Internal inspection system and method
AssigneeQuest Metrology, LLC
InventorsStanley P. Johnson, Phillip D. Bondurant
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In some embodiments, an inspection system for measuring at least a portion of the threaded surface of an internally threaded component includes at least one measuring probe, a component retention device that allows positioning of the internally threaded component relative to the measuring probe and a processing device in signal communication with the measuring probe to receive threaded surface data therefrom.
Claims20
An inspection system for measuring at least a portion of the threaded surface of an internally threaded component, the inspection system comprising:
- at least one measuring probe, wherein said at least one measuring probe includes an emitter and a receiver and is sized and shaped to be positionable adjacent to at least a portion of the threaded surface at an offset distance, wherein said emitter is configured to emit electromagnetic energy onto the threaded surface to generate reflected electromagnetic energy off of the threaded surface and wherein said receiver is configured to receive at least a portion of said reflected electromagnetic energy and generate threaded surface data;
- a processing device, wherein said processing device is in signal communication with said measuring probe to receive said threaded surface data and process said threaded surface data to determine one or more physical characteristics of the threaded surface;
- and
- a component retention device, said component retention device being configured to have at least one active state and at least one inactive state, wherein said component retention device in said active state secures the internally threaded component in a fixed position relative to at least one said measuring probe and in said inactive state allows the internally threaded component to move in at least one plane, said component retention device being controllably actuated between said active and inactive states.
A method for measuring the threaded surface of an internally threaded component using an inspection system, wherein the inspection system includes a measuring probe having an emitter and a receiver and is sized and shaped to be positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the threaded surface at an offset distance, wherein the emitter is configured to emit electromagnetic energy onto the threaded surface to generate reflected electromagnetic energy off of the threaded surface and wherein the receiver is configured to receive at least a portion of the reflected electromagnetic energy and generate threaded surface data, the method comprising:
- activating a component retention device to secure the internally threaded component in a fixed position relative to the measuring probe;
- positioning the measuring probe inside a cavity of the internally threaded component;
- deactivating the component retention device to cause the internally threaded component to be re-positioned relative to the measuring probe such that a desired offset distance and an alignment are formed between the measuring probe and the threaded surface of the internally threaded component;
- re-activating the component retention device to secure the new position of the internally threaded component relative to the measuring probe;
- operating the inspection system to generate threaded surface data about at least a portion of the threaded surface of the internally threaded component;
- and
- processing the threaded surface data to generate one or more physical characteristics of at least a portion of the threaded surface.
A method of establishing a desired standoff distance between and aligning at least a portion of the threaded surface of an internally threaded component and a measuring probe of an inspection system in order to allow at least one physical characteristic of the threaded surface to be determined, the measuring probe including at least one electromagnetic energy emitter and at least one electromagnetic energy receiver, the inspection system including a measuring probe collar associated with the measuring probe, the measuring probe collar being movable relative to the measuring probe, at least a portion of the measuring probe collar having a width that is equal to the desired standoff distance, the method comprising:
- securing the position of the internally threaded component relative to the measuring probe;
- positioning the measuring probe inside a cavity of the internally threaded component;
- positioning the measuring probe collar at least partially between the internally threaded component and the measuring probe;
- allowing the internally threaded component to move into contact with the measuring probe collar and align at least a portion of the threaded surface of the internally threaded component with the measuring probe;
- re-securing the position of the internally threaded component relative to the measuring probe thereby establishing the desired standoff distance and alignment between at least a portion of the threaded surface of the internally threaded component and the measuring probe;
- and
- positioning the measuring probe collar away from at least one electromagnetic energy emitter and receiver of the measuring probe thereby allowing the inspection system to determine at least one physical characteristic of the threaded surface of the internally threaded component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.