US3977236A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for ultrasonic fastener hole inspection
Assignee: Boeing Co
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Filing: 1974-10-21
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Granted: 1976-08-31
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Expires: 1994-10-21
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic scanner positions a transducer with respect to a fastener hole, with an installed fastener, to adjustably control transducer direction and location and to maintain transducer contact while scanning the hole. The scanner synchronizes transducer location during scanning cycle and transmits ultrasonic echoes from the transducer into a storage display monitor to detect flaws.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles F. Raatz, Jr.
- 👤 Russell K. Woodbury
- 👤 Wayne E. Woodmansee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 04:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/22; G01N29/26; G01N29/265; G01N29/04; G01N29/06; G01N29/0609; G01N29/0645; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/02; G01N2291/023; G01N2291/0234
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
An apparatus to inspect a fastener hole without removing the fastener comprising: a scanner including, an adjustable mounting, means for adjustably fastening a transducer to the mounting with said transducer capable of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic energy, means for directing the transducer around a fastener hole, means for rotating the transducer around the fastener hole, and means for sensing transducer location and direction; and means for storage display of echo signals received by the transducer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
75 words
An apparatus to inspect a fastener hole without removing the fastener comprising: a scanner including, an adjustable mounting, means for adjustably fastening a transducer to the mounting with said transducer capable of transmitting and receiving ultrasonic energy, means for directing the transducer around a fastener hole, means for rotating the transducer around the fastener hole, and means for sensing transducer location and direction; and means for storage display of echo signals received by the transducer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus to inspect fastener holes without removing the fastener as in claim 1 further comprising means for monitoring the scanner to assure contacting a working surface around a fastener hole with the transducer and for centering on the hole.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the means for adjustably fastening the transducer includes: means for adjusting the transducer height and angle of incidence, and means for adjusting tangential distance and for adjusting radial distance of the transducer with respect to the hole centerline.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the means for sensing transducer location and direction includes: a rotatable carrier disk to which the transducer is mounted, said disk having equally spaced holes adjacent the outer rim; and means for electro-optical encoding in combination with the holes in the disk to generate electrical impulses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as in claim 4 further including a second ultrasonic transmitting and receiving transducer adjustably mounted to the disk in a position to direct sound waves to approach fastener hole defects from a side opposite the side approached by sound waves from the first transducer.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for ultrasonic inspection of a fastener hole without removing the fastener, the apparatus having a scanning device comprising: an adjustable frame, a circular carrier rotatably mounted in the frame, means for adjustably mounting and directing in the carrier at least one transducer capable of ultrasonic transmitting and receiving, means for rotating the carrier, and means for converting carrier rotation into electrical pulses; and the apparatus also having a control and display device comprising: means for utilizing the electrical pulses to control a stepper motor to drive potentiometers and impart a radial image on a storage display monitor, means for transmitting a pulse to and for receiving ultrasonic echoes from the transducer, means for utilizing the signal from the echo through a time gate for imparting deflection to the radial image in response to flaws detected.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for ultrasonic inspection of a fastener hole without removing the fastener, the apparatus having a scanning device comprising: an adjustable frame, a circular carrier rotatably mounted in the frame, means for adjustably mounting and directing in the carrier at least one transducer capable of ultrasonic transmitting and receiving, means for rotating the carrier, and means for converting carrier rotation into electrical pulses; and the apparatus also having a control and display device comprising: means for utilizing the electrical pulses to control a stepper motor to drive potentiometers and impart a radial image on a storage display monitor, means for transmitting a pulse to and for receiving ultrasonic echoes from the transducer, means for utilizing the signal from the echo through a time gate for imparting deflection to the radial image in response to flaws detected.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as in claim 6 further comprising: a second storage display monitor; means for imparting a radial image on the second monitor from the driven potentiometers; means for imparting sweep ramp B-scans, in response to transducer echoes, to the radial image, and means for utilizing detected echo signal peaks for intensity modulating the B-scans.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as in claim 6 further comprising: a second storage display monitor, means for imparting a linear image on the second monitor from the driven potentiometers, means for imparting sweep ramp B-scans in response to transducer echoes to the lineal image, and means for utilizing detected echo signal peaks for intensity modulating the B-scans.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as in claim 6 further comprising: a second transducer adjustably mounted to the carrier positioned to direct sound waves to approach fastener hole defects from a side opposite the side approached by sound waves from the first transducer.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
150 words
An apparatus for ultrasonic inspection of a fastener hole without removing the fastener comprising: an adjustable frame; a circular carriage rotatably mounted to the frame; means for adjustably mounting a transducer, capable of ultrasonic transmitting and receiving, to the carriage, said means including means for adjusting transducer height and angle of incidence, and tangential and radial position of the transducer with respect to fastener hole axis; a plurality of equally spaced holes located on the carriage; means for rotating the carriage; means for electro-optical encoding in combination with the holes to generate electrical pulses; means for utilizing the electrical pulses to detect transducer location and impart an image on a storage display monitor; means for transmitting a pulse to and for receiving ultrasonic echoes from the transducer; means for utilizing the signal from the echo through a time gate to impart deflection to the image in response to flaws detected.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
150 words
An apparatus for ultrasonic inspection of a fastener hole without removing the fastener comprising: an adjustable frame; a circular carriage rotatably mounted to the frame; means for adjustably mounting a transducer, capable of ultrasonic transmitting and receiving, to the carriage, said means including means for adjusting transducer height and angle of incidence, and tangential and radial position of the transducer with respect to fastener hole axis; a plurality of equally spaced holes located on the carriage; means for rotating the carriage; means for electro-optical encoding in combination with the holes to generate electrical pulses; means for utilizing the electrical pulses to detect transducer location and impart an image on a storage display monitor; means for transmitting a pulse to and for receiving ultrasonic echoes from the transducer; means for utilizing the signal from the echo through a time gate to impart deflection to the image in response to flaws detected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus for ultrasonic inspection of a fastener hole as in claim 10 further comprising: a second transducer adjustably mounted to the carriage to direct sound waves to approach fastener hole defects from a side opposite the side approached by sound waves from the first transducer.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of ultrasonic inspection of a fastener hole with the fastener in position using a scanner and a control and display unit the steps comprising: directing and locating a transducer, adjustably mounted to a rotatable carriage part of a scanner, with respect to axis of rotation of the carriage; positioning the scanner with the carriage axis of rotation located over axis of a fastener hole to be inspected, rotating the carriage; utilizing an electro-optical encoder for sensing carriage position and introducing electrical impulses into a storage monitor; introducing an ultrasonic pulse into the transducer and receiving an echo signal back from the transducer; and utilizing a time gate for transmitting the echo signal from a hole flaw for deflecting the signal in the storage monitor in response to the echo from the flaw.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of ultrasonic inspection of a fastener hole with the fastener in position using a scanner and a control and display unit the steps comprising: directing and locating a transducer, adjustably mounted to a rotatable carriage part of a scanner, with respect to axis of rotation of the carriage; positioning the scanner with the carriage axis of rotation located over axis of a fastener hole to be inspected, rotating the carriage; utilizing an electro-optical encoder for sensing carriage position and introducing electrical impulses into a storage monitor; introducing an ultrasonic pulse into the transducer and receiving an echo signal back from the transducer; and utilizing a time gate for transmitting the echo signal from a hole flaw for deflecting the signal in the storage monitor in response to the echo from the flaw.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method of ultrasonic inspection of a fastener hole as in claim 12, further steps comprising: utilizing a second transducer directed and positioned for directing an ultrasonic signal to approach the flaw in the fastener hole from a side opposite the side the signal approaches from the first transducer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-31 | 1980-03-01 | 1980-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-31 | 1984-03-01 | 1984-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-31 | 1988-03-01 | 1988-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |