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US Patent 6637266 - Non-destructive inspection, testing and evaluation systems for intact aircraft and components and method therefore
US Patent Issued on October 28, 2003
Estimated Patent Expiration Date:
February 20, 2022Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
Estimated Patent Expiration Date:
February 20, 2022Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.AbstractA non-destructive inspection, testing and evaluation system and process is provided for the review of aircraft components. The system provides for a structure configured to contain an inspection and testing apparatus and the aircraft components under inspection. The structure is lined with shielding to attenuate the emission of radiation to the outside of the structure and has corbels therein to support the components that constitute the inspection and testing apparatus. The inspection and testing apparatus is coupled to the structure, resulting in the formation of a gantry for supporting a carriage and a mast is mounted on the carriage. The inspection and testing equipment is mounted on the mast which forms, in part, at least one radiographic inspection robot capable of precise positioning over large ranges of motion. The carriage is coupled to the mast for supporting and allowing translation of the equipment mounted on the mast. The mast is configured to provide yaw movement to the equipment. | InventorApplicationNo. 10/081900 filed on 02/20/2002US Classes:73/583Of aircraft or related structural elementField of Search73/1.79, Displacement, motion, distance, or position73/1.81, Length, width, or height73/588, Structural bond evaluation73/598, For flaw or discontinuity detection73/600, For flaw or discontinuity detection73/583Of aircraft or related structural elementExaminersPrimary: Raevis, RobertAttorney, Agent or FirmUS Patent References4685966, Surface tracking apparatusIssued on: 08/11/1987 Inventor: Garner , et al.4715228, Inspection apparatus Issued on: 12/29/1987 Inventor: Livsey , et al.5111402, Integrated aircraft test system Issued on: 05/05/1992 Inventor: Brooks, et al.5170352, Multi-purpose autonomous vehicle with path plotting Issued on: 12/08/1992 Inventor: McTamaney, et al.5987960, Tool calibrator Issued on: 11/23/1999 Inventor: Messner, et al.6003808, Maintenance and warranty control system for aircraft Issued on: 12/21/1999 Inventor: Nguyen, et al.6220099Apparatus and method for performing non-destructive inspections of large area aircraft structures Issued on: 04/24/2001 Inventor: Marti, et al. International ClassesG01N 29/44 (20060101)G01N 29/265 (20060101) G01N 29/24 (20060101) G01N 29/22 (20060101) G01N 29/26 (20060101) |
