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US 2022/0187178 A1Published application
Under water acoustics plasma generator
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 underwater spark discharge 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.
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 pair of electrodes disposed within the first vessel;
- and
- a power supply connected to the pair of electrodes, wherein the power supply is configured to provide an electrical pulse to create an underwater plasma between the pair of electrodes to generate a compression wave.
5 more elements
A method for evaluating a bond, comprising:
- placing an open portion of a first vessel against a 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 a surface of the bonded structure to be inspected at the open portion;
- initiating a spark discharge in the liquid to form a plasma that generates 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.
3 more elements
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;
- and
- a pair of electrodes disposed within the first vessel and positioned to generate a compression wave in the liquid within the first vessel directed towards the bonded structure to be inspected.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.