Non-destructive infrared inspection device

• US 7,312,454 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2005
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Safai, Morteza, Georgeson, Gary E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannaher, Constantine
• Application Number:
  US11/259,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20060043303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 250/347
• US Class Current: 250/347
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/9515 Objects of complex shape, e.g. examined with use of a surface follower device measuring contours and curvatures G01B11/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/954 Inspecting the inner surface of hollow bodies, e.g. bores

Abstract

A non-destructive inspection device has an infrared sensor for infrared thermography inspection of a structure or surface. A rotatable reflector reflects infrared light from an inspected surface to an infrared sensor. An inspecting portion of a non-destructive device is magnetically coupled to an actuating portion of the device for concerted movement of the portions. An inspection device includes both an infrared sensor for infrared imaging and an optical device such as a camera for visible light imaging.

Claims

1. An infrared inspection system comprising:

an infrared sensor device;

a first rotatable reflector disposed to reflect infrared light from an inspected subject to the infrared sensor device;

a display system communicably coupled to the infrared sensor device for presenting data related to an output signal of the infrared sensor device; and

an optical device that is sensitive to visible light and is disposed to collect visible light from an inspected subject.

2. An infrared inspection system according to claim 1, further comprising a second rotatable reflector disposed to reflect visible light from an inspected subject to the optical device.

3. An infrared inspection system according to claim 2, wherein the optical device is disposed to collect images of an inspected subject by the way of the second rotatable reflector.

4. An infrared inspection system according to claim 3, wherein the infrared sensor device is disposed to capture an infrared image of an inspected subject, wherein the optical device is disposed to capture a visible-light image of the inspected subject, and wherein the display system is communicably coupled to the infrared sensor device and to the optical device for presenting graphical representations of the infrared image and the visible-light image.

5. An infrared inspection system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more carriage elements by which at least the infrared sensor device and the first rotatable reflector are mobile.

6. An infrared inspection system according to claim 5, further comprising a coupling capable of applying motive force at least to the infrared sensor device and the first rotatable reflector for causing movement thereof.

7. An infrared inspection system according to claim 5, wherein the infrared sensor device and the first rotatable reflector are mobile relative to the display system.

8. An infrared inspection according to claim 5, further comprising:

motor operatively coupled at least to the one or more carriage elements for causing movement of at least the infrared sensor device and the first rotatable reflector; and

a controller operatively coupled to the motor for controlling movement of at least the infrared sensor device and the first rotatable reflector relative to the controller and display system.

9. An infrared inspection system according to claim 1, the optical device being disposed to capture a visible-light image of an inspected subject, the infrared sensor device being disposed to capture an infrared image of the inspected subject, the display system being communicably coupled to the infrared sensor device and to the optical device, and the display system being configured to present superimposed graphical representations of the infrared image and the visible-light image.

10. An infrared inspection system according to claim 1, further comprising a visible light source for illuminating an inspected subject, the visible light source configured to strobe asynchronously with the infrared sensor device.

11. An infrared inspection system according to claim 1, further comprising a visible light source capable of emitting visible light essentially free of infrared spectral components for illuminating an inspected subject.

12. An infrared inspection system according to claim 11, wherein the visible light source comprises a phosphorescent material.

13. An infrared inspection system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an actuating portion comprising a first magnet, the actuating structured for placement on a first surface of an inspected subject such that the actuating portion is movable relative to the inspected subject;

a second magnet; and

a mobile carriage upon which the infrared sensor device, the optical device, and the second magnet are disposed, the mobile carriage structured for positioning on a surface of the inspected subject opposite the first surface such that the mobile carriage is magnetically coupled to the actuating portion so that movement of the actuating portion causes the mobile carriage to move in concert with the actuating portion without the mobile carriage directly contacting the actuating portion.

14. An infrared inspection system according to claim 1, further comprising an infrared lens disposed to focus an infrared image of an inspected subject onto a focal plane coincident with the infrared sensor device, wherein the infrared sensor device comprises a focal plane array of infrared sensors.

15. An infrared inspection system according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication system by which the display system is communicably coupled to the infrared sensor device and to the optical device.

16. An infrared inspection system comprising:

an infrared sensor device;

a first rotatable reflector disposed to reflect infrared light from an inspected subject to the infrared sensor device;

a display system communicably coupled to the infrared sensor device for presenting data related to an output signal of the infrared sensor device;

a second rotatable reflector;

a camera device disposed to collect visible-light images of an inspected subject by the way of the second rotatable reflector; and

a mobile carriage upon which are disposed the infrared sensor device, the first rotatable reflector, the second rotatable reflector, and the camera device;

wherein the display system is communicably coupled to the infrared sensor device for presenting graphical representations of infrared images of an inspected subject,

wherein the display system communicably coupled to the camera device for presenting graphical representation of the visible-light images, and

wherein the mobile carriage is movable relative to the display system.

17. An infrared inspection system according to claim 16, the display system being configured to present superimposed graphical representations of the infrared images and the visible-light images.

18. An infrared inspection system according to claim 16, further comprising a visible light source for illuminating an inspected subject, the visible light source configured to strobe asynchronously with the infrared sensor device.

19. An infrared inspection system according to claim 16, further comprising a visible light source capable of emitting visible light essentially free of infrared spectral components for illuminating an inspected subject.

20. An infrared inspection system according to claim 19, wherein the visible light source comprises a phosphorescent material.

21. An infrared inspection system according to claim 16, further comprising:

an actuating portion comprising a first magnet, the actuating portion structured for placement on a first surface of an inspected subject such that the actuating portion is movable relative to the inspected subject;

a second magnet disposed on the mobile carriage, the mobile carriage structured for positioning on a surface of the inspected subject opposite the first surface such that the mobile carriage is magnetically coupled to the actuating portion so that movement of the actuating portion causes the mobile carriage to move in concert with the actuating portion without the mobile carriage directly contacting the actuating portion.

22. An infrared inspection system according to claim 16, further comprising an infrared lens disposed to focus an infrared image of an inspected subject onto a focal plane coincident with the infrared sensor device, wherein the infrared sensor device comprises a focal plane array of infrared sensors.

23. An infrared inspection system according to claim 16, further comprising a wireless communication system by which the display system is communicably coupled to the infrared sensor device and to the camera device.