The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 03, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 01, 1999
Applicant:
Inventor:
Geoffrey Beardmore, Cheltenham, GB;
Assignee:
Smiths Industries Public Limited Company, London, GB;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01N 2/906 ; G01N 2/910 ; G01N 2/924 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01N 2/906 ; G01N 2/910 ; G01N 2/924 ;
Abstract
An aircraft has several ultrasonic phased arrays acoustically bonded to parts of its structure to be monitored. The arrays are energized to produce an ultrasonic beam that scans the structure in two planes. A monitor receives the output from the arrays produced by reflection of energy from discontinuities within the structure. When there is a change in these outputs, the monitor signals a pilot display unit and a flight control system such that the aircraft flight envelope can be restricted to minimize damage.