US 4,789,947 AGranted

Inspection system and method for mechanical structures

OwnerRobert A. Maciejczakinventor

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Abstract

In conjunction with an unmanned, remotely controllable apparatus for inspecting, testing and viewing and for examination and evaluation of the general condition, state of repair, and of the quality of fabrication of mechanical structures including bridges, an assembly including a guide track carried by a space frame fastened to extend transversely of a bridge or other structure at an underside thereof. The track supports a carrier adapted for transporting, viewing, examining, treating and testing apparatus for controlled movement and manipulation of the apparatus along a path delineated by the guide track. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the carrier supports one or more turntables and one or more articulated arms and linked arm assemblies at remote ends of which selectable viewing and testing devices are attachable, thus facilitating physical access to and penetration into restricted mechanical zones to be viewed, examined and treated. The space frame itself may be moved lineally along the bridge, on an underside thereof so that through the combination of the transversely moving carrier and the lineally movable space frame, an entire areal zone may be traversed.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method for perusal, rigorous inspection, testing and treating of architectural and of mechanical structures and for examination to determine state of repair, construction parameters, quality of restorative and corrective work required and in process, to establish building and repair specifications and standards and to determine compliance therewith, said method comprising the steps of:

securing to a structure controllably movable carrier means for support of scanning, testing treatment and sensor apparatus and equipment thereon,
fastening selectively-positionable, elongated guide means to the mechanical structure for supporting said carrier means and for delineating an inspection path to be traversed by said carrier means,
providing drive means and means for energizing said drive means for remotely controlling movement of said carrier means along a selectable predetermined inspection path correlated with a course of travel defined by said guide means,
remotely controlling said drive means and remotely controlling the movement of said carrier means, remotely controlling movement of said equipment and apparatus carried by said carrier means along a selectable, predetermined inspection path traversed by said carrier means, and
providing means for remotely operating said carrier and remotely operating said scanning, testing and sensor apparatus to generate, to transmit, and to receive information and data to disclose the condition and the state of the architectural and mechanical structures examined.

2 more elements

An assembly for use in carrying out remotely controlled viewing, examining, treating and testing of architectural and mechanical structures to determine state of repair, construction parameters, quality of and to establish building and repair specifications and standards, and to determine compliance therewith,

said assembly comprising controllably movable carrier means for attachment of scanning, testing and sensing apparatus and equipment thereto, and equipment for carrying out maintenance, refurbishing and restoration procedures,
elongated guide means including track means for supporting said carrier means thereon to traverse said track means,
fastener means for supporting said track means on and for securing said track means to a structure to be examined,
motor means for driving said carrier means to traverse said track means, and means for remotely controlling said motor means,
principal positioning means for carrying said apparatus and equipment,
means securing said principal positioning means to said carrier means for travel therewith along said track means, and means for controlling rotational orientation of said principal positioning means.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.