The Boeing Company

University of Washington

Jeffrey Reyner Kollgaard

Gary E Georgeson

Tyler M Holmes

William Paul Motzer

Alan Frank Stewart

Richard Henry Bossi

Clarence Lavere Gordon, Iii

Steven Kenneth Brady

Barry Allen Fetzer

Nathan Rylan Smith

Matthew N O'Donnell

William Joseph Tapia

Clyde T Uyehara

Ivan Pelivanov

James C Kennedy

Jeffrey G Thompson

Jill Paisley Bingham

Paul Stanley Rutherford

Brent Louis Hadley

Joseph Frank Floyd

Nancy L Wood

John Robert Linn

Carl B Gifford

Kevin M Uhl

James J Troy

Scott Wesley Lea

Paul H Shelley, Jr

Christopher David Brown

Jeffrey M Hansen

Christopher R Brown

John F Spalding

Aydin Akdeniz

Matthew C Malkin

Blake Anthony Bertrand

Donald Duane Palmer, Jr

Christopher Ralph Brown

Diane R LaRiviere

Jinjun Xia

David Fortner

David K Brooks

Chen-Wei Wei

Carrie Ann Decker

David Truong

J Robert Bopp

Nathan R Smith

Paul S Rutherford

Clarence L Gordon

William J Tapia

Gary Ernest Georgeson

Clarence L Gordon Iii

Clarence Lavere Iii Gordon

A method of forming parts uses a forming tool having a forming surface, and an ultrasonic transducer array on the forming surface.

Methods of forming parts using forming tools and flexible ultrasonic transducer arrays

Apparatus and methods for real-time fusion of data acquired using ultrasonic and eddy current area sensors during nondestructive examination. The ultrasonic data is acquired using an array of ultrasonic transducer elements configured to enable the production and display of a C-scan of a small area. The ultrasonic transducer array may be one- or two-dimensional. The eddy current sensor can be a single pair of induction coils, a multiplicity of coil pairs, or a coil configuration in which the numbers of drive coils and sense coils are not equal. The eddy current sensor is able to provide data about the test material, such as material thickness or conductivity, to complement the ultrasonic data or enable auto-setup of the ultrasonic inspection device.

Real-time fusion of ultrasound and eddy current data during non-destructive examination

An extended reach inspection apparatus may include a scanner device and a robotic manipulator arm. The robotic manipulator arm may include a plurality of arm segments including a distal end arm segment and a proximal end arm segment. A movable joint may couple the distal end arm segment to the robotic manipulator arm. A telescoping extension mechanism may be coupled to the distal end arm segment. The scanner device is mounted to the telescoping extension mechanism for moving the scanner device between a retracted position proximate the robotic manipulator arm and an extended position at a distance from the robotic manipulator arm. A control handle may be coupled to the proximal end arm segment of the plurality of arm segments for manipulating the robotic manipulator arm.

Extended reach inspection apparatus

An apparatus comprises a forming tool having a forming surface, and an ultrasonic transducer array on the forming surface.

Forming tools and flexible ultrasonic transducer arrays

A method of detecting local material changes in a composite structure is presented. A pulsed laser beam is directed towards the composite structure comprised of a number of composite materials. Wide-band ultrasonic signals are formed in the composite structure when radiation of the pulsed laser beam is absorbed by the composite structure. The wide-band ultrasonic signals are detected to form data. The data is processed to identify a local frequency value for the composite structure. The local frequency value is used to determine if local material changes are present in the number of composite materials.

Composite inspection

A method for auto-calibrating a non-destructive testing instrument. In accordance with some embodiments, the method comprises: (a) determining a first set of coordinates in a test object coordinate system of the test object, the first coordinates representing a target position on a surface of the test object; (b) storing a calibration file in a memory of the non-destructive testing instrument, the calibration file containing calibration data which is a function of structural data representing a three-dimensional structure of the test object in an area containing the target position; (c) calibrating the non-destructive testing instrument using the calibration data in the calibration file; and (d) interrogating the target position using the calibrated non-destructive testing instrument.

Automated calibration of non-destructive testing equipment

A method of detecting material changes in a composite structure is presented. A pulsed laser beam is directed towards the composite structure comprised of a number of composite materials. Wide-band ultrasonic signals are formed in the composite structure when radiation of the pulsed laser beam is absorbed by the composite structure. The wide-band ultrasonic signals are detected to form data. The data comprises a number of ultrasonic A-scans. The data is processed to identify a plurality of frequency measurements for each of the number of ultrasonic A-scans. A frequency image is displayed using the plurality of frequency measurements. The material changes are represented in the frequency image.

A method and assembly are provided in order to inspect a partially cured repair patch prior to installation. For example, an assembly for inspecting a repair patch is provided that includes a partially cured repair patch comprised of a composite material. The assembly also includes an acoustic facilitation layer disposed proximate of the surface of the repair patch through which ultrasonic signals will be introduced. The assembly further includes a vacuum bag surrounding the repair patch and the acoustic facilitation layer. The acoustic facilitation layer has an acoustic impedance that is closer to the respective acoustic impedances of the repair patch and the vacuum bag than the acoustic impedance of air is to the respective acoustic impedances of the repair patch and the vacuum bag.

Method and assembly for inspecting a partially cured repair patch prior to installation

An integrated and networked system of remote operations is provided that extends remote expert NDT methodology to a variety of manufacturing and in-service processes. The functional elements of the system comprise remote NDT applications, advanced remote NDT, remote administration, remote NDT commercial operations, and remote data analytics, which are all tied together by a remote communications hub. The communications hub has communication links with computer systems of those functional elements.

Systems and methods for non-destructive testing involving remotely located expert

A method of detecting inconsistencies in a structure is presented. A pulsed laser beam is directed towards the structure. A plurality of types of ultrasonic signals is formed in the structure when radiation of the pulsed laser beam is absorbed by the structure. The plurality of types of ultrasonic signals is detected to form data.

Inspection of structures

Systems and methods for multi-layer ultrasonic imaging are provided. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes linear ultrasonic transducers that are each configured to conduct electricity across their length. The apparatus includes a first planar layer that comprises a first set of the transducers arranged in parallel. The apparatus also includes a second planar layer that comprises a second set of the transducers arranged in parallel, and that is oriented such that each transducer of the second set overlaps at least two transducers of the first set. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a third planar layer that comprises a third set of the transducers arranged in parallel, and that is oriented such that each transducer of the third set overlaps at least two transducers of the first set and at least two transducers of the second set.

Multi-layer ultrasound imagers

Disclosed is an apparatus, method and system for inspecting structures, and more particularly for evaluating the condition of a structure. The disclosed nondestructive inspection testing method and apparatus enables an operator to assess the condition of a structure, such as a composite laminate part and determining the location and depth of anomalies. The method includes generating a subsurface longitudinal ultrasonic wave signal at a high incidence angle into a structure being evaluated and collecting at least one of any front, back or side reflected wave data. The method may include processing the reflected wave data to determine the condition of the structure, including any anomalies that may have been detected and their location, size and shape.

Apparatus and method for inspecting a laminated structure

An apparatus, for non-destructively inspecting a sandwich panel defining an enclosed space, has an external and internal probe. The external probe is adjacent an external face-sheet of the sandwich panel and the internal probe is adjacent an internal face-sheet of the sandwich panel. The sandwich panel has a core material that is is interposed between the external and internal face-sheets of the sandwich panel. Each of the probes includes two elements that integrally form the probe. The external probe includes and is integrally formed from one of a magnetic field emitter and a magnetic field sensor, the magnetic field emitter emitting a magnetic field, and one of an ultrasonic transmit transducer and an ultrasonic receive transducer. The internal probe includes and is integrally formed from the other of the magnetic field emitter and the magnetic field sensor and the other of the ultrasonic transmit transducer and the ultrasonic receive transducer.

Apparatus, system, and method for non-destructive ultrasonic inspection

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Jeffrey Reyner Kollgaard