Systems, methods, and devices for probe assemblies for variable curvature and variable angle configurations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10184916-B2
Application number	US-201614997247-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2016
Priority date	Jan 15, 2016
Publication date	Jan 22, 2019
Grant date	Jan 22, 2019

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for inspecting a manufacturing component. Devices include a centering device configured to modify a position of an ultrasonic probe assembly relative to a manufacturing component to bisect an angle associated with the manufacturing component. Devices may also include a surface sensing device configured to sense a curvature associated with the manufacturing component. Devices may further include a plurality of sensors configured to measure a first displacement value associated with the centering device and a second displacement value associated with the surface sensing device. The devices may include a control circuit configured to determine a position adjustment value based on at least one of the first displacement value and the second displacement value. The devices may also include an actuator configured to modify a position of an ultrasonic transducer based, at least in part, on the position adjustment value.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device comprising:
a centering device configured to modify a position of an ultrasonic probe assembly relative to a manufacturing component to bisect an angle associated with the manufacturing component, the ultrasonic probe assembly comprising an ultrasonic transducer;
a surface sensing device configured to sense a curvature associated with the manufacturing component;
a plurality of sensors configured to measure a first displacement value associated with the centering device and a second displacement value associated with the surface sensing device;
a control circuit configured to determine a position adjustment value based on of the first displacement value and the second displacement value; and
an actuator configured to modify a position of the ultrasonic transducer based, at least in part, on the position adjustment value.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the centering device comprises a first surface following guide, a second surface following guide, and a coupling housing coupled to the first surface following guide and the second surface following guide, the coupling housing being biased by a first tension device.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a first sensor and a second sensor.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the first sensor is coupled to the centering device, and wherein the second sensor is coupled to the surface sensing device.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the first sensor and the second sensor comprise differential variable reluctance transformers, and wherein the control circuit comprises a processor and a non-volatile memory.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first displacement value and second displacement value identify a change in the angle associated with the manufacturing component or a change in a position of the ultrasonic probe assembly relative to the manufacturing component resulting from a modification of the position of the ultrasonic probe assembly.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the position adjustment value identifies a positional adjustment configured to modify a position of the ultrasonic transducer to offset the change.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the actuator is configured to modify the position of the ultrasonic transducer to offset the change.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic transducer is configured to measure one or more structural properties of the manufacturing component.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the surface sensing device comprises a wheel biased by a second tension device.

11. A method comprising:
positioning, using a centering device, an ultrasonic probe assembly relative to a manufacturing component to bisect an angle associated with the manufacturing component the ultrasonic probe assembly comprising an ultrasonic transducer;
identifying a change associated with the position of the ultrasonic probe assembly relative to the manufacturing component, the change being identified based, at least in part, on a previous position of the ultrasonic probe assembly;
determining, using a control circuit, a position adjustment value based on the identified change; and
modifying a position of the ultrasonic transducer based, at least in part, on the position adjustment value.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein identifying the change comprises:
identifying, using a first sensor associated with the centering device, a first displacement value.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein identifying the change comprises:
identifying, using a second sensor associated with a surface sensing device, a second displacement value.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the surface sensing device comprises a wheel biased by a tension device.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the modifying of the position of the ultrasonic transducer is based, at least in part, on the position adjustment value, and offsets the identified change.

16. A system comprising:
a robotic arm;
an ultrasonic probe assembly coupled to the robotic arm, the ultrasonic probe assembly comprising:
a centering device configured to modify a position of the ultrasonic probe assembly relative to a manufacturing component to bisect an angle associated with the manufacturing component;
a surface sensing device configured to sense a curvature associated with the manufacturing component;
a plurality of sensors configured to measure a first displacement value associated with the centering device and a second displacement value associated with the surface sensing device;
an ultrasonic transducer;
an actuator configured to modify a position of the ultrasonic transducer; and

an electronics housing comprising a control circuit configured to determine a position adjustment value based on the first displacement value and the second displacement value.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the centering device comprises a first surface following guide, a second surface following guide, and a coupling device coupled to the first surface following guide and the second surface following guide, the coupling device being biased by a first tension device.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first displacement value and second displacement value identify a change in the angle associated with the manufacturing component or a change in a position of the ultrasonic probe assembly relative to the manufacturing component resulting from a modification of the position of the ultrasonic probe assembly.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the position adjustment value identifies a positional adjustment configured to modify a position of the ultrasonic transducer to offset the change.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the actuator is configured to modify the position of the ultrasonic transducer based, at least in part, on the position adjustment value to offset the change.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Sarr Dennis
• Bui Hien
• Brown Christopher

Classifications

• G01N29/041

  on the surface of the material, e.g. using Lamb, Rayleigh or shear waves · CPC title

• G01N29/2487 Primary

  Directing probes, e.g. angle probes (directing arrangements G01N29/221) · CPC title

• G01N2291/0231

  Composite or layered materials · CPC title

• G01N2291/269

  Various geometry objects · CPC title

• G01N29/225

  Supports, positioning or alignment in moving situation · CPC title