Electronic gage apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9797707-B2
Application number	US-201414150724-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2014
Priority date	Jan 8, 2014
Publication date	Oct 24, 2017
Grant date	Oct 24, 2017

Abstract

A gage apparatus includes a probe, a processor, and a memory. The probe includes a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of receivers both aligned in an axial direction along the probe. The processor is in electronic communication with the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of receivers. The memory is in electronic communication with the processor. The memory includes programming code for execution by the processor. The programming code is configured to determine a length of a structure disposed adjacent to the probe based on which of the plurality of receivers receive signals transmitted by the plurality of transmitters and reflected off the structure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gage apparatus for measuring a length associated with an assembly comprising at least one member in a fixed arrangement with a nut, the at least one member defining a first hole extending therethrough, the nut defining a second hole extending therethrough and aligned with the first hole, the nut configured to physically couple with a fastener when inserted through the first hole and the second hole, the gage apparatus comprising:
a probe extending in an axial direction and comprising a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of receivers each arranged along the axial direction, the probe configured to be inserted through the first hole and the second hole to any of a plurality of positions along the axial direction;
a processor in electronic communication with the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of receivers; and
a memory in electronic communication with the processor, wherein the memory comprises programming code for execution by the processor, and wherein the programming code is configured to:
determine, when the probe is at any of the plurality of positions along the axial direction, and based on which of the plurality of receivers receive signals transmitted by the plurality of transmitters and reflected off the assembly, (i) a total length of the assembly that includes an extent of the first hole and an extent of the second hole in the axial direction and (ii) whether a gap exists between the at least one member and the nut, and
determine, based on the determined total length of the assembly, a grip length for the fastener.

2. The gage apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of transmitters comprise optical transmitters and the plurality of receivers comprise optical receivers.

3. The gage apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a display device in electronic communication with the processor, wherein the programming code is further configured to:
display, on the display device, one or more of the determined total length of the assembly, an identity of the fastener, and the determined grip length for the fastener.

4. The gage apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wireless transmitter in electronic communication with the processor, wherein the programming code is further configured to:
operate the wireless transmitter to wirelessly transmit one or more of the determined total length of the assembly, an identity of the fastener, and the determined grip length for the fastener.

5. The gage apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electrical interface port configured to charge a battery of the gage apparatus, or to interface with the processor.

6. The gage apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a handle from which said probe extends.

7. The gage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the programming code is further configured to:
determine, from a plurality of predefined fastener types stored in the memory, an identity of the fastener corresponding to the determined grip length.

8. A method of measuring a length associated with an assembly comprising at least one member in a fixed arrangement with a nut, the at least one member defining a first hole extending therethrough, the nut defining a second hole extending therethrough and aligned with the first hold, the nut configured to physically couple with a fastener when inserted through the first hole and the second hole, the method comprising:
inserting a probe through the first hole and the second hole to a first position along an axial direction, the probe configured to be inserted to any of a plurality of positions along the axial direction, the plurality of positions along the axial direction including the first position, the probe extending in the axial direction and comprising a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of receivers each arranged along the axial direction;
transmitting, when the probe is at the first position, signals from the plurality of transmitters, wherein at least a portion of the transmitted signals are reflected off the assembly as reflected signals;
determining, using a processor in electronic communication with the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of receivers, and based on which of the plurality of receivers receive the reflected signals, a total length of the assembly that includes an extent of the first hole and an extent of the second hole in the axial direction, wherein the processor is configured to determine the total length of the assembly when the probe is at any of the plurality of positions along the axial direction;
determining, when the probe is at any of the plurality of positions along the axial direction, whether a gap exists between the at least one member and the nut; and
determining, based on the determined total length of the assembly, a grip length for the fastener.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein transmitting signals comprises transmitting optical signals.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
displaying, using a display device in electronic communication with the processor, one or more of the determined total length of the assembly, an identity of the fastener, and the determined grip length for the fastener.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
wirelessly transmitting, using a wireless transmitter in electronic communication with the processor, one or more of the determined total length of the assembly, an identity of the fastener, and the determined grip length for the fastener.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising one or more of:
charging, through an electrical interface port, a battery powering the plurality of transmitters, the plurality of receivers, and the processor; and
communicatively interfacing with the processor through the electrical interface port.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the processor is in electronic communication with a memory, the method further comprising:
determining, from a plurality of predefined fastener types stored in the memory, an identity of the fastener corresponding to the determined grip length.

14. An apparatus for use with an assembly comprising a first member and an adjacent second member, the first member defining a first hole extending therethrough, the second member defining a second hole extending therethrough and aligned with the first hole, the apparatus comprising:
a probe extending in an axial direction and comprising a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of receivers each arranged along the axial direction, the probe configured to be inserted through the first hole and the second hole to any of a plurality of positions along the axial direction; and
a processor configured to:
transmit signals using the plurality of transmitters; and
determine, when the probe is at any of the plurality of positions along the axial direction, and based on reflected signals received by the plurality of receivers, the reflected signals comprising reflections of the transmitted signals off the assembly, whether a gap exists between the first member and the second member.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:
a display device in electronic communication with the processor, wherein the processor is further configured to display, on the display device, whether the gap exists between the first member and the second member.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:
a wireless transmitter in electronic communication with the processor, wherein the processor is further configured to operate the wireless transmitter to wirelessly transmit information indicating whether the gap exists between the first member and the se

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Bumgardner Mark D
• Schweiger Jonathan A
• Gorsh Christopher M

Classifications

• G01B11/02 Primary

  for measuring length, width or thickness (G01B11/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01D5/342

  the sensed object being the obturating part · CPC title

• B65H2553/416

  Array arrangement, i.e. row of emitters or detectors · CPC title

• G01B11/303

  using photoelectric detection means · CPC title