Translatable ultrasonic thermography inspection apparatus and method
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJeffrey G. Thompson, Clyde T. Uyehara
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Abstract
A portable thermal imaging apparatus uses an ultrasonic acoustical source and an infrared camera to examine a flat or curved specimen such as the surface of the fuselage of an aircraft for defects such as subsurface disbonds, delaminations, cracks, corrosion, embedded contaminants, inclusions, and voids. The apparatus includes a base framework removably attachable to the specimen by a set of vacuum cups and a pair of guide rails along which the imaging apparatus can travel to allow multiple images to be captured without relocating the apparatus on the specimen. The acoustical signal from the ultrasonic source sweeps over a range of frequencies in order to excite defects of greatly differing size to exhibit local heating.
Claims31
A portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus for analyzing a specimen having a surface, comprising:
- a base framework that removably attaches to the specimen;
- a plurality of vacuum cups that can be selectably activated to removably attach said base framework to the specimen;
- a frame that slideably attaches to said base framework;
- a sound source that mounts to said frame and couples its energy to the specimen;
- a thermal imaging camera directed toward the specimen;
- and
- a controller connected to said sound source and said thermal imaging camera.
A portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus for analyzing a specimen having a surface, comprising:
- linear-stroke-piston means for generating an acoustic signal characterized by a principal frequency that changes with time;
- means for removably attaching said generating means to a specimen;
- means for moving said generating means across a region of the surface of the specimen;
- means for detecting transient thermal response to stimulation by said generating means;
- and
- means for controlling said generating means and said detecting means.
A method for portable thermal imaging analysis of a specimen having a surface, comprising the steps of:
- attaching a thermal imaging apparatus to a specimen;
- repositioning said thermal imaging apparatus at a multiplicity of sites across a region of a specimen, comprising:
- activating a drive mechanism to advance said thermal imaging apparatus along a guide rail,
- monitoring position until a destination position has been reached, and
- deactivating the drive mechanism;
- generating an acoustic signal with energy content along a motional axis generally perpendicular to a surface of a specimen;
- detecting thermal response to stimulation by the acoustic signal;
- and
- controlling the acoustical signal generation and image detection operations.
A portable thermal imaging analysis apparatus for analyzing a specimen having a surface, comprising:
- a frame that removably attaches to the specimen;
- a sound source that mounts to said frame and couples acoustical energy into the specimen, the sound source comprising a linear stroke piston that oscillates at a varying rate, wherein the acoustical energy is characterized by a principal frequency that changes with time;
- a thermal imaging camera that captures infrared images of the specimen;
- and
- a controller connected to said sound source and said thermal imaging camera.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.