The Boeing Company

Paul Stanley Rutherford

Gary E Georgeson

Nathan Rylan Smith

Karl Edward Nelson

James J Troy

Jeffrey Reyner Kollgaard

Michael Walter Evens

John F Spalding, Jr

Joel Patrick Baldwin

James D Chanes

Mark McKenna

Kareem Shehab

Keith L McIver

Kate Summers

A shear wave inspection tool has a housing with a rotatable top removably fixable over a fastener hole in a structure. An aperture is positioned through the rotatable top and operable to couple an ultrasonic transducer such that when rotatable top is rotated, the ultrasonic transducer transmits a shear wave into the structure around the fastener hole inspecting the fastener hole for an anomaly. A shear wave inspection system includes the inspection tool, an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic data instrument operable to acquire data from the ultrasonic transducer, the nature of the received data indicates the presence of an anomaly in the fastener hole. A method for detecting anomalies in a fastener hole includes removably fixing the inspection tool over a fastener hole and rotating the rotatable top such that the ultrasonic transducer transmits a shear wave in a controlled sweep around the fastener hole.

Apparatus and method for ultrasonic shear wave inspection

An apparatus for surface inspection comprises a terahertz emitter, a detector, and a computing device. The terahertz emitter is oriented to emit energy toward a surface having a surface layer disposed on the surface in a proximity of a surface feature. The detector is positioned to receive the energy from the terahertz emitter that is reflected by the surface. The computing device is in signal communication with the detector and is configured to detect the surface feature using a signal from the detector.

Surface inspection system, apparatus, and method

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

A tracking-enabled extended-reach tool system acting upon a workpiece. The tool system includes a gimbal positioned adjacent an opening in a surface, a sensor system, a computer control, and a display. The extended-reach arm has a first end, a second end, an end effector including a tool adjacent the first end. The extended-reach arm engages the gimbal for relative rotational movement and relative slidable movement through the opening positioning the end effector and the tool on a side of the surface opposite the second end. The sensor system is configured to measure a linear position of the extended-reach arm relative to the gimbal. The computer control receives signals from the sensor system indicative of the linear position of the extended-reach arm relative to the gimbal. The display is connected to the computer control and displays a representation of the workpiece and the tool relative to each other in real time.

Tracking-enabled extended reach tool system and method

An in-situ double vacuum debulk (DVD) composite repair system designed to produce partially or fully cured autoclave-quality hot-bond composite repairs on contoured structures. The system provides vacuum pressure for hot bond repairs to be performed on flat and contoured structures using one set-up capable of debulking (partially curing) and then fully curing composite repairs on composite and metallic aircraft structures. The use of in-situ DVD also eliminates handling of the patch/adhesive when transferring from an off-aircraft DVD chamber to the repair site on the aircraft. This can increase the probability of successful repairs because the possibility of contaminating and misaligning the adhesive and repair patch are eliminated.

Systems and methods for on-aircraft composite repair using double vacuum debulking

An extended-reach tool system may include a gimbal positioned adjacent a surface opening; an extended-reach arm having a tool and engaging the gimbal; a sensor system for measuring a position of the arm relative to the gimbal and a position and spatial orientation of the tool relative to the opening; a computer control that converts one or both of the rotational and linear measurements from the sensor system into spatial location representations for virtual representations of 3-D models of the workpiece and tool, determines a position and orientation of the tool relative to the opening and workpiece, and adjusts the virtual representations of the 3-D models of the workpiece and tool as the arm and tool move relative to the workpiece, representing a real-time orientation of the tool relative to the workpiece; and a display for displaying the virtual representations of the 3-D models of the workpiece and tool.

Tracking enabled extended reach tool system and method

A multi-axis tool may include, in some embodiments, a gimbal adapted to be positioned adjacent an opening in a wall; an extended-reach device having first and second ends and an end effector adjacent the first end, the extended-reach device engaging the gimbal for relative rotational movement and relative slidable movement through the opening such that the end effector is positioned on a side of the wall opposite the second end; a sensor system configured to measure a linear position of the extended-reach device relative to the gimbal, and a position and spatial orientation of the end effector relative to the opening; and a computer control connected to receive signals from the sensor system to determine at least one of a position and an orientation of the end effector relative to the opening.

Tracking enabled multi-axis tool for limited access inspection

An inspection apparatus for nondestructive inspection/evaluation. The inspection apparatus may include a probe, and sensor, and a biasing spring. The probe may have a first end and a second, free end defining an opening. The sensor may be received in the opening. The biasing spring may be received in the opening in between the first end of the probe and the sensor to urge the sensor away from the first end of the probe. The probe may include a gimbal joint or ball and socket type joint and a spindle, where the joint provides for deflection of the probe relative to the spindle. A blocking pin for limiting the range of movement of the sensor retains part of the sensor in the opening. The sensor may have a position extending out of the opening, and a position where an end of the sensor is substantially flush with the end of the probe.

Sensor coupling apparatus

Embodiments of techniques and technologies to verify the interference fit of fasteners are disclosed. In one embodiment, a transducer is positioned to transmit a shear ultrasonic signal through a region of a fastener which is subject to stress when the fastener experiences an interference fit. The shear ultrasonic signal is transmitted through a region of the fastener subject to the stress. As the transmitted ultrasonic signal encounters the region, it is mode converted corresponding to a degree of interference which the fastener is experiencing. A return ultrasonic signal from the fastener is received with the transducer. From the return ultrasonic signal, a processor determines the degree of interference fit which the fastener is experience and outputs an indication of the same.

Growing community of inventors

Maple Valley, WA, United States of America

Paul Stanley Rutherford