Positioning device for RAM testing system

• US 6,937,352 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2004
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Scow, Robert A., Daws, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lauchman, Layla
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stock, Jr., Gordon J.
• Application Number:
  US10/959,682
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 356/622, 356/237.1, 356/614, 356/630, 356/237.2, 250/559.22, 250/559.38
• US Class Current: 356/630
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/87 Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/225 used in level-measurement devices, e.g. for level gauge measurement
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/02 Waveguide horns

Abstract

The invention is a device for positioning a hand-held RAM inspection system for measuring the thickness of a RAM coating. In detail, the invention includes a housing containing the RAM coating inspection system, the housing having a longitudinal axis. Three laser distance-measuring devices are circularly mounted on the housing at 120 degrees from each other; the laser distance measuring devices are for determining the required distance and orientation of the RAM inspection system from the RAM coating surface. An electrical controller circuit is coupled to the three lasers and the RAM inspection system for triggering the RAM inspection system to measure the RAM material when the three lasers indicate that the housing is at the proper distance and orientation to the RAM coating surface.

Claims

1. A device for positioning a RAM inspection system comprising:

a housing containing the RAM inspection system, said housing having a longitudinal axis;

three laser distance measuring devices circularly mounted on said housing at 120 degrees from each other, said three laser distance measuring devices for determining the required distance and orientation of the RAM inspection system from a RAM coating surface; and

controller means coupled to said three laser distance measuring devices and the RAM inspection system, said controller means comprising;

a trigger mounted to said housing for actuating the RAM inspection system;

means to record RAM inspection system measurements; and

a circuit for only allowing the RAM inspection system measurements to be recorded when said housing is positioned such that said three laser distance measuring devices are equally distant and at the required distance from the RAM coating surface.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said three laser distance measuring devices are mounted on said housing such that the laser beams from said three laser distance measuring devices contact the RAM coating surface on the circumference of a one inch circle when the housing is at the proper distance from and orientation to the RAM coating surface for making a measurement.