set air pressure is exceeded
- an outlet line for completely venting out all the compressed air from the inside of the vessel
- a plurality of airtight peep holes with a transparent cover to see the movements and activities of the welder undergoing training inside the vessel
- provisions for stirrer/agitator/propeller for directing currents onto the weldment within the water contained inside the vessel
- provision for lighting arrangement inside the vessel
- provision for fixing a CCTV camera for viewing the movements / activities of the welder present inside the vessel

Here, the compressed air is filled above the water level inside the vessel up to any pre-set pressure, so as to simulate the gravity head in real-world conditions experienced by welders while working under the sea.

Referring to figure 2 showing a schematic sketch of the welder submerged in water inside the vessel.

This set-up, on account of its ability to pressurize air to various pre-set pressures can create a simulated environment for the welders to get themselves trained in the field of underwater welding.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION:
- Provision of underwater training to welders with trainee welder actually submerged under water and with provisions of creating a pressurised environment that simulates the real time conditions prevalent under the sea water;
- Safe and easier underwater welding training;
- Artificial creation of Pressurised environment and under this pressurised condition, the welder undergoes training to acquire skill in underwater welding;
- Simple in construction;
- Underwater-welder friendly.

WORKING OF INVENTION:
Initially water is filled to a height exceeding the height of the welder, then the welder enters into the vessel through the hatch in the hemispherical portion. Then, pressurised air is filled until a pre-set pressure is reached. Any excess pressurisation activates an outlet through which the extra air is vented out. There will be illumination provisions inside the vessel. Thus, the welder will be able to undergo welding training in a simulated under water conditions that exist in real times.

Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention, which for infringement purposes is recognized as including equivalents to the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the "invention" may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the "invention" will refer to subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims.

Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all groups used in the appended claims.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particulars claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogues to “at least one of A, B and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B”.

The above description does not provide specific details of manufacture or design of the various components. Those of skill in the art are familiar with such details, and unless departures from those techniques are set out, techniques, known, related art or later developed designs and materials should be employed. Those in the art are capable of choosing suitable manufacturing and design details.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.

The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
, Claims:We Claim:

1. An apparatus to simulate underwater welding for training comprising of a pressure vessel, which comprises:
a cylindrical portion joined to a circular end cover in the bottom (13) and a hemispherical dished end (4) on the top side, wherein on the exterior of the vessel, a monkey ladder (2) is provided to enable the welder to climb up the steps so as to reach the hemispherical dished end portion (4) wherein a circular hatch (6) with an air-tight cover is provided, which is openable to gain entry into the vessel;
a circular banister (5) fixed on the hemi-spherical dished end portion (4) to hold on to, while moving on the hemispherical dished end portion (4), a water vent (1) through which water is pumped into the vessel as well as drained out of the vessel whenever required and an emergency openable vent (11) for draining out the water rapidly.

2. The apparatus to simulate underwater welding for training as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vessel is kept upright and water is firstly filled through inlet (1) to a height exceeding the height of the welder who is needed to be trained, in which above the water level air at atmospheric pressure is present initially.

3. The apparatus to simulate underwater welding for training as claimed in claim 2, wherein compressed air is pumped into the vessel through compressed air inlet (3) until the pressure of the vessel rises up to a pre-set pressure, in which once the pre-set pressure is exceeded, the pumping of compressed air is stopped and any excess pressure generated is released through a vent (8) controlled by a diaphragm opening.

4. The apparatus to simulate underwater welding for training as claimed in claims 1-3, wherein an outlet (9) is provided for relief of the pressurized air back into the atmosphere.

5. The apparatus to simulate underwater welding for training as claimed in claims 1-4, comprising an airtight inlet port (7) through the cables and other wires associated with the externally placed power source, taken into the vessel.

6. The apparatus to simulate underwater welding for training as claimed in claims 1-5, comprising of provisions (12) placed inside the vessel for mounting stirrer/agitator/propeller for producing a gentle current in the water.

7. The apparatus to simulate underwater welding for training as claimed in claims 1-6, comprising of an illumination arrangement and a CCTV camera to record the welder’s movements, in the course of the training activity.

8. The apparatus to simulate underwater welding for training as claimed in claims 1-7, comprising of airtight, glass covered peep holes (10) through which activities and movements of the welder are observed from the exterior side.

9. The apparatus to simulate underwater welding for training as claimed in claims 1-8, wherein the pressure vessel is composed of at least one cylindrical portion, one flat end cover and a hemispherical dished end portion, alternatively a cylindrical portion with two sided hemispherical/ toroidal / ellipsoidal dished ends, alternatively a spherical pressure vessel/a pressure vessel of any shape that can serve the purpose.

10. The apparatus to simulate underwater welding for training as claimed in claims 1-9, wherein a controller is provided for controlling the rate of pressurization and depressurization to simulate the rate of ascent and descent of the diver for simulating the change of gravity head, and the compressed air is filled above the water level inside

the vessel up to any pre-set pressure, so as to simulate the gravity head in real-world conditions experienced by welders while working under the sea.