Radiographic method and apparatus for detection of cracks, defects, or leak pathways in materials and assemblies
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorKevin O. Gaw
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Example systems and methods for testing materials and assemblies for voids, cracks, or other defects are provided. One example system for testing a part includes a chamber configured to accept the part, and a vacuum source connected to the chamber. The example system also includes a fluid source connected to the chamber and configured to provide a radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid to the chamber. In addition, the example system includes a detector configured to detect a presence or absence of radioactivity or the isotope-labeled fluid in the part.
Claims20
A method for testing a part, comprising:
- exposing, in a chamber, a part having a permeable surface to a radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid under pressure to enable the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid to permeate into a crack or a void defect of the permeable surface of the part and become entrained within the crack or the void defect of the part;
- and
- after exposing the part to the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid under pressure, detecting a presence or absence of radioactivity or the isotope-labeled fluid entrained within the crack or the void defect of the part.
A system for testing a part, comprising:
- a vacuum source connected to a chamber configured to accept a part having a permeable surface;
- a fluid source connected to the chamber and configured to provide a radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid to the chamber to expose the part to the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid under pressure and enable the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid to permeate into a crack or a void defect of the permeable surface of the part and become entrained within the crack or the void defect of the part;
- and
- a detector configured to detect a presence or absence of radioactivity or the isotope-labeled fluid entrained within the crack or the void defect of the part.
A controller comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions that are executable to cause the controller to perform functions comprising:
- causing a vacuum source to reduce a pressure in a chamber, wherein a part having a permeable surface is located in the chamber,
- causing a fluid source connected to the chamber to provide a radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid to the chamber to enable the radioactive or isotope-labeled fluid to permeate into a crack or a void defect of the permeable surface of the part and become entrained within the crack or the void defect of the part, and
- causing a detector to detect a presence or absence of radioactivity or isotope-labeled fluid entrained within the crack or the void defect of the part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.