In-Process Vision Detection of Flaw and FOD Characteristics
First Claim
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1. An inspection system comprising:
- an idler wheel coupled to a fabrication system and contacting a backing layer of an applied material;
a rotation sensor monitoring said idler wheel and generating a rotational signal; and
a controller coupled to said rotation sensor and determining at least one characteristic of at least one flaw and FOD on a composite structure in response to said rotation signal.
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Abstract
An inspection system (9) includes an idler wheel (61) that is coupled to a fabrication system (8) and is in contact with a backing layer (65) of an applied material (64), A rotation sensor (63) monitors the idler wheel (61) and generates a rotational signal. A controller (24) is coupled to the rotation sensor (63) and determines a characteristic of one or more flaws and FOD (19) on a composite structure (12) in response to the rotation signal.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. An inspection system comprising:
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an idler wheel coupled to a fabrication system and contacting a backing layer of an applied material; a rotation sensor monitoring said idler wheel and generating a rotational signal; and a controller coupled to said rotation sensor and determining at least one characteristic of at least one flaw and FOD on a composite structure in response to said rotation signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An inspection system for determining characteristics of flaws and FOD during the fabrication of a composite structure comprising:
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a material collection device coupled to the fabrication system; a take-up sensor coupled to the material collection device, monitoring the translation of a backing layer of a composite material, and generating a take-up signal; a controller coupled to said take-up sensor and determining at least one characteristic of at least one flaw or FOD on the composite structure in response to said take-up signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16-34. -34. (canceled)
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35. A method of fabricating a composite structure comprising:
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applying a plurality of composite material layers to a substrate to form the composite structure; rotating a material collection device via a backing layer of a composite material; monitoring said material collection device and generating a rotational signal; and determining at least one characteristic of at least one flaw and FOD on a portion of the composite structure in response to said rotation signal. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification