Spirit Aerosystems, Inc.

Adam Joseph Donar

W Robert Nelson

David Michael Gayle

Gregorio Balandran

Kendall Ford Koerner

Nicholas John Pilla

A through-transmission ultrasonic (TTU) inspection system for ultrasonic inspection of a part, such as an aircraft component. The TTU inspection system may include a first end effector and/or a second end effector. The first end effector may be positioned on a first surface of the part and the second end effector may be positioned on a second surface of the part, opposite the first surface. The first and/or second end effector may also include an acoustic coupling medium encircled by a plurality of pins independently movable toward and away from a housing of the first and/or second end effector, such that the pins may follow local part contours along the first surface at all times, while retaining the acoustic coupling medium between the first surface and a transducer in the housing of the first and/or second end effector.

Ultrasonic inspection end effector

A sensor assembly for inspecting a part, the sensor assembly comprising a sensor for sensing a defect of the part and a remoldable housing for retaining and positioning the sensor in alignment with the defect of the part. The housing is formed of a moldable material and may be molded into a shape that conforms to a contour of the part when a stimulus is applied to the housing and may harden into the shape when the stimulus is removed from the housing.

Remoldable contour sensor holder

An apparatus for inspecting a curved portion of a manufactured part comprises a frame, a sensor, a plunger, and a linking mechanism. The frame may include a first contact wall and an opposing second contact wall. Each contact wall may contact a planar portion of the part adjacent to the curved portion and may be oriented at an angle corresponding to an angle of the planar portions of the part adjacent to the curved portion. The sensor may transmit at least one signal to and receive at least one signal from the part. The plunger may contact the surface of the part and move as a radius of curvature of the part changes. The linking mechanism may couple to the plunger and may adjust the height of the sensor above a surface of the part in response to motion of the plunger.

Self adjusting corner scanner

An ultrasound inspection system includes a part fixture at least partially submerged in a liquid bath. The part fixture includes at least one surface with a plurality of elongated protrusions extending from the surface and a fluid flow ingress aperture in the surface. A part to be inspected is secured on the fixture by circulating the liquid through a channel in the fixture such that the liquid flows around the part and into the ingress aperture. The part engages and is supported by the elongated protrusions, wherein the elongated protrusions are configured such that they do not interfere with the ultrasonic testing performed on the part.

Part fixture for nondestructive inspection

A controller for use with a nondestructive inspection system communicates with the nondestructive inspection system and with a robot for moving an inspection probe of the nondestructive inspection system relative to an object under inspection. The controller is configured to periodically generate estimated position information of the probe moving relative to the object under inspection and communicate the estimated position information to the nondestructive inspection system as the nondestructive inspection system collects inspection data from the probe. The controller receives actual position information from the robot, the actual position information indicating an actual position of the probe, and corrects the estimated position information based on the actual position information.

Growing community of inventors

Wichita, KS, United States of America

Adam Joseph Donar