The Boeing Company

Ronald D Curl

Edward G Sergoyan

Joe R Long

Duncan P Mackinnon

David Curtis Smith

G Dale Davis

A remotely controlled, traction wheel driven, transporter moves inspection equipment within a walled cavity to check internal structural features. The inspection equipment can be mounted on a positioner pushed by the transporter, which adjusts with changing dimensions of the cavity so as to maintain the inspection equipment in a desired position or attitude, for example, centered within the cavity.

Apparatus for transporting and positioning an inspection device within a walled cavity

Remotely-adjustable support apparatus and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a primary support and a secondary support moveably coupled to the primary support. The secondary support includes a cradle member adapted to engage the workpiece. The apparatus further includes a drive assembly operatively coupled to the secondary support and adapted to move the secondary support relative to the primary support. A control device is remotely positionable with respect to the drive assembly and operatively coupled to the drive assembly. The control device is adapted to transmit at least one control signal to the drive assembly to move the secondary support relative to the primary support.

Remotely-adjustable support apparatus and methods

A laser alignment tool includes a line laser assembly including a laser and emitting a laser beam line and an electronic target assembly including a photo detector array. The laser beam line of the laser is pointed toward the center of the photo detector array with the longitudinal axis of the laser beam line being perpendicular to the centerline of the photo detector array. The line laser assembly includes a laser diode having a line-generating lens attached in front using a lens holder and being mounted onto a tilt stage. Using a line laser provides a certified accuracy of &plus;/&minus;0.005 inches at a distance of 10 feet. The electronic target further includes a narrow band pass filter and a discrete LED display that is controlled by a microprocessor. The microprocessor may be programmed with a variable range for each LED of the discrete LED display according to the alignment task.

Growing community of inventors

Lynnwood, WA, United States of America

Ronald D Curl