The Boeing Company

University of Washington

Steven Kenneth Brady

Gary E Georgeson

William Paul Motzer

Alan Frank Stewart

James C Kennedy

Jeffrey Reyner Kollgaard

Jill Paisley Bingham

Donald Duane Palmer, Jr

Tyler M Holmes

Amanda Hansen

Morteza Safai

John Ralph Hull

Matthew N O'Donnell

Barry Allen Fetzer

Jeffrey G Thompson

Clarence Lavere Gordon, Iii

Nathan Rylan Smith

Ivan Pelivanov

Scott Wesley Lea

Marc Joel Piehl

Jeffry J Garvey

Selina Brownridge

Richard Henry Bossi

Paul H Shelley, Jr

Paul Griffin Vahey

Landon Keith Henson

Nancy L Wood

Michael C Hutchinson

Benjamin Emerson Carl Koltenbah

William D Meade

Thomas A Maeder

Matthew M Whitmer

David Fortner

Gary Ernest Georgeson

Clarence Lavere Iii Gordon

Disclosed herein is a laser bond inspection system that comprises a high-power laser, configured to generate a high-power laser beam having a high energy, and a low-power laser, configured to generate a low-power laser beam having a low energy that is less than the high energy. The laser bond inspection system further comprises a target patch. The laser bond inspection system additionally comprises a beam-aiming optic, configured to receive the low-power laser beam from the low-power laser and redirect the low-power laser beam at the target patch when the target patch is affixed to the part. The laser bond inspection system also comprises an optical sensor, configured to detect a reflected portion of the low-power laser beam reflected off of the target patch. The beam-aiming optic is further configured to receive the high-power laser beam from the high-power laser and redirect the high-power laser beam at the target patch.

Laser bond inspection system and method

A component assembly includes a core including a main body having a first surface and a second surface opposite from the first surface. One or more recessed cells are formed in each of the first surface and the second surface of the main body. The one or more recessed cells formed in the first surface extend toward the second surface. The one or more recessed cells formed in the second surface extend toward the first surface. A first layer is secured to the core at a first adhesive layer. A second layer is secured to the core at a second adhesive layer.

Methods for forming and testing a composite component

Systems and methods are provided for thermal inspection of tape layup. One embodiment is a method for performing inspection of a tape layup. The method comprises laying up tape onto a surface of a laminate, applying heat to tack the tape to the surface, and generating thermographic images of the tape as applied to the surface.

Thermographic inspection for tape layup machines

Thermographic inspection of lanes of tape laid-up by tape layup machines, based on acquired thermographic images

An automated high-speed method for inspecting metal around fasteners and a computer-controlled apparatus for performing that inspection method. The apparatus comprises a multi-motion inspection head mounted on a scanning bridge, a robotic arm, or a robotic crawler vehicle. The multi-motion inspection head comprises a millimeter waveguide probe and a motorized multi-stage probe placement head that is operable for displacing the waveguide probe along X, Y and Z axes to achieve multiple sequenced motions. The waveguide probe is attached to a mandrel that is rotatably coupled to an X-axis (or Y-axis) stage for rotation about the Z axis. Smart servo or stepper motors with feedback control are used to move the waveguide probe into place and then scan across or around a fastener head to inspect for cracks that may be under paint.

Automated detection of fatigue cracks around fasteners using millimeter waveguide probe

Described herein is an apparatus, for shielding light generated by a laser during non-destructive inspection of an object. The apparatus includes a light shield at least partially enveloping the laser and defining a first opening through which light generated by the laser passes from the laser to the object. The light shield is opaque and includes at least one first biasing mechanism. The apparatus also includes at least one first light seal coupled to the light shield about the first opening of the light shield. The at least one first biasing mechanism is configured to urge resilient deformation of the at least one first light seal against the object. When the at least one first light seal is resiliently deformed against the object, light generated by the laser is constrained within a light containment space defined between the light shield, the at least one first light seal, and the object.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for inspecting a part

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

Disclosed herein is a probe for detecting structural integrity of a part. The probe comprises an outer shield, having a hollow tubular shape, defining a first interior channel, and comprising a part-engagement end. The probe also comprises an inner shield, within the first interior channel, having a hollow tubular shape, spaced apart from the outer shield, and comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, opposite the first end portion. The first end portion of the inner shield is closer to the part-engagement end of the outer shield than the second end portion of the inner shield. The first end portion of the inner shield comprises a wall extension, protruding in a direction extending from the second end portion of the inner shield to the first end portion of the inner shield and circumferentially extending about less than an entire circumference of the inner shield.

Probe for detecting structural integrity of part

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 of detecting inconsistencies 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 a surface of the composite structure. The wide-band ultrasonic signals are detected over a duration of time to form data. The data comprises an ultrasonic A-scan spectrum. The data is processed to identify a structure signal in a frequency domain of the ultrasonic A-scan spectrum. The structure signal of the ultrasonic A-scan spectrum is compared to a structure signal of a composite structure standard to determine whether the inconsistencies are present in the number of composite materials.

A measurement system is provided that includes a radiographic source, a detector, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is operably coupled to the detector and configured to: position the radiographic source in a first position relative to the object to image a first portion of the object, with the first position configured to maintain parallax for the first portion within a predetermined amount; obtain first imaging information of the first portion of the object in the first position; adjust the position of the radiographic source relative to the object to a second position, with the second position configured to maintain parallax for the second portion within a predetermined amount; obtain second imaging information of the second portion of the object in the second position; and generate an image of the object using the first imaging information and the second imaging information.

Apparatuses and methods for high-precision measurement

A system for nondestructive evaluation of a test object includes a platform, an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) to create acoustic vibrations that travel along the test object; an infrared detector positioned to record thermal images of a plurality of test areas on the test object to detect flaws in the test object as the platform and the test object move relative to each other; and a control connected to actuate the EMAT and the infrared detector, synchronize the creation of vibrations with the recording of thermal images, receive a signal from the infrared detector indicative of the thermal image of the surface of the test object, and record locations of the flaws appearing on the thermal images of the test areas, all as the platform and the test object move relative to each other.

System and method for nondestructive evaluation of a test object

Growing community of inventors

Renton, WA, United States of America

Steven Kenneth Brady