Method and apparatus for conducting phased array testing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9964523-B2
Application number	US-201414317770-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2014
Priority date	Jul 1, 2013
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A system for conducting phased array testing on a vehicle hub includes a guide element having a first end and a second end, a pivot element extending from the second end to couple to the vehicle hub, and a slide element coupled to the guide element. The slide element is movable relative to the guide element between the first end of the guide element and the second end of the guide element. The slide element including an object-receiving aperture to receive a phased array probe element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for conducting phased array testing on a vehicle hub comprising:
a guide element having a first end and a second end spaced from the first end along a first axis;
a pivot element extending from the second end along a second axis to couple to the vehicle hub, the second axis extending perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the guide element is pivotally coupled to the pivot element about the second axis; and
a slide element coupled to the guide element, the slide element movable relative to the guide element along the first axis between the first end of the guide element and the second end of the guide element both before and after testing of the vehicle hub so as to adjust a position of the slide element relative to the guide element, the slide element including an object-receiving aperture to receive a phased array probe element.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further includes a hub having a threaded center hole, and wherein the pivot element extends through an aperture in the second end of the guide element and into the threaded center hole to releasably and rotatably couple the guide element to the hub.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the guide element and the slide element are both rotatable 360 degrees about the second axis.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the guide element includes positioning apertures and the slide element includes an alignment aperture that aligns with the positioning apertures on the guide element as the slide element is moved relative to the guide element.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the system further includes a threaded fastener element that extends through one of the positioning apertures on the guide element and the alignment aperture on the slide element to lock relative movement of the guide element and the slide element.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the slide element includes a first winged portion and a second winged portion extending outwardly from a main body portion of the slide element, each of the first and second winged portions including a notched region.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first and the second winged portions include inwardly extending protrusions.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the guide element includes side surfaces having slots that receive the inwardly extending protrusions.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further includes a bracket releasably coupled to the guide element.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the bracket includes a notched region and a protruding region adjacent the notched region, the protruding region received by a slot in the guide element.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the bracket includes an encoder-receiving aperture to receive an encoder element.

12. The system of claim 1 , further including a calibration component having at least one component failure embedded therein, wherein the guide element is configured to be coupled to the calibration component to test the calibration component.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the guide element includes an elongate slot that extends entirely through the guide element.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the elongate slot is centrally located on the guide element.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the slide element is a single piece element that includes a protruding stop that extends into the elongate slot, wherein the stop limits translational sliding motion of the slide element relative to the guide element.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the guide element includes a pivot aperture, and wherein the pivot element extends through the pivot aperture.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the object-receiving aperture extends entirely through the slide element.

18. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a phased array probe element coupled to the slide element, wherein the phased array probe element is disposed at least partially within the object-receiving aperture.

19. The system of claim 2 , wherein the pivot element is a threaded bolt.

20. The system of claim 2 , wherein the hub includes an axis of rotation, wherein the pivot element extends along the axis of rotation, and wherein the slide element is movable relative to the guide element between the first end of the guide element and the second end of the guide element along a direction that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

Assignees

• Konecranes Plc
• Konecranes Global Corp

Inventors

• Waedekin Michael
• Yustus Joseph A

Classifications

• G01N29/226

  Handheld or portable devices · CPC title

• G01N29/225

  Supports, positioning or alignment in moving situation · CPC title

• G01N2291/106

  one or more transducer arrays · CPC title

• G01N29/265 Primary

  by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material · CPC title