The Boeing Company

The Boeing Company M/s 7e-25

Wayne E Woodmansee

Michael J Duncan

Mark A Lee

Glenn A Geithman

James C Kennedy

Russell K Woodbury

Rolf S Vatne

Charles F Raatz, Jr

Peter C Weidman

A digital bond tester operating at frequencies in the kHz range and relying upon vibrational modes which can excite all or substantial portions of the test object.

Digital bond tester

An ultrasonic scanning system utilizing a selectively rotatable reflector permitting selective use of multiple transducers mounted around the periphery of a water jet for flaw detection in composite materials.

Multiple ultrasonic transducer with remote selector

A material under test is scanned by transmit and receive ultrasonic transducers, thus generating data representative of the structural integrity of the material at precise locations thereof. The data is stored in memory for recall to excite a graphics display of the material. A user may define any boundary shape within the display and thereby cause a computer to recall and statistically process only those data points within the boundary.

Method and apparatus for the analysis of scanned data

In connection with radiographic inspection of structural and industrial materials, method and apparatus are disclosed for automatically determining and displaying the time required to expose a radiographic film, positioned to receive radiation passed by a test specimen, so that the finished film is exposed to an optimum blackening (density) for maximum film contrast. A plot is made of the variations in a total exposure parameter (representing the product of detected radiation rate and time needed to cause optimum film blackening) as a function of the voltage level applied to an X-ray tube. An electronic function generator storing the shape of this plot is incorporated into an exposure monitoring apparatus, such that for a selected tube voltage setting, the function generator produces an electrical analog signal of the corresponding exposure parameter. During the exposure, another signal is produced representing the rate of radiation as monitored by a diode detector positioned so as to receive the same radiation that is incident on the film. The signal representing the detected radiation rate is divided, by an electrical divider circuit into the signal representing total exposure, and the resulting quotient is an electrical signal representing the required exposure time.

Radiographic apparatus and method for monitoring film exposure time

A scanning mechanism for oscillating a watercoupled ultrasonic transducer, over the surface of a part containing a strip weld and, positioning the ultrasonic transducer along orthogonal paths of travel (one parallel to and the other orthogonal to the strip weld) is disclosed. Position sensors forming part of the scanning mechanism continuously provide signals relating to the orthogonal and oscillatory position of the transducer. An ultrasonic beam emitted by the transducer enters the part and is reflected back and forth between the surfaces of the part, through the weld. Ultrasonic specular reflections (flaw echoes) created by flaws or faults in the weld travel back to the transducer. The 'flaw echo' presence and position signals are applied to a monitor subsystem that simultaneously displays the position of the origin of flaw echoes, (and thus flaws), in two planes--one plane lying parallel to the reflecting surfaces of the part, and the other lying orthogonal to the reflecting surfaces and parallel to the strip weld. Preferably, the flaw displays are shaded in accordance with the magnitude of the received flaw echo signals. Further, a video recorder records the data being displayed for subsequent redisplay and analysis. The axis of oscillation of the transducer may coincide with the point where the ultrasonic beam enters the part, or it may lie on either side of the entry point. As an alternative arrangement, two transducers, one for transmission and the other for reception, are used to sense specular reflections that do not return to the transmitting transducer.

Mechanized scanning, display and recording ultrasonic weld inspection

A system for inspection of bonded structures utilizing an electromagnetic transmitting transducer for transmitting at an audio frequency which is varied linearly from 10.sup.2 to 10.sup.4 Hz with a repetition rate which is variable from 2 Hz to 50 Hz into a part being tested and including a condenser microphone also coupled to the part for providing in a receiver circuit an audible output which enables the operator to distinguish a change in the audio spectrum representative of a disbond condition.

Swept frequency audible bond tester

A system for inspection of adhesively bonded structures utilizing a piezoelectric transmitting transducer for transmitting a fixed frequency tone burst, e.g., 25 KHz, at a predetermined repetition rate, e.g., 100 Hz, into a part being tested and including a piezoelectric receiving transducer also coupled to the part for providing in a receiver circuit an audible output which permits the operator to distinguish amplitude variations of the 100 Hz repetition rate signal representative of the presence of an unbonded area.

Audible bond tester

An ultrasonic scanner positions a transducer with respect to a fastener hole, with an installed fastener, to adjustably control transducer direction and location and to maintain transducer contact while scanning the hole. The scanner synchronizes transducer location during scanning cycle and transmits ultrasonic echoes from the transducer into a storage display monitor to detect flaws.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Wayne E Woodmansee