# US 10,119,939 B2 · Vehicle axle inspection systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,939 B2 - Document ID: US10119939B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/159,979 - Filed: 2016-05-20 - Published: 2017-11-23 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-20 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Barry A. Fetzer; Gary E. Georgeson; Morteza Safai; Jeffrey G. Thompson; Steven Kenneth Brady; John R. Hull - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119939B2 ## CPC - G01N 29/043: {in the interior, e.g. by shear waves} - G01N 29/225: {Supports, positioning or alignment in moving situation} - G01N 29/27: by moving the material relative to a stationary sensor - G01N 29/275: by moving both the sensor and the material - G01N 29/4427: {with stored values, e.g. threshold values} - G01N 2291/044: Internal reflections (echoes), e.g. on walls or defects - G01N 2291/2626: Wires, bars, rods - G01N 2291/2634: cylindrical from outside - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A vehicle examination system includes an axle inspection system that is configured to inspect an axle of a vehicle. The axle inspection system includes an ultrasound scanning assembly, and an axle coupler that retains the ultrasound scanning assembly. The axle coupler is configured to moveably secure the ultrasound scanning assembly to the axle. An axle inspection control unit is in communication with the ultrasound scanning assembly. The axle inspection control unit is configured to control the ultrasound scanning assembly to ultrasonically scan the axle for anomalies as the vehicle moves. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle examination system comprising: an axle inspection system that is configured to inspect an axle of a vehicle, wherein the axle inspection system comprises: an ultrasound scanning assembly; an axle coupler that retains the ultrasound scanning assembly, wherein the axle coupler is configured to moveably secure the ultrasound scanning assembly to the axle; and an axle inspection control unit in communication with the ultrasound scanning assembly, wherein the axle inspection control unit is configured to control the ultrasound scanning assembly to ultrasonically scan the axle for anomalies as the vehicle moves. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle examination system of claim 1, wherein the axle coupler axially moves over the axle as the axle rotates. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle examination system of claim 1, wherein the axle coupler is configured to be coupled to the axle as the vehicle is moving. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle examination system of claim 1, wherein the axle inspection system further comprises a memory coupled to the axle inspection control unit, wherein the memory stores historical data regarding anomalies in axles, and wherein the axle inspection control unit controls the ultrasound scanning assembly to transmit ultrasound signals into areas of the axle based on the historical data. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle examination system of claim 1, wherein the axle inspection system further comprises an actuator that propels the axle coupler over the axle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle examination system of claim 5, wherein rotation of the axle causes the actuator to propel the axle coupler over the axle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The vehicle examination system of claim 5, wherein the actuator comprises a motor that propels the axle coupler over the axle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle examination system of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound scanning assembly comprises at least ultrasound probe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle examination system of claim 8, wherein the at least one ultrasound probe is configured to radially scan the axle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The vehicle examination system of claim 8, wherein the at least one ultrasound probe is configured to axially scan the axle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicle examination system of claim 1, wherein the axle coupler comprises at least one C-shaped bracket that is configured to directly engage the axle, wherein the at least one C-shaped bracket comprises a plurality of spring-biased rollers that are configured to engage an outer surface of the bracket. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vehicle examination system of claim 1, further comprising a staging system including an internal chamber that houses a couplant reservoir, a data storage unit, and a power recharger, wherein the axle inspection system is configured to be moved between the staging system and the axle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vehicle examination system of claim 1, further comprising an installation system comprising an installation cart that is configured to move along with the vehicle and install the axle inspection system on the axle of the vehicle as the vehicle and the installation cart move, wherein the installation cart comprises an installation device that is configured to automatically install the axle inspection system onto the axle. ### Claim 14 A vehicle examination method comprising: inspecting an axle of a vehicle with an axle inspection system, wherein the inspecting comprises: retaining an ultrasound scanning assembly with an axle coupler; moveably securing the ultrasound scanning assembly to the axle with the axle coupler; communicatively coupling an axle inspection control unit to the ultrasound scanning assembly; moving the vehicle; and controlling the ultrasound scanning assembly with the axle inspection control unit to ultrasonically scan the axle for anomalies during the moving. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle examination method of claim 14, wherein the moveably securing comprises coupling the axle coupler to the axle as the vehicle is moving. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The vehicle examination method of claim 14, further comprising storing historical data regarding anomalies in axles in a memory, wherein the controlling comprises transmitting ultrasound signals into areas of the axle based on the historical data. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The vehicle examination method of claim 14, further comprising propelling the axle coupler over the axle with an actuator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicle examination method of claim 17, wherein the propelling comprises rotating the axle to cause the actuator to propel the axle coupler over the axle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The vehicle examination method of claim 14, wherein the controlling comprises radially scanning the axle with the ultrasound scanning assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The vehicle examination method of claim 14, further comprising moving the axle inspection system between a staging system and the axle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The vehicle examination method of claim 14, wherein the axle coupler comprises at least one C-shaped bracket that is configured to directly engage the axle, wherein the at least one C-shaped bracket comprises a plurality of spring-biased rollers that are configured to engage an outer surface of the bracket. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The vehicle examination method of claim 20, wherein the staging system includes an internal chamber that houses a couplant reservoir, a data storage unit, and a power recharger. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The vehicle examination method of claim 14, further comprising: moving an installation system including an installation cart along with the vehicle; and installing the axle inspection system on the axle of the vehicle as the vehicle and the installation cart move, wherein the installing comprises using an installation device of the installation cart to automatically install the axle inspection system onto the axle.