Form-fitting eddy current array sensor and method of use thereof
AssigneeGlobal Inspections Ndt, Inc.
InventorsThomas SHUMKA, Jason SHUMKA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A form-fitting eddy current array probe for inspecting helical gears is provided, the probe comprising: a leg which includes a sensor zone with a plurality of eddy current arrays; an arm attached to and normal with the leg to provide an L-shaped probe, the arm including a sensor zone with a plurality of eddy current arrays; a resilient layer underlying the sensor zones; a gel layer attached to an upper surface of the sensor zones, the gel layer including a fluid gel and an outer covering encasing the fluid gel; and an encoder distally located on the leg. A method of inspecting a girth gear set including a helical gear and a girth gear using the form-fitting eddy current array probe is also provided.
Claims21
A method of inspecting an at least one tooth of a gear on site, the method comprising:
- selecting a form-fitting eddy current array probe, the form-fitting eddy current array probe comprising a leg which includes a first sensor zone with a plurality of first eddy current arrays, an arm attached to the leg and normal with the leg, the arm including a second sensor zone with a plurality of second eddy current arrays, a resilient layer underlying the sensor zones, and an encoder distally located on the leg;
- pressing the form-fitting eddy current array probe onto a root and an adjacent flank of the tooth with a force sufficient for the probe to mold, in situ, to the root and the adjacent flank to provide a so-molded probe;
- and scanning the root and the adjacent flank with the so-molded probe.
8-17. (canceled)
A form-fitting eddy current array probe for inspecting helical gears, the probe comprising:
- a leg which includes a first sensor zone with a plurality of first eddy current arrays;
- an arm attached to the leg and normal with the leg to provide an L-shaped probe, the arm including a second sensor zone with a plurality of second eddy current arrays;
- a resilient layer underlying the sensor zones;
- and an encoder distally located on the leg.
22-30. (canceled)
A method of inspecting an at least one pinion gear on site using a system comprising a form-fitting eddy current sensor array probe in electronic communication with a computing device, the computing device having a processor and a memory, the memory to provide instructions to the processor, the form-fitting eddy current sensor array probe comprising:
- a leg which includes a first sensor zone with a plurality of first eddy current arrays;
- an arm attached to the leg and normal with the leg to provide an L-shaped probe, the arm including a second sensor zone with a plurality of second eddy current arrays;
- a resilient layer underlying the sensor zones;
- and an encoder distally located on the leg, the method comprising:
- a user pressing the form-fitting eddy current array probe onto a root and an adjacent flank of each tooth with a force sufficient for the probe to mold, in situ, to the root and the adjacent flank;
- standardizing the eddy current sensor array probe with a reference standard;
- scanning the at least one gear with an alternating current;
- sending a data set to the computing device;
- the computing device analyzing the data set;
- and the computing device displaying one or more of a two or three-dimensional image of the data set on a user interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.