Cart for non-destructive testing and inspection of a part
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorFrédéric Laliberté
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cart for supporting a part to be inspected in a non-destructive testing (NDT) machine. The cart includes a base with wheels, a first support extending upright from the base, a second support extending upright from the base, and mounting fixtures being removably attachable to the first and second supports and having mounting ends engageable with the part to support the part from the first support or the second support. The base is displaceable with the wheels to enter and exit the NDT machine. The cart is lockable upon being within the NDT machine to secure the cart in position.
Claims14
A non-destructive testing (NDT) machine for use with a part, the NDT machine comprising:
- a body defining an enclosure to receive the part, non-destructive testing equipment displaceable within the enclosure, and guide rails extending along a bottom of the body;
- an access platform outside of the body having access guide rails aligned with the guide rails of the body;
- and
- a cart having a base with wheels, a first support extending upright from the base, a second support extending upright from the base and spaced apart from the first support, and mounting fixtures being removably attachable to the first and second supports and having mounting ends engageable with the part to support the part from the first support or the second support, the wheels of the base being displaceable along the guide rails of the body and along the access guide rails of the access platform to displace the cart into and out of enclosure, displacement of the cart being prevented upon portions thereof being within the enclosure to secure the cart in position.
A method for non-destructively testing a part, the method comprising:
- displacing the part removably mounted to a cart into a testing enclosure of a non-destructive testing (NDT) machine;
- preventing displacement of the cart temporarily to secure the part in position within the testing enclosure;
- operating the NDT machine to perform non-destructive testing of the part;
- and
- displacing the part by displacing the cart away from the testing enclosure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.