Surface Visualization System for Indicating Inconsistencies

• US 20130250719A1
• Filed: 03/26/2012
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Kollgaard, Jeffrey R., Holmes, Tyler
• Granted Patent: US 9,255,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/7
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/044 Internal reflections (echoes), e.g. on walls or defects
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/106 one or more transducer arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2694 Wings or other aircraft parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/90 using eddy currents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/043 in the interior, e.g. by shear waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/048 Marking the faulty objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/069 Defect imaging, localisation and sizing using, e.g. time of flight diffraction [TOFD], synthetic aperture focusing technique [SAFT], Amplituden-Laufzeit-Ortskurven [ALOK] technique
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/225 Supports, positioning or alignment in moving situation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/226 Handheld or portable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/265 by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material

Abstract

A method and apparatus for indicating an inconsistency. An apparatus comprises a platform, a location system, a transducer system, a projector system, and a data processing system. The platform is configured to move on a surface of an object. The location system is configured to generate location information for the platform on the surface of the object. The transducer system is configured to send signals into the object and receive a response to the signals. The projector system is configured to project an image onto the surface of the object. The data processing system is configured to generate the image using the response. An indication of an inconsistency in the image projected onto the surface of the object corresponds to a location of the inconsistency in the object. The data processing system is configured to control the projector system to project the image onto the surface of the object.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a platform configured to move on a surface of an object;

a location system for the platform and configured to generate location information for the platform on the surface of the object;

a transducer system associated with the platform and configured to send signals into the object and receive a response to the signals;

a projector system associated with the platform and configured to project an image onto the surface of the object; and

a data processing system in communication with the transducer system and the projector system, wherein the data processing system is configured to generate the image using the response in which an indication of an inconsistency in the image projected onto the surface of the object corresponds to a location of the inconsistency in the object and control the projector system to project the image onto the surface of the object.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data processing system uses the location information to generate the image with the indication of the inconsistency in the image such that the indication corresponds to the location of the inconsistency in the object when the image is projected onto the surface of the object.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the location information is a distance moved by the platform.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transducer system comprises:

an array of transducers configured to send the signals into the object and receive the response to the signals.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the transducer system further comprises:

a cylindrical housing configured to roll on the surface of the object as the platform moves on the surface of the object, wherein the array of transducers is located within the cylindrical housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the array of transducers comprises:

an array of piezoelectric transducers.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the location system and the data processing system is associated with the platform.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the location system comprises:

an encoder system.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the platform is selected from one of a handheld platform, a portable platform, and a motorized platform.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image is a C-scan generated from the response.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image has a scale of 1:

1.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data processing system is configured to generate an alert when a first amplitude in the response is greater than a second amplitude for an absence of the inconsistency by a selected amount.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object is selected from one of an aircraft, a mobile platform, a stationary platform, a land-based structure, an aquatic-based structure, a space-based structure, a submarine, a bus, a personnel carrier, a tank, a train, an automobile, a spacecraft, a space station, a satellite, a surface ship, an engine housing, a fuselage, a wing, a composite airfoil, a composite skin panel, a metal skin panel, a vertical stabilizer, a horizontal stabilizer, and a joint.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a platform configured to move on a surface of an object;

a location system for the platform and configured to generate location information for the platform on the surface of the object;

a detection system associated with the platform and configured to generate data about the object;

a projector system associated with the platform and configured to project an image onto the surface of the object; and

a data processing system in communication with the detection system and the projector system, wherein the data processing system is configured to generate the image using the data from the detection system in which an indication of an inconsistency in the image projected onto the surface of the object corresponds to a location of the inconsistency in the object and control the projector system to project the image onto the surface of the object.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the detection system is selected from one of a transducer system and an eddy current testing system.

16. A method for indicating an inconsistency, the method comprising:

generating an image using a response received from signals sent into an object from a transducer system in an ultrasonic inspection system in which an indication of the inconsistency is present in the image; and

projecting the image onto a surface of the object from a projector in the ultrasonic inspection system such that the indication of the inconsistency in the image corresponds to a location of the inconsistency in the object.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

sending the signals into the object from the transducer system; and

receiving the response to the signals at the transducer system.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the image is generated using location information about the ultrasonic inspection system on the surface of the object.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

adjusting the image in response to movement of the transducer system.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the object is selected from one of an aircraft, a mobile platform, a stationary platform, a land-based structure, an aquatic-based structure, a space-based structure, a submarine, a bus, a personnel carrier, a tank, a train, an automobile, a spacecraft, a space station, a satellite, a surface ship, an engine housing, a fuselage, a wing, a composite airfoil, a composite skin panel, a metal skin panel, a vertical stabilizer, a horizontal stabilizer, and a joint.