Abstract: A hard hat adapter for a welding helmet is disclosed. The dapater includes a housing which has an outer wall, an interior surface and a bottom surface. The outer wall includes a surface defining a window therethrough. The interior surface includes a recessed surface circumscribing the window. The recessed surface includes at least one planar surface thereon. A rotatable boss is captured within the housing against the interior surface. The boss has an annular lip that includes at least one planar surface thereon configured to selectively engage the planar surface on the recessed surface of the housing and prevent the boss from rotating when engaged thereon and freely rotatable when disengaged therefrom. A mounting post extends from the boss and projects through the window on the housing. The mounting post is configured to selectively couple to a welding helmet. The welding helmet may include a rotatable cam configured to engage a lever arm on the hard hat adapter.

Abstract: An electronic quick change cartridge for a welding helmet. The cartridge base is formed of an optically dense polycarbonate or like material that acts as a passive filter to provide eye protection during the welding process. A port in the base receives a variable density LCD cell and a cavity formed in the base receives the electronics for driving the cell. Optical masks prevent light leakage through any interfaces of the structure. When low light levels are present, the welder views a work piece through an essentially transparent or slightly opaque LCD cell. When an arc is struck, the LCD cell darkens to a shade corresponding to the shade of the surrounding polycarbonate material. The welder then can view the work piece through the LCD cell and all the optically unobstructed portions of the polycarbonate base surrounding the LCD cell thereby to have an expanded viewing area during the actual welding operation.

Abstract: An electronic quick change cartridge for a welding helmet. The cartridge base is formed of an optically dense polycarbonate or like material that acts as a passive filter to provide eye protection during the welding process. A port in the base receives a variable density LCD cell and a cavity formed in the base receives the electronics for driving the cell. Optical masks prevent light leakage through any interfaces of the structure. When low light levels are present, the welder views a work piece through an essentially transparent or slightly opaque LCD cell. When an arc is struck, the LCD cell darkens to a shade corresponding to the shade of the surrounding polycarbonate material. The welder then can view the work piece through the LCD cell and all the optically unobstructed portions of the polycarbonate base surrounding the LCD cell thereby to have an expanded viewing area during the actual welding operation.