Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080196475 | POROSITY REFERENCE STANDARD UTILIZING ONE OR MORE HOLLOW, NON-CYLINDRICAL SHAFTS - The invention relates to pseudo porosity standards, and methods for their manufacture and use, which may substantially mimic the effect porosity has on ultrasonic sound as it passes through a composite laminate. An ultrasonic inspection reference standard for composite materials having porosity may include a member having at least one thickness. The member may be defined by at least one hollow, non-spherical shaft. The member may be manufactured from a fiber-free polymer resin using a stereo lithography process. The non-spherical shaft may scatter and attenuate ultrasonic energy. The reference standard may replace more costly, porous, fiber-reinforced, composite reference standards in the aircraft industry and in other non-aircraft applications. | 08-21-2008 |
20080259325 | VISION INSPECTION SYSTEM DEVICE AND METHOD - A course material that is applied to a substrate during fabrication of a composite item is inspected by a system that includes a vision assembly. The vision assembly includes an area light, a line generator, a sensor, and an image processor. The area light illuminates an area of the course material. The line generator generates a line of illumination across the area. The sensor captures an image of the area. The image processor analyzes the image. The image processor is configured to identify debris on the course material in response to the area light being activated and the image processor is configured to identify placement aberrations in response to the line generator being activated. | 10-23-2008 |
20080277042 | IN-PROCESS VISION DETECTION OF FLAWS AND FOD BY BACK FIELD ILLUMINATION - A flaw and foreign object debris (FOD) detection system ( | 11-13-2008 |
20080278716 | IN-PROCESS VISION DETECTION OF FLAWS AND FOD BY BACK FIELD ILLUMINATION - A flaw and foreign object debris (FOD) detection system ( | 11-13-2008 |
20080289742 | IN-PROCESS VISION DETECTION OF FLAWS AND FOD BY BACK FIELD ILLUMINATION - A flaw and foreign object debris (FOD) detection system ( | 11-27-2008 |
20090000723 | IN-PROCESS VISION DETECTION OF FLAW AND FOD CHARACTERISTICS - An inspection system ( | 01-01-2009 |
20090002693 | IN-PROCESS VISION DETECTION OF FLAW AND FOD CHARACTERISTICS - An inspection system ( | 01-01-2009 |
20090072569 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FABRICATION OF COMPOSITE ARMOR LAMINATES BY PREFORM STITCHING - Methods and systems for an armor system are provided. The system includes a first face sheet and a shaped preform extending from the first face sheet. The preform includes a first edge proximate the first face sheet, a sidewall extending from the first edge to a flange extending substantially perpendicularly from the sidewall. The preform circumscribes an area of the first face sheet. The system also includes a tile of armor material complementarily-shaped to fit within the area circumscribed by the preform. The tile is positioned within the preform such that at least a portion of the tile is between the first face sheet and the flange. The system includes a second face sheet covering the preform and the tile on a side opposite from the first face sheet. | 03-19-2009 |
20090148030 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING CUMULATIVE FOREIGN OBJECT CHARACTERISTICS OF A COMPOSITE STRUCTURE - Method and system for determining cumulative foreign object characteristics during fabrication of a composite structure. Images of sequential segments of a composite structure may be recorded during placement of the composite structure. The recorded images may be analyzed for detecting foreign objects on the composite structure. Cumulative foreign object characteristics of the foreign objects detected on the composite structure may be determined, and the cumulative foreign object characteristics may be provided to a user. | 06-11-2009 |
20090153847 | VERIFICATION OF TOW CUT FOR AUTOMATIC FIBER PLACEMENT - The operation of tow cutters in an automatic fiber placement machine are monitored to determine if inconsistencies in fiber placement are related to cutter operation. A machine vision system detects inconsistencies in tow placement, and timing signals are generated that represent the actuation of the cutters. The timing signals are correlated with recorded images of the placed tows to determine if the inconsistency in tow placement are related to cutter operation. | 06-18-2009 |
20090169056 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING CUMULATIVE TOW GAP WIDTH - A system for determining cumulative tow gap width includes an in-process vision system having at least one camera adapted to record images of a composite material and a data analysis computer communicating with and adapted to receive image data from the in-process vision system. The data analysis computer may be adapted to calculate a cumulative gap width of tow gaps in the composite material. A user interface may communicate with and be adapted to receive data analysis results from the data analysis computer. A method for determining cumulative tow width gap of tow gaps in a composite structure is also disclosed. | 07-02-2009 |
20090257643 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REMOTE REWORK IMAGING FOR PART INCONSISTENCIES - A system and method for remote rework imaging a part for an inconsistency is provided. The part is scanned with a nondestructive inspection device. An image of a part inconsistency is communicated from the nondestructive inspection device to a programmable device. The image of the part inconsistency is viewed with the programmable device. The image of the part inconsistency is edited with the programmable device using an input device in communication with the programmable device. The edited image is communicated from the programmable device to a visible light projector. The edited image is projected onto the part inconsistency using the visible light projector. | 10-15-2009 |
20100204929 | In-Process Vision Detection of Flaw and FOD Characteristics - An inspection system ( | 08-12-2010 |
20100303335 | Methods for Determining Inconsistency Characteristics of a Composite Structure - Methods for determining an inconsistency characteristic of a composite structure, such as inconsistency density-per-unit area. In one implementation, a method is disclosed for determining an inconsistency characteristic of a composite structure. The method involves determining a first distance from a first reference point of the composite structure to an inconsistency; determining a second distance from a second reference point of the composite structure to the inconsistency; using the first and second distances to establish a reference area of the composite structure; and considering each inconsistency detected within the reference area and producing therefrom an inconsistency characteristic representative of the composite structure. | 12-02-2010 |
20110017380 | MAPPING TOW SPLICES IN COMPOSITE STRUCTURES - The three dimensional (3-D) locations of splices in pre-preg tows placed by an automatic fiber placement machine to form a laminated composite structure are mapped to allow visualization of alignment patterns in the splices. | 01-27-2011 |
20110314998 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FABRICATION OF COMPOSITE ARMOR LAMINATES BY PREFORM STITCHING - Methods and systems for an armor system are provided. The system includes a first face sheet and a shaped preform extending from the first face sheet. The preform includes a first edge proximate the first face sheet, a sidewall extending from the first edge to a flange extending substantially perpendicularly from the sidewall. The preform circumscribes an area of the first face sheet. The system also includes a tile of armor material complementarily-shaped to fit within the area circumscribed by the preform. The tile is positioned within the preform such that at least a portion of the tile is between the first face sheet and the flange. The system includes a second face sheet covering the preform and the tile on a side opposite from the first face sheet. | 12-29-2011 |
20110315304 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FABRICATION OF COMPOSITE ARMOR LAMINATES BY PREFORM STITCHING - Methods and systems for an armor system are provided. The system includes a first face sheet and a shaped preform extending from the first face sheet. The preform includes a first edge proximate the first face sheet, a sidewall extending from the first edge to a flange extending substantially perpendicularly from the sidewall. The preform circumscribes an area of the first face sheet. The system also includes a tile of armor material complementarily-shaped to fit within the area circumscribed by the preform. The tile is positioned within the preform such that at least a portion of the tile is between the first face sheet and the flange. The system includes a second face sheet covering the preform and the tile on a side opposite from the first face sheet. | 12-29-2011 |
20120093391 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REMOTE REWORK IMAGING FOR PART INCONSISTENCIES - A system and method for remote rework imaging a part for an inconsistency is provided. The part is scanned with a nondestructive inspection device. An image of a part inconsistency is communicated from the nondestructive inspection device to a programmable device. The image of the part inconsistency is viewed with the programmable device. The image of the part inconsistency is edited with the programmable device using an input device in communication with the programmable device. The edited image is communicated from the programmable device to a visible light projector. The edited image is projected onto the part inconsistency using the visible light projector. | 04-19-2012 |
20120216957 | Mapping Tow Splices in Composite Structures - The three dimensional (3-D) locations of splices in pre-preg tows placed by an automatic fiber placement machine to form a laminated composite structure are mapped to allow visualization of alignment patterns in the splices. | 08-30-2012 |
20120328159 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING CUMULATIVE TOW GAP WIDTH - A system for determining cumulative tow gap width includes an in-process vision system having at least one camera adapted to record images of a composite material and a data analysis computer communicating with and adapted to receive image data from the in-process vision system. The data analysis computer may be adapted to calculate a cumulative gap width of tow gaps in the composite material. A user interface may communicate with and be adapted to receive data analysis results from the data analysis computer. A method for determining cumulative tow width gap of tow gaps in a composite structure is also disclosed. | 12-27-2012 |
20130010309 | In-Process Vision Detection of Flaw and FOD Characteristics - An inspection system ( | 01-10-2013 |
20130124110 | IN-PROCESS VISION DETECTION OF FLAW AND FOD CHARACTERISTICS - An inspection system ( | 05-16-2013 |
20130336455 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VISUALIZING EFFECTS OF CORROSION - A method and system for visualizing the effects of corrosion are provided. In the context of a method, a workpiece is interrogated with radiation, such as by interrogating the workpiece with x-ray radiation. By relying upon a radiographic technique, the workpiece may be hidden and may be interrogated without disassembly. The method generates a backscatter image of the workpiece based upon radiation backscattered from the workpiece. The method also compares one or more regions of the backscatter image of the workpiece with respect to backscatter images of different metal loss indicators. Each metal loss indicator is representative of a different amount of metal loss. As a result of the comparison, the method estimates the metal loss attributable to corrosion of the workpiece. | 12-19-2013 |
20140124142 | VISION INSPECTION DURING APPLICATION OF COMPOSITE TAPE - A system comprises a feed assembly for applying composite tape; a unit for forming lateral stripes across a portion of the tape that has been applied; a camera for capturing images of the lateral stripes; and a processor programmed to process the images of the lateral stripes to identify any discontinuities in the tape. Those stripes intersecting any discontinuities will make those discontinuities apparent. | 05-08-2014 |
20140338453 | Porosity Inspection System for Composite Structures with Non-Parallel Surfaces - A method and apparatus for inspecting a composite structure. A thickness profile of a portion of a region of a composite structure is identified. The region has a cross-section with non-parallel surfaces. An estimated thickness for a location within the region and outside of the portion is identified using the thickness profile. An indication of whether the location has undesirable porosity is generated based on information about attenuation of response sound signals and the estimated thickness for the location. | 11-20-2014 |
20150055757 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVELY EVALUATING A HIDDEN WORKPIECE - A method and system are provided for non-destructively evaluating a workpiece hidden by an overlying structure. In the context of a method, a workpiece is interrogated with radiation, such as x-ray radiation, that also propagates through the overlying structure. The method further includes collecting data representative of radiation backscattered from the workpiece. Based upon a thickness and material of the overlying structure, the method compares the data that has been collected from the workpiece with reference data representative of radiation backscattered from a standard that includes different respective material loss indicators hidden by an overlying structure of the same thickness and material. Each material loss indicator is a physical representation of a different amount of material loss. As a result of the comparison, the method estimates the material loss of the workpiece. | 02-26-2015 |