APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR NONDESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION OF PARTS
First Claim
1. A method of inspecting a radius area of composite parts with an ultrasonic inspection system, where the inspection system includes an inspection device that includes at least one ultrasonic probe, an upper sliding surface, a lower sliding surface, an adjustable guide rail, and an adjustable encoder wheel rotatably coupled to a rotary encoder, said method comprising:
- generating a high frequency sound wave using the at least one ultrasonic probe, the probe including a radius of curvature extending from a center point, wherein the high frequency sound wave travels at least partially through the part;
adjusting the guide rail to align the center point of the at least one probe with a center axis of a corner portion of the part;
sliding the part through the inspection device to inspect the corner portion of the part using the high frequency sound wave by rotating the encoder wheel and rotary encoder such that the arcuate distance of the part is recorded;
adjusting the encoder wheel to avoid any apertures defined within the part; and
processing the high frequency sound wave information.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of inspecting a radius area of composite parts with an ultrasonic inspection system, the system includes at least one ultrasonic probe, an upper sliding surface, a lower sliding surface, an adjustable guide rail, and an adjustable encoder wheel rotatably coupled to a rotary encoder, is provided. The method includes generating a high frequency sound wave using the probe including a radius of curvature extending from a center point, the sound wave travels partially through the part, adjusting the guide rail to align the center point of the probe with a center axis of a part corner portion, sliding the part through the inspection system to inspect the corner portion using the sound wave by rotating the wheel and rotary encoder such that the arcuate distance of the part is recorded, adjusting the wheel to avoid any apertures defined within the part, and processing the sound wave information.
24 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of inspecting a radius area of composite parts with an ultrasonic inspection system, where the inspection system includes an inspection device that includes at least one ultrasonic probe, an upper sliding surface, a lower sliding surface, an adjustable guide rail, and an adjustable encoder wheel rotatably coupled to a rotary encoder, said method comprising:
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generating a high frequency sound wave using the at least one ultrasonic probe, the probe including a radius of curvature extending from a center point, wherein the high frequency sound wave travels at least partially through the part; adjusting the guide rail to align the center point of the at least one probe with a center axis of a corner portion of the part; sliding the part through the inspection device to inspect the corner portion of the part using the high frequency sound wave by rotating the encoder wheel and rotary encoder such that the arcuate distance of the part is recorded; adjusting the encoder wheel to avoid any apertures defined within the part; and processing the high frequency sound wave information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An inspection device for ultrasonic inspection of a variety of differently shaped parts, said inspection device comprising:
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a frame; a support assembly coupled to said frame, said support assembly comprising at least one upper sliding surface and at least one lower sliding surface; an adjustable guide rail rotatably coupled to said frame and positioned adjacent said lower sliding surface such that an angle is defined between said guide rail and said lower sliding surface; and an adjustable encoder assembly slidably coupled to said frame, said adjustable encoder assembly comprising; a wheel configured to contact at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the part; and a rotary encoder rotatably coupled to said wheel. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An ultrasonic inspection system for the inspection of a variety of differently shaped parts, said ultrasonic inspection system comprising:
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a tank at least partially filled with an immersion fluid; an inspection device at least partially submerged within said tank, said inspection device comprising; a frame; a support assembly coupled to said frame, said support assembly comprising at least one upper sliding surface and at least one lower sliding surface; an adjustable guide rail rotatably coupled to said frame and positioned adjacent said lower sliding surface such that an angle is defined between said guide rail and said lower sliding surface; and an adjustable encoder assembly slidably coupled to said frame, said adjustable encoder assembly comprising; a wheel configured to contact at least one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the part; and a rotary encoder rotatably coupled to said wheel; at least one ultrasonic probe coupled within said inspection device, wherein said at least one ultrasonic probe generates a high frequency sound wave that passes through the immersion fluid and at least partially through a corner portion of the part; and a computer coupled in communication with said rotary encoder and said at least one ultrasonic probe, said inspection system operable to identify and locate discontinuities within the part. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification