Inspection system for flanged bolts
OwnerJames L. Hanna, Donald R. Smithinventors
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Abstract
An inspection system for evaluating rotationally asymmetric workpieces for conformance to configuration criteria having a track for causing the workpieces to translate through a test section, the test section including a plurality of electromagnetic energy sources, the plurality of electromagnetic energy sources oriented with respect to the track means such that the workpieces occlude the plurality of electromagnetic energy sources upon passing through the test section, the test section further having electromagnetic energy detectors for receiving the electromagnetic energy to provide output signals related to the intensity of the occluded electromagnetic energy incident on the electromagnetic energy detectors, and a signal processing means for receiving said output signals.
Claims14
A method of inspecting a flanged hex headed component for conformance to a configuration criterion, the method comprising:
- a) sensing a plurality of radially spaced dimensions of the flanged hex headed component using a plurality electromagnetic energy source and electromagnetic energy detector pairs;
- b) reading a first dimension of the flanged hex headed component measured by one of the plurality electromagnetic energy source and electromagnetic energy detector pairs;
- c) predicting a second dimension measured by another of the electromagnetic energy source and electromagnetic energy detector pairs using the first dimension and a known location of the other electromagnetic energy source and electromagnetic energy detector pairs relative to the one of the plurality electromagnetic energy source and electromagnetic energy detector pairs;
- d) comparing the predicted second dimension with an actual second dimension measured by the other of the electromagnetic energy source and electromagnetic energy detector pairs;
- e) determining whether the flanged hex headed component is in conformance with the configuration criterion based on a difference between the predicted second dimension and the actual second dimension measured by the other of the electromagnetic energy source and electromagnetic energy detector pairs;
- and
- f) repeating (b) through (e) for each of the electromagnetic energy source and electromagnetic energy detector pairs to determine conformance of the plurality of radially spaced dimensions of the flanged hex headed component to the configuration criterion.
A computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that are executable by a controller to perform a method of inspecting a flanged hex headed component for conformance to a configuration criterion, wherein the controller is part of an inspection system having a track means for transporting the flanged hex headed component, a test section having a plurality electromagnetic energy source and electromagnetic energy detector pairs oriented with respect to said track means such that said components occlude electromagnetic energy upon passing through said test section, and wherein the electromagnetic energy detectors receive the electromagnetic energy not occluded by the components to provide output signals related to intensity of the electromagnetic energy incident on said electromagnetic energy detectors, the medium comprising:
- a) instructions for sensing a plurality of radially spaced dimensions of the flanged hex headed component using the plurality electromagnetic energy source and electromagnetic energy detector pairs;
- b) instructions for reading a first dimension of the flanged hex headed component measured by one of the plurality electromagnetic energy source and electromagnetic energy detector pairs;
- c) instructions for predicting a second dimension measured by another of the electromagnetic energy source and electromagnetic energy detector pairs using the first dimension and a known location of another of the electromagnetic energy source and electromagnetic energy detector pairs relative to the one of the plurality electromagnetic energy source and electromagnetic energy detector pairs;
- d) instructions for comparing the predicted second dimension with an actual second dimension measured by the other of the electromagnetic energy source and electromagnetic energy detector pairs;
- e) instructions for determining whether the flanged hex headed component is in conformance with the configuration criterion based on a difference between the predicted second dimension and the actual second dimension measured by the other of the electromagnetic energy source and electromagnetic energy detector pairs;
- and
- f) instructions for repeating instructions (b) through (e) for each of the electromagnetic energy source and electromagnetic energy detector pairs to determine conformance the plurality of radially spaced dimensions of the flanged hex headed component to the configuration criterion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.