Caterpillar Inc.

Nien L Lee

Marion Billingsley Grant, Jr

Seth Carl Studnicka

Michael Patrick Vogler

Michael Stevan Radovanovic

George Mathai

Paul Murphy

Nicholas S Craven

Christopher S Meeks

Tyler Fischer

A seal ring inspection system may include a chuck system configured for securing a seal ring and an inspection tool framework arranged about the chuck system and configured to adjustably support a plurality of inspection tools relative to the seal ring. The system may also include a plurality of inspection tools adjustably arranged on the inspection tool framework including an imaging device and a plurality of laser scanners. The plurality of laser scanners may also include a surface laser scanner and a pair of diagonally directed profile laser scanners collectively configured for capturing a full profile of the seal ring.

Automated seal inspection system

A method and system for grading pistons with deposits is disclosed. In an embodiment, a piston with upon its outer surface deposits is three dimensionally scanned and compared to a reference model to detect the location and geometry of the deposits. The location and geometry of the deposits are recorded and used to grade the pistons. The piston is increased in temperature and thermally scanned. The deposits are identified based on the temperature differences measured with respect to the temperature of the outer surface of the piston. Deposit characteristics can be generated from the identified locations of deposits and the magnitude of temperature difference with respect to the outer surface. The deposit characteristics are recorded and used to grade the pistons.

Grading a piston with deposits using measurement data and thermal scan data

A manufacturing fixture process, and associated device for practicing the disclosed process, includes supporting a component during manufacturing by at least one rest pad, and sensing and transmitting a force signal exerted on the rest pad by the component during manufacturing by at least one sensor associated with the at least one rest pad. The process further includes clamping the component onto the rest pad by a clamping component configured to rigidly hold the component, receiving and monitoring the force exerted on the rest pad by a force monitoring system configured to receive and monitor the signal indicating the force exerted on the rest pad, as well as determine whether the force exerted on the rest pad is within a predetermined range, exceeds the predetermined range, and/or is below the predetermined range, and outputting the force exerted on the rest pad with an output device.

Manufacturing fixture system and associated process having a rest pad force sensor with closed loop feedback

A distortion correction tool corrects distortion in a workpiece held by a fixture. Sensors in the fixture determine the existence, extent, and location of distortions in the workpiece and a controller directs the application of the distortion correction tool to the workpiece based on the information received from the sensors. Particularly, a ram mounted to a quick-change tool head for a robotic arm is used as a distortion correction tool to correct distortions in a workpiece by inducing plastic deformation through use of compressive force, the extent and location of which is determined by a controller based on sensor measurements.

Smart fixture distortion correction system

A method of determining wear of an artificial knee assembly (AKA) includes acquiring a first set of computed tomography (CT) data about the AKA in vivo. A first volumetric file is generated based on the first set of CT data. A first point cloud data set is generated based on the first volumetric AKA file. A first dimensional analysis of the AKA is performed using the first point cloud data set. A second volumetric file is generated based on a second set of acquired CT data before implantation or from a model. A second point cloud data set is generated based on the second volumetric AKA file. A second dimensional analysis is performed using the second point cloud data set. The first dimensional analysis is compared to the second dimensional analysis and a determination is made if they are different from each other.

System and method of measuring in vivo wear in artificial knee joint

A multi-target photogrammetric target assembly and related method of evaluating curvilinear surface character. The target assembly includes a first photogrammetric target disposed at a first support and a second photogrammetric target disposed at a second support. The first support and the second support are operatively connected such that the first target is in predefined lateral spaced relation to the second target. The method includes providing a structure having a curvilinear surface and affixing one or more multi-target photogrammetric target assemblies to the curvilinear surface. The position of the targets is measured by one or more imaging devices to define surface contour characteristics.

Photogrammetric target and related method

An orifice formation system is provided. The system includes a manufacturing machine configured to form an orifice in a workpiece, a computed tomography x-ray machine configured to generate data based on geometry of the workpiece, and a computer in communication with the manufacturing machine and the computed tomography x-ray machine. The computer is configured to control the manufacturing machine based on the data generated by the computed tomography x-ray machine. A method of controlling formation of an orifice in a workpiece is also provided. The method includes acquiring computed tomography data about the workpiece, determining geometry of the workpiece based on the computed tomography data, and forming an orifice in the workpiece based on the determined geometry of the workpiece.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Nien L Lee