Data acquisition using a purge plug

Abstract

A welding system using a purge plug for data acquisition. In one example, a purge plug includes purge plug component having a sealing structure. The sealing structure is configured to abut a surface of a hollow device and to form a seal between the sealing structure and the hollow device. The purge plug also includes a sensor at least partly disposed in the purge plug component, the sealing structure, or some combination thereof. The purge plug component is configured to be disposed on a workpiece having the hollow device to purge an undesired gas from the workpiece

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A purge plug system comprising:
 a first gas sealing structure configured to form a first seal between the first gas sealing structure and a hollow device;   a second gas sealing structure configured to form a second seal between the second gas sealing structure and the hollow device;   a shaft coupled to the first and second gas sealing structures; and   a first sensor disposed in the shaft between the first and second gas sealing structures, and wherein the first sensor is configured to detect a parameter related to the hollow device.   
     
     
         2 . The purge plug system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor comprises at least one of an x-ray detector or an ultrasound detector. 
     
     
         3 . The purge plug system of  claim 2 , comprising a second sensor configured to abut a surface of the hollow device, wherein the second sensor comprises a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The purge plug system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor comprises at least one of a pressure sensor or a gas sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The purge plug system of  claim 1 , comprising at least one of an x-ray transmitter or an ultrasound transmitter. 
     
     
         6 . The purge plug system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is configured to wirelessly provide sensed data. 
     
     
         7 . The purge plug system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is configured to store sensed data. 
     
     
         8 . The purge plug system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is configured to provide sensed data via a wired connection. 
     
     
         9 . A purge plug system comprising:
 a purge plug component comprising a first gas sealing structure configured to form a first seal between the first gas sealing structure and a hollow device; and   a transmitter at least partly disposed in the first gas sealing structure, wherein the transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit signals relating to parameters of the purge plug system.   
     
     
         10 . The purge plug system of  claim 9 , wherein the purge plug component comprises a second gas sealing structure configured to form a second seal between the second gas sealing structure and the hollow device and a shaft coupled to the first and second gas sealing structures, and wherein at least one of the first gas sealing structure or the second gas sealing structure comprises an inlet configured to receive an inert gas into the hollow device. 
     
     
         11 . The purge plug system of  claim 9 , wherein the transmitter comprises at least one of an x-ray transmitter, an ultrasound transmitter, or a wireless sensor transmitter.