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US5177779A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Non-destructive radiation inspection apparatus including a sighting unit

Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engines SAS
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Filing: 1991-07-17
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Granted: 1993-01-05
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Expires: 2011-07-17
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Abstract

Abstract Apparatus for inspecting a part by means of X or gamma radiation comprises an arm carrying an X or gamma ray emitter, and a remote light ray emitter for emitting a ray of light parallel to the arm. An oblique mirror which is transparent to the radiation is mounted on the arm in the path of the radiation beam to reflect the ray of light in a direction parallel to the radiation beam and towards the part to be inspected. In this manner identification of the part to be inspected can be achieved by means of a camera carried obliquely on the arm, without having to mount the bulky light emitter close to the components which are essential for carrying out the inspection. The apparatus is particularly useful for checking weldings in narrow bores.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michael L. P. Cornu
  • 👤 Claude J. Krempel

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 22:41
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 228 words
An apparatus for inspecting a part by means of X or gamma radiation, comprising: an X or gamma radiation emitter, an arm carrying said radiation emitter, said arm having a longitudinal axis and said radiation emitter being arranged to emit said radiation as a beam along a path substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, a light ray emitter remote from said radiation emitter, said light ray emitter comprising a light source, an optical fiber for transmitting light from said source, and a terminal mounted on said arm for receiving light from said optical fiber and emitting a ray of light along said arm, a light reflecting mirror disposed in said path of said radiation beam, said mirror being transparent to said radiation and being arranged to receive said light ray emitted from said terminal and to reflect said ray in the direction of said beam toward said part to be inspected, first means for taking an image of the part through which said radiation passes, second means for taking an image of the part sighted by said light ray, and wherein said mirror is fixed on a plate, said plate being removably mounted on said arm, and provided with arcuate holes, said plate being mounted on said arm by fixing screws passing through said holes, wherein said arcuate holes permit adjustment of the angular position of said mirror.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 228 words
An apparatus for inspecting a part by means of X or gamma radiation, comprising: an X or gamma radiation emitter, an arm carrying said radiation emitter, said arm having a longitudinal axis and said radiation emitter being arranged to emit said radiation as a beam along a path substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, a light ray emitter remote from said radiation emitter, said light ray emitter comprising a light source, an optical fiber for transmitting light from said source, and a terminal mounted on said arm for receiving light from said optical fiber and emitting a ray of light along said arm, a light reflecting mirror disposed in said path of said radiation beam, said mirror being transparent to said radiation and being arranged to receive said light ray emitted from said terminal and to reflect said ray in the direction of said beam toward said part to be inspected, first means for taking an image of the part through which said radiation passes, second means for taking an image of the part sighted by said light ray, and wherein said mirror is fixed on a plate, said plate being removably mounted on said arm, and provided with arcuate holes, said plate being mounted on said arm by fixing screws passing through said holes, wherein said arcuate holes permit adjustment of the angular position of said mirror.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 204 words
An apparatus for inspecting a part by means of X or gamma radiation, comprising: an X or gamma radiation emitter, an arm carrying said radiation emitter, said arm having a longitudinal axis and said radiation emitter being arranged to emit said radiation as a beam along a path substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, a light ray emitter remote from said radiation emitter, said light ray emitter comprising a light source, an optical fiber for transmitting light from said source, and a terminal mounted on said arm for receiving light from said optical fiber and emitting a ray of light along said arm, a light reflecting mirror disposed in said path of said radiation beam, said mirror being transparent to said radiation and being arranged to receive said light ray emitted from said terminal and to reflect said ray in the direction of said beam toward said part to be inspected, first means for taking an image of the part through which said radiation passes, second means for taking an image of the part sighted by said light ray, and wherein said light ray emitting terminal is mounted on said arm by means permitting positional adjustment of said terminal by rotation and swiveling thereof.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 204 words
An apparatus for inspecting a part by means of X or gamma radiation, comprising: an X or gamma radiation emitter, an arm carrying said radiation emitter, said arm having a longitudinal axis and said radiation emitter being arranged to emit said radiation as a beam along a path substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, a light ray emitter remote from said radiation emitter, said light ray emitter comprising a light source, an optical fiber for transmitting light from said source, and a terminal mounted on said arm for receiving light from said optical fiber and emitting a ray of light along said arm, a light reflecting mirror disposed in said path of said radiation beam, said mirror being transparent to said radiation and being arranged to receive said light ray emitted from said terminal and to reflect said ray in the direction of said beam toward said part to be inspected, first means for taking an image of the part through which said radiation passes, second means for taking an image of the part sighted by said light ray, and wherein said light ray emitting terminal is mounted on said arm by means permitting positional adjustment of said terminal by rotation and swiveling thereof.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 225 words
An apparatus for inspecting a part by means of X or gamma radiation, comprising: an X or gamma radiation emitter, an arm carrying said radiation emitter, said arm having a longitudinal axis and said radiation emitter being arranged to emit said radiation as a beam along a path substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, a light ray emitter remote from said radiation emitter, said light ray emitter comprising a light source, an optical fiber for transmitting light from said source, and a terminal mounted on said arm for receiving light from said optical fiber and emitting a ray of light along said arm, a light reflecting mirror disposed in said path of said radiation beam, said mirror being transparent to said radiation and being arranged to receive said light ray emitted from said terminal and to reflect said ray in the direction of said beam toward said part to be inspected, first means for taking an image of the part through which said radiation passes, second means for taking an image of the part sighted by said light ray, wherein said mirror is fixed on a plate, said plate being removably mounted on said arm, and a device for checking horizontality of said arm, said device being mounted on a plate which may be removably fitted on said arm in place of said mirror plate.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 225 words
An apparatus for inspecting a part by means of X or gamma radiation, comprising: an X or gamma radiation emitter, an arm carrying said radiation emitter, said arm having a longitudinal axis and said radiation emitter being arranged to emit said radiation as a beam along a path substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, a light ray emitter remote from said radiation emitter, said light ray emitter comprising a light source, an optical fiber for transmitting light from said source, and a terminal mounted on said arm for receiving light from said optical fiber and emitting a ray of light along said arm, a light reflecting mirror disposed in said path of said radiation beam, said mirror being transparent to said radiation and being arranged to receive said light ray emitted from said terminal and to reflect said ray in the direction of said beam toward said part to be inspected, first means for taking an image of the part through which said radiation passes, second means for taking an image of the part sighted by said light ray, wherein said mirror is fixed on a plate, said plate being removably mounted on said arm, and a device for checking horizontality of said arm, said device being mounted on a plate which may be removably fitted on said arm in place of said mirror plate.

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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) 1996-01-05 1996-07-06 1997-01-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-01-05 2000-07-06 2001-01-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-01-05 2004-07-06 2005-01-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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