Utilizing resonance inspection of in-service parts

• US 10,481,104 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vibrant Corproation
• Original Assignee: Vibrant Corproation
• Inventors: Hunter, Lemna J., Jauriqui, Leanne, Weaver, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuan, John C
• Application Number:
  US13/278,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20120158319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,951 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 22/00 Investigating or analysing materials by the use of microwaves or radio waves, i.e. electromagnetic waves with a wavelength of one millimetre or more G01N3/00 - G01N17/00, G01N24/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/103 one emitter, two or more receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/045 by imparting shocks to the workpiece and detecting the vibrations or the acoustic waves caused by the shocks measuring resonant frequency G01H13/00; measuring strength properties by application of mechanical stress G01N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/12 by measuring frequency or resonance of acoustic waves measuring frequency or resonant frequency of mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in general G01H1/06, G01H3/04, G01H13/00; acoustic resonators G10K11/04; vibration or shock testing of structures G01M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/348 with frequency characteristics, e.g. single frequency signals, chirp signals measuring frequency of mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in general G01H1/06, G01H3/04; measuring frequency or analysing frequency spectra G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/4409 by comparison
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/4427 with stored values, e.g. threshold values
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/4445 Classification of defects
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/4472 Mathematical theories or simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/46 by spectral analysis, e.g. Fourier analysis or wavelet analysis spectral signal processing per se G06F17/14

Abstract

Various embodiments relating to resonance inspections and in-service parts are disclosed. One protocol (150) includes conducting a resonance inspection of an in-service part (152). The frequency response of the in-service part may be compared with a resonance standard (154) for purposes of determining whether or not the in-service part is changing abnormally (156). An in-service part that is identified as changing abnormally may be characterized as being “rejected” (160). An in-service part that is no identified as changing abnormally may be characterized as being “accepted” (158).

Claims

1. A method of evaluating new production parts, wherein a resonance inspection comprises exciting a part at a plurality of input frequencies and obtaining a frequency response of the part at said plurality of input frequencies, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

performing said resonance inspection on a first new production part using a new production part sort functionality of a resonance inspection tool;

performing said resonance inspection on a first in-service part after said resonance inspection has been performed on said first new production part;

identifying a first manufacturing defect in said first in-service part;

selecting resonance inspection data from said resonance inspection on said first in-service part that corresponds with said first manufacturing defect and that defines selected resonance inspection data;

generating an updated new production part sort functionality of said resonance inspection tool based upon said selected resonance inspection data, wherein said updated new production part sort functionality is adjusted based upon said selected resonance inspection data from said resonance inspection of said first in-service part and where said selected resonance inspection data corresponds with said first manufacturing defect; and

performing said resonance inspection on a second new production part, wherein said resonance inspection of said second new production part uses said updated new production part sort functionality of said resonance inspection tool after said generating step, wherein said first and second new production parts are in a common part class, and wherein said first in-service part is in a different part class from said common part class of said first and second new production parts.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said resonance inspection in relation to said first in-service part comprises using at least one transducer that excites said first in-service part through a range of frequencies and thereafter using at least two other transducers to measure said frequency response of said first in-service part.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said resonance inspection of said first in-service part comprises using a first transducer that excites said first in-service part at each of multiple frequencies and also using said first transducer to measure said frequency response of said first in-service part.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said resonance inspection of said first in-service part is performed with said first in-service part being in an installed condition.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said resonance inspection of said first in-service part is performed with said first in-service part being in an uninstalled condition.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying a first manufacturing defect step uses data other than results from said resonance inspection of said first in-service part.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying a first manufacturing defect step comprises testing selected from the group consisting of destructive testing, nondestructive testing, and any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to said generating step, said new production sort functionality of said resonance inspection tool was configured to accept a part having said first manufacturing defect.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein after said generating step, said updated new production sort functionality of said resonance inspection tool is configured to reject a part having said first manufacturing defect.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said first new production part comprises said first manufacturing defect, and wherein said new production part sort functionality accepts said first new production part and which occurs prior to said generating step.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said second new production part comprises said first manufacturing defect, and wherein said updated new production part sort functionality rejects said second new production part and which occurs after said generating step.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second new production parts are in a new production part class, wherein said first in-service part is in an in-service part class that is different from said new production part class, wherein said new production part class is for parts that have not yet been released from production, and wherein said in-service part class is for parts that have been released from production.