Automated nital etch inspection system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9501820-B2
Application number	US-201414147195-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 3, 2014
Priority date	Jan 3, 2014
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

A system and method to inspect flaws associated with a part. The system includes a first image capturing device configured to capture a first set of images of the part and a computer operably associated with first image capturing device and configured to receive and analyze the first set of images. The method includes treating the part with a nital etchant solution, capturing a first set of images of an outer surface of the part with the first image capturing device, and identifying a part defect with an algorithm associated with the computer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A quality control inspection system, comprising:
a first image capturing device configured to capture a first set of images of a part from a first angle relative to the part;
a second image capturing device configured to capture a second set of images of the part from a second angle relative to the part, the second angle being different from the first angle; and
a computer operably associated with the first image capturing device and the second image capturing device, the computer being configured to receive and analyze the first set of images and the second set of images and configured to identify a part flaw, the computer having an image of a second part devoid of flaws;
wherein the first and second image capturing devices are repositionable relative to each other such that the first and second angles vary as the first and second image capturing devices are repositioned;
wherein the part is pretreated with a nital etchant solution, a mixture of alcohol and nitric acid; and
wherein the computer is configured to compare the first and second sets of images of the part with the image of the second part devoid of flaws to determine if the part has defects.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the part is a gear.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first image capturing device is a camera.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a lighting system operably associated with the computer, the lighting system being configured to illuminate the part.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a visual display operably associated with the computer, the visual display being configured to display the first set of images.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inspection system is a mobile device.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the inspection system is a smartphone.

8. A method, comprising:
treating a part with a nital etchant solution;
capturing a first set of images of an outer surface of the part with a first image capturing device from a first angle;
selecting one of a plurality of different locations from which to capture a second set of images using a second image capturing device;
capturing the second set of images of the part with the second image capturing device from a second angle, the second angle being different from the first angle;
relaying the first and second sets of images to a computer;
identifying part flaws with an algorithm associated with the computer;
comparing the first and second sets of images with a second image of a second part devoid of defects; and
displaying the first and second sets of images on a display operably associated with the computer.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
capturing a background image; and
suppressing the background image from the first set of images.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the part is a gear.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
detecting an edge of the gear from the first set of images.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
correcting an angle orientation of the first set of images.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
storing any flaws in the part in an image archive.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
displaying the first set of images on a display operably associated with the computer.

15. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
Illuminating a gear with a lighting system.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein the computer is portable.

17. A method, comprising:
treating a gear with a nital etchant solution;
capturing a first set of images of an outer surface of the gear with a first image capturing device from a first angle;
selecting one of a plurality of different locations from which to capture a second set of images using a second image capturing device;
capturing the second set of images of the part with the second image capturing device from a second angle, the second angle being different from the first angle;
relaying the first and second sets of images to a computer;
identifying gear flaws with an algorithm associated with the computer by comparing the first and second sets of images with a second image of a second part devoid of defects; and
displaying the first and second sets of images on a display operably associated with the computer.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the identifying a gear defect is achieved by identifying discolorations on the outer surface of the gear caused by the nital etchant solution.

Assignees

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc

Inventors

• Nissen Jeffrey P
• Hohman Edward

Classifications

• G06T7/0004 Primary

  Industrial image inspection · CPC title

• G01N21/8803 Primary

  Visual inspection (measuring projectors G01B9/08) · CPC title

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title

• G01M13/021

  Gearings · CPC title