US3739262A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inspection machine using a master and follower to guide a probe at a predetermined angle relative to a test piece
Assignee: General Electric Co
•
Filing: 1971-09-20
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Granted: 1973-06-12
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Expires: 1991-09-20
Abstract
Abstract An eddy current inspection machine comprises a blade master and a plurality of blade holders mounted in side-by-side relation on a carriage which reciprocates in a horizontal x direction. Probes and a follower are mounted on a parallel linkage mechanism which is pivotally mounted on a slide which is incrementally advanced in a horizontal y direction. The follower engages the master and controls the angular setting of the parallel linkage mechanism to position the probes normal to the surfaces of blades positioned by the holders. Read-out means, connected to the probes, identify imperfection as the probes traverse the surfaces of the workpieces.
Inventors
- 👤 H Seekins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:03
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/72; G01N27/82; G01N27/90; G01N27/9093
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
An inspection machine comprising means mounting a workpiece holder and a master, having a curved surface, in spaced relationship to each other in an x-y plane that a workpiece correspondingly curved to the master may be positioned in the holder in fixed relation relative to the master; a follower for bearing against the master and assuming a predetermined angular position relative to the curved surface of the master at any point on the master independently of its curvature, a probe juxtapositioned relative to the workpiece at a point corresponding to the point the follower engages the master, means maintaining a parallel relationship between the probe and the follower whereby the probe will be maintained at the predetermined angular position relative to the surface of the workpiece, means for imparting relative linear movement to the mounting means and its associated workpiece holder/master in an x direction, and means for imparting relative linear movement to the maintaining means and its associated probe/follower in a y direction orthogonal to the x direction whereby the surface of the master and workpiece may be traversed with the follower and probe respectively while the maintaining means preserves the predetermined fixed angular positions between the follower and master and between the probe and workpiece surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
An inspection machine comprising means mounting a workpiece holder and a master, having a curved surface, in spaced relationship to each other in an x-y plane that a workpiece correspondingly curved to the master may be positioned in the holder in fixed relation relative to the master; a follower for bearing against the master and assuming a predetermined angular position relative to the curved surface of the master at any point on the master independently of its curvature, a probe juxtapositioned relative to the workpiece at a point corresponding to the point the follower engages the master, means maintaining a parallel relationship between the probe and the follower whereby the probe will be maintained at the predetermined angular position relative to the surface of the workpiece, means for imparting relative linear movement to the mounting means and its associated workpiece holder/master in an x direction, and means for imparting relative linear movement to the maintaining means and its associated probe/follower in a y direction orthogonal to the x direction whereby the surface of the master and workpiece may be traversed with the follower and probe respectively while the maintaining means preserves the predetermined fixed angular positions between the follower and master and between the probe and workpiece surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
78 words
An inspection machine as in claim 1 wherein the x-y plane is horizontal, the holder positions the workpiece in side-by-side relationship with the master relative to the x direction, the means maintaining a parallel relationship between the probe and follower include a parallel linkage mechanism and further wherein means are provided for vertical movement of the probe and follower in a direction generally orthogonal to the x y plane to accommodate height variations of the workpiece and master.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
105 words
An inspection machine as in claim 2 wherein the means for imparting relative linear movement to the mounting means and its associated workpiece/master in the x direction comprise a carriage on which the master and holder are mounted and means for reciprocating the carriage in the x direction and wherein the means for imparting relative linear movement to the maintaining means and its associated probe/follower in the y direction comprise a slide movable in the y direction to which the parallel linkage mechanism is connected and means for incrementally advancing said slide in the y direction at each extreme of reciprocating movement of the carriage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
An inspection machine as in claim 3 wherein the parallel linkage mechanism is pivotally connected to the slide about an axis extending in the y direction to provide said vertical movement of the follower and probe and further wherein means are provided for independent vertical movement of the probe to provide for height differentials between the workpiece and master.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
An inspection machine as in claim 2 wherein the follower comprises a pair of pins spaced apart in the y direction and engaging the master at a predetermined angular position for controlling the angular position of the probe relative to the workpiece surface through the parallel linkage mechanism and the master has extensions beyond the workpiece outline of a curvature which when engaged by the pins of the follower operates to maintain the predetermined angular position of the probe relative to the workpiece surfaces up to the extremities of the workpiece outline.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
207 words
An Eddy current inspection machine comprising means mounting a blade holder and a curved blade master in fixed spaced relationship to each other in an x-y plane so that a test blade correspondingly curved to the master may be positioned in the blade holder in fixed relation relative to the master, a follower for bearing against the master and assuming a position normal to the curved surface of the master at any point on the master independently of its curvature, a signal generating probe bearing against the test blade at a point corresponding to the point the follower engages the master, means maintaining a parallel relationship between the probe and follower whereby the probe will be maintained normal to the surface of the test blade, means for imparting relative linear movement to the mounting means and its associated blade holder/master in an x direction, and means for imparting relative linear movement to the maintaining means and its associated probe/follower in a y direction orthogonal to the x direction whereby the surface of the master and test blade may be traversed with the follower and probe respectively while the maintaining means preserves the normal orientations between the follower and master and between the probe and test blade surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
207 words
An Eddy current inspection machine comprising means mounting a blade holder and a curved blade master in fixed spaced relationship to each other in an x-y plane so that a test blade correspondingly curved to the master may be positioned in the blade holder in fixed relation relative to the master, a follower for bearing against the master and assuming a position normal to the curved surface of the master at any point on the master independently of its curvature, a signal generating probe bearing against the test blade at a point corresponding to the point the follower engages the master, means maintaining a parallel relationship between the probe and follower whereby the probe will be maintained normal to the surface of the test blade, means for imparting relative linear movement to the mounting means and its associated blade holder/master in an x direction, and means for imparting relative linear movement to the maintaining means and its associated probe/follower in a y direction orthogonal to the x direction whereby the surface of the master and test blade may be traversed with the follower and probe respectively while the maintaining means preserves the normal orientations between the follower and master and between the probe and test blade surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
143 words
An Eddy current inspection machine as in claim 6 wherein the mounting means include means for mounting the blade holder and the blade master in side-by-side relationship relative to the x direction and the means maintaining a parallel relationship between the probe and the follower comprise a parallel linkage mechanism including at least two spaced apart parallel rods extending in the x direction from the follower and probe respectively into rotatable connections in an upper crossbar which extends in the y direction with the rotatable connections permitting rotation of the rods about the x direction and further including a lower relatively fixed bar also extending in the y direction with parallel links fixedly connected at one end to the parallel rods and rotatably pinned at the other end to the lower fixed bar at spaced apart fixed axes extending in the x direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
An Eddy current inspection machine as in claim 7 wherein the follower comprises a pair of pins equispaced in the y direction on opposite sides of the fixed axis to which it is attached by way of the interconnecting rod and link said pins engaging the curved surface of the master and controlling the angular position of the parallel linkage mechanism, and the master has extensions outside the test blade outline, of a curvature which when engaged by the pins of the follower operates to maintain the relationship of the probe normal relative to the surface of the test blade up to the extremities of the test blade outline.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
176 words
An Eddy current inspection machine as in claim 8 wherein the fixed axes of the parallel linkage mechanism lie generally in a plane through the blade master the probe and follower are connected to the parallel linkage mechanism above the fixed axes by the rods which have a length approximating the length of the test blade and master, said probe and follower projecting downwardly therefrom to respectively engage the test blade surface and master surface the means for imparting x movement comprise a carriage on which the master and holder are mounted, and means For reciprocating the carriage in the x direction, and the means for imparting y movement comprise a slide movable in the y direction on which the parallel linkage mechanism is mounted and means for incrementally advancing said slide in the y direction at each extreme of reciprocating movement of the carriage and further wherein the parallel linkage mechanism is pivotally mounted on the slide about a y extending axis lying in the plane of the fixed axes of the parallel linkage mechanism.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
An eddy current inspection machine as in claim 9 wherein the probe is mounted by a pair of flex plates which are spaced apart in parallel relation normal to the axis of the probe and clamped at their opposite ends to provide a resilient, flexible parallel linkage connection permitting independent heightwise variations of the probe relative to the follower while resiliently mounting engagement with the blade surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
An Eddy current inspection machine as in claim 7 wherein each link extends downward from the spaced apart fixed axes into attachment with a counterweight so as to minimize and maintain essentially constant the torque force.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |