# US 10,119,940 B2 · Acoustic emission sensor holder > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,940 B2 - Document ID: US10119940B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/246,654 - Filed: 2016-08-25 - Published: 2018-03-01 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-25 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Hong H. Tat; John A. Mittleider; Joseph D. Schaefer; Scott H. Gardner; James W. Edwards; Tyler M. Holmes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119940B2 ## CPC - G01N 29/223: {Supports, positioning or alignment in fixed situation (mounting transducers per se G10K11/004)} - B23P 19/00: Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation {(connecting metal parts or objects by metal-working procedures B21J, B23K)}; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes (hand tools in general B25) - F16M 13/02: for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle - G01N 29/04: Analysing solids (using acoustic emission techniques G01N29/14) - G01N 29/14: using acoustic emission techniques {(echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00)} - G10K 11/004: {Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device (mountings specially adapted to a particular sound-producing device, see the preceding groups G10K1/00 - G10K9/00, e.g. G10K1/26, G10K1/28, G10K9/22; arrangements of sonic watch equipment on submarines B63G8/39; buoys B63B22/00)} - G01N 2291/0231: Composite or layered materials - G01N 2291/0232: Glass, ceramics, concrete or stone - G01N 2291/0258: Structural degradation, e.g. fatigue of composites, ageing of oils - G01N 2291/101: one transducer - G01N 2291/106: one or more transducer arrays - G01N 2291/2632: flat - G01N 2291/2634: cylindrical from outside - G01N 2291/2638: Complex surfaces - G01N 2291/2694: Wings or other aircraft parts - 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) - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A holder for attaching an acoustic emission sensor to a non-metallic and non-magnetic material has a tubular body with a closed top end and an open bottom end through which the sensor is insertable into the tubular body. The closed top end has a plurality of unitary flexible flaps angularly extending inwardly from an inner surface of the enclosed top end. An inner surface of the tubular body has a plurality of spacers extending radially inward proximate the bottom end of the tubular body. The unitary flexible flaps and the spacers fix the sensor within the tubular body. The tubular body may also have a plurality of capture tabs extending outwardly from an exterior surface thereof proximate the open bottom end that are slidably and removably engageable with an engagement keyway in a retainer bracket that is affixed to a non-metallic and non-magnetic material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A holder for attaching an acoustic emission sensor to a non-metallic and non-magnetic material, the holder comprising a tubular body having a closed top end and an open bottom end through which the sensor is insertable into the tubular body, the closed top end having a plurality of unitary flexible flaps angularly extending inwardly from an inner surface of the enclosed top end, an inner surface of the tubular body having a plurality of spacers extending radially inward proximate the bottom end of the tubular body, the unitary flexible flaps and the spacers fixing the sensor within the tubular body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The holder of claim 1, wherein the closed top end has two of the unitary flexible flaps, each of the unitary flexible flaps extending angularly inwardly toward each other to provide a downward force onto a top surface of the sensor when the sensor is installed into the holder. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The holder of claim 1, wherein the holder is a unitary 3-D printed structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The holder of claim 1, further comprising a recess in the tubular body that is peripherally open toward the open bottom end for receiving an electrical connection that protrudes radially from the sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The holder of claim 1, further comprising a base forming a lip peripherally around an exterior surface of the tubular body proximate the open bottom end to provide an interface surface for engaging the non-metallic and non-magnetic surface. ### Claim 6 A holder for attaching an acoustic emission sensor to a non-metallic and non-magnetic material, the holder comprising: a cage having a tubular body with a closed top end and an open bottom end through which the sensor is insertable into the tubular body, the closed top end of the tubular body having a plurality of unitary flexible flaps angularly extending inwardly from an inner surface of the closed top end, and an inner surface of the tubular body having a plurality of spacers extending radially inward proximate the open bottom end of the tubular body, the unitary flexible flaps and the spacers fixing the sensor within the tubular body, the tubular body of the cage having a plurality of capture tabs extending outwardly from an exterior surface of the tubular body proximate the open bottom end; and a retainer bracket having a lower surface for attachment to the non-metallic and non-magnetic material, a top capture surface and an engagement keyway disposed between the lower surface and the capture surface; the plurality of capture tabs of the cage slidably engagable with the engagement keyway in the retainer bracket in a rotary motion providing a removable locking engagement. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The holder of claim 6, further comprising an attach pad positioned on the lower surface of the retainer bracket for affixing the holder to the non-metallic and non-magnetic material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The holder of claim 6, wherein the closed top end has two of the unitary flexible flaps, each of the unitary flexible flaps extending angularly inwardly toward each other to provide a downward force onto a top surface of the sensor when the sensor is installed into the holder. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The holder of claim 6, wherein the cage and the retainer bracket are each unitary 3-D printed structures. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) A system for affixing acoustic emission sensors to a non-metallic and non-magnetic material comprising a plurality of the holders of claim 6 retained together at a frange periphery around each of the retainer brackets in each of the holders, the frange periphery permitting separation of adjacent holders. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising a separator engageable with the retainer bracket for positioning a plurality of the holders on the non-metallic and non-magnetic surface with predetermined spacing therebetween. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the separator comprises a flexible material that permits positioning of the plurality of holders with predetermined spacing on a flat or curved surface of the non-metallic and non-magnetic material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising an attach pad positioned on the lower surface of the retainer bracket for affixing the holder to the non-metallic and non-magnetic material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the cage and the retainer bracket are each unitary 3-D printed structures. ### Claim 15 A method for affixing an acoustic emission sensor to a non-metallic and non-magnetic material comprising the steps of: separating a holder for the acoustic emission sensor from a plurality of holders retained together at a frange periphery around each of the holders, the holder comprising: a cage having a tubular body with a closed top end and an open bottom end through which the sensor is insertable into the tubular body, the closed top end of the tubular body having a plurality of unitary flexible flaps angularly extending inwardly from an inner surface of the closed top end, and an inner surface of the tubular body having a plurality of spacers extending radially inward proximate the open bottom end of the tubular body, the unitary flexible flaps and the spacers fixing the sensor within the tubular body, the tubular body of the cage having a plurality of capture tabs extending outwardly from an exterior surface of the tubular body proximate the open bottom end; and a retainer bracket having a lower surface for attachment to the non-metallic and non-magnetic material, a top capture surface and an engagement keyway disposed between the lower surface and the capture surface; the plurality of capture tabs of the cage slidably engagable with the engagement keyway in the retainer bracket in a rotary motion providing a removable locking engagement; affixing the retainer bracket of the holder to the non-metallic and non-magnetic material; removing the cage from the retainer bracket by rotating the cage out of the engagement keyway; inserting the acoustic emission sensor into the tubular body of the cage; and installing the cage on the retainer bracket by rotating the cage into the engagement keyway. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of 3-D printing the cage and the retainer bracket. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of engaging the retainer bracket of one of the holders with one end of a separator, and engaging the retainer bracket of another of the holders at another end of the separator for positioning the plurality of the holders on the non-metallic and non-magnetic surface with predetermined spacing therebetween.