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US 12,523,586 B2Granted
Variable plasma pulse generator for bondline strength verification
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorMorteza Safai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for evaluating a bond is provided. The system uses an adjustable submerged plasma probe to generate a compression wave in a first vessel containing a liquid. The system further includes a second vessel in which a vacuum is pulled to hold the first vessel against a bonded structure being inspected. The compression wave is directed to propagate from the liquid into the bonded structure to apply a known force to the bond being inspected. The adjustable submerged plasma probe allows the intensity of the compression wave to be increased or decreased at the bonded structure.
Claims20
A system for evaluating a bond comprising:
- a first vessel comprising one or more sidewalls and an endwall, a liquid port configured to connect to a source to fill the first vessel with a liquid, and an open portion configured to be placed against a bonded structure to be inspected,
- a second vessel surrounding the open portion of the first vessel, comprising a vacuum port configured to connect to a vacuum system to pull a vacuum in a space between an outer surface of the first vessel and an inner surface of the second vessel when the open portion of the first vessel and an open portion of the second vessel are adjacent to the bonded structure to be inspected;
- a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode disposed on a first adjustable mount,
- wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed within the first vessel,
- wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are separated by a gap length, and
- wherein the first adjustable mount is configured to change the gap length between the first and second electrodes;
- and
- a power supply connected to the first and the second electrodes, wherein the power supply is configured to provide an electrical pulse to create a plasma between the first and the second electrodes to generate a compression wave.
5 more elements
A method for evaluating a bond, comprising:
- adjusting a gap length between a first electrode and a second electrode, a distance between the first and second electrodes and a bonded structure being inspected, or both the gap length and the distance;
- placing an open portion of a first vessel against the bonded structure being inspected;
- pulling a vacuum between an outer surface of the first vessel and an inner surface of a second vessel that encloses the first vessel, wherein pulling the vacuum seals the first vessel to the bonded structure;
- filling the first vessel with a liquid, wherein the liquid contacts the bonded structure being inspected at the open portion;
- initiating a spark discharge between the first and second electrodes in the liquid to form a plasma to generate a compression wave in the liquid, wherein the compression wave propagates from the liquid into the bonded structure through the open portion to apply a force to a bond in the bonded structure;
- and
- inspecting the bond in the bonded structure.
4 more elements
A system for evaluating a bond comprising:
- a first vessel comprising an open portion configured to be placed against a bonded structure to be inspected,
- a second vessel surrounding the open portion of the first vessel;
- a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode disposed on a first adjustable mount,
- wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed within the first vessel,
- wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are separated by a gap length, and
- wherein the first adjustable mount is configured to change the gap length between the first and second electrodes;
- a second adjustable mount on which the first adjustable mount is disposed, wherein the second adjustable mount is configured to change a distance between an end of the open portion of the first vessel and the first and second electrodes;
- and
- a power supply connected to the first and the second electrodes, wherein the power supply is configured to provide an electrical pulse to create a plasma between the first and the second electrodes to generate a compression wave.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.