Robotic wedge manipulation for deposit or removal
AssigneeEvident Canada, Inc.
InventorDominique Nogues
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and techniques as shown and described herein can be used to provide non-destructive inspection using a scanner assembly that can have one or more arms that can be used to position a probe assembly such that full inspection coverage of a structure can be achieved in a semi-automated or automated manner using as few as a single scanner assembly. Such apparatus and techniques can include a scanner assembly having multiple arms and corresponding probe assemblies, such as can be used to perform acoustic inspection of a longitudinal weld structure.
Claims24
A scanner assembly for performing non-destructive test (NDT), the scanner assembly comprising:
- a support frame;
- a first probe holder;
- a first probe assembly mechanically coupled with the first probe holder and configured to pivot relative to the first probe holder;
- and
- a first arm mechanically coupled to the support frame and configured to slide relative to the support frame to translate the first probe holder relative to the support frame;
- wherein the first probe assembly pivots from a first orientation to a second orientation as the first arm slides, to align the first probe assembly in the second orientation to scan an object under test.
(canceled)
(canceled)
(canceled)
A method for performing non-destructive test (NDT) using a scanner assembly, the method comprising:
- robotically manipulating a support frame of the scanner assembly, the support frame coupled to a first arm, the first arm coupled to a first probe holder, the manipulating comprising translating the support frame toward an object under test;
- sliding the first arm relative to the support frame to translate the first probe holder relative to the support frame;
- and
- pivoting the first probe assembly from a first orientation to a second orientation relative to the first probe holder, as the first arm slides, to align the first probe assembly in a second orientation to scan the object under test without colliding with an end of the object under test;
- wherein the first orientation comprises an inclined orientation relative to a surface of the object under test, and the second orientation comprises an orientation parallel to the surface of the object under test.
24-25. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.