Implementing steep delta wave technique to inspect joints
AssigneeBell Helicopter Textron Inc.
InventorRobert James Barry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One aspect of a process of inspecting a joint that connects two parts includes directing an ultrasonic beam from an ultrasonic beam transmitter at a joint that connects two parts, the ultrasonic beam forming an angle between at least 14 degrees and at most 21 degrees with a joint axis of the joint, wherein the ultrasonic beam passes through a joint thickness of the joint. The process also includes determining a quality of the joint based, in part, on a difference between a strength of the ultrasonic beam directed at the joint and a strength of a portion of the ultrasonic beam that passed through the joint thickness.
Claims20
A method of inspecting a joint that connects two parts, the method comprising:
- directing an ultrasonic beam from an ultrasonic beam transmitter at a joint that connects two parts, the ultrasonic beam forming an angle between at least 14 degrees and at most 21 degrees with a joint axis of the joint, wherein the ultrasonic beam passes through a joint thickness of the joint;
- and
- determining a quality of the joint based, in part, on a difference between a strength of the ultrasonic beam directed at the joint and a strength of a portion of the ultrasonic beam that passed through the joint thickness.
A joint inspection system comprising:
- an ultrasonic beam transmitter, the ultrasonic beam transmitter operable to direct an ultrasonic beam at a joint that connects two parts, the ultrasonic beam forming an angle between at least 14 degrees and at most 21 degrees with a joint axis of the joint, the joint axis extending through the width of the joint, wherein the ultrasonic beam passes through a joint thickness of the joint;
- and
- an ultrasonic beam receiver directed towards a location on an opposite end of the joint to the ultrasonic beam transmitter and operable to detect the ultrasonic beam directed by the ultrasonic beam transmitter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.