Sandia Corporation

Textron Innovations Inc.

Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.

Sandia National Laboratories

Phil Walkington

Dennis P Roach

Edward Hohman

Kirk A Rackow

Rirk Rackow

Ed Hohman

Sohan Singh

Dennis Roach

Rick Rackow

An eddy current probe adapted for detecting cracks in material directly beneath a raised-head fastener is disclosed. The probe comprises an eddy current coil and a support for carrying the coil in an orientation suitable for introducing eddy currents into material directly beneath a raised-head fastener.

Rivet rotating eddy current probe

A rotating concave eddy current probe for detecting fatigue cracks hidden from view underneath the head of a raised head fastener, such as a buttonhead-type rivet, used to join together structural skins, such as aluminum aircraft skins. The probe has a recessed concave dimple in its bottom surface that closely conforms to the shape of the raised head. The concave dimple holds the probe in good alignment on top of the rivet while the probe is rotated around the rivet's centerline. One or more magnetic coils are rigidly embedded within the probe's cylindrical body, which is made of a non-conducting material. This design overcomes the inspection impediment associated with widely varying conductivity in fastened joints.

Rotating concave eddy current probe

Growing community of inventors

Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

Phil Walkington