Ultrasonic Inspection System for Laminated Stiffeners

The present invention relates to ultrasonic inspection and, more particularly, to the use of ultrasonic transducers to detect and size flaws in laminated composite "I" stringers.

The use of graphite/epoxy materials for building aircraft structures is expanding. For example, graphite/epoxy "I" stiffeners are being used to give strength and rigidity to the empennage of new aircraft. In order to keep pace with this expanding use of these new materials, new and faster methods for inspection are required.

The present invention, hereinafter described "feedthrough stiffener inspection system" (FSIS), provides a rapid ultrasonic inspection of the aforementioned "I"-shaped stiffeners. In general, ultrasonic systems, whether multiple or single channel (a pair of transducers, transmitting and receiving) requires repeated passes over the part for 100% ultrasonic inspection of the part. This is a time consuming procedure. The FSIS is capable of providing 100% inspection in a single pass because of the multiple probe arrangement. FSIS's transducers are stationary, which eliminate the need for long cables (a problem characteristic of devices which creep along the stringer while inspecting or gantry-type robots). FSIS is a one pass, 100% inspection capable of handling stiffeners, regardless of length. FSIS's transducers are stationary, which eliminates the need for long cables (a problem characteristic of devices which creep along the stiffener while inspecting or gantry-type robots). Also, because FSIS is stationary, one person can control movement of the part through the system and evaluate the inspection data at the same time. Because FSIS is an immersion o ultrasonic technique, its transducer shoes are much more simple and cost effective to design and manufacture than those of other inspections which are relegated to using a bubbler technique. Compared to other immersion techniques, FSIS is a faster technique because of the following: Due to its small size, FSIS does not require a large storage area while not in use.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a feedthrough stiffener inspection system for determining the presence, location, and size of flaws in the radius region and adjacent areas of a structure. A preferred embodiment of the present system comprises: 5 probes with a plurality of transducers; an immersion tank with "I"-shaped windows fore and aft; a water collection tank; a fore and aft motor drive assembly; a fore and aft position encoder assembly; a water recirculation system; and, a plurality of roller tables.

In accordance with further features of the present invention, the probe assembly further comprises a plurality of individual shoes configured for complementary engagement with the structure under inspection. The individual shoes are pushed toward each other by spring assemblies so as to clamp the "I" stiffener. The plurality of transducers inspect the "I" stiffener and produce relevant inspection information.

In accordance with further features of the present invention, the fore and aft motor assemblies are mounted to a spring-loaded platform which pushes the motor assemblies against the "I" stiffener. A pressure wheel with movable platform is directly opposite the motor drive wheel. The interaction of the two wheels create the translational movement of the "I" stiffener enabling it movement through the immersion system. The fore and aft motor assemblies operate synchronously.

In accordance with yet further features of the present invention, the position encoder assemblies are mounted to a spring-loaded platform. The relative motion of the structure moving through the system drives the encoder, thereby producing position information for generating C-scans. The fore and aft position encoder assemblies operate synchronously. As the structure moves through the system, the fore encoder electronics is activated. When the structure disengages from the fore position encoder, the aft encoder is activated until the structure disengages from the aft encoder.

In accordance with still further features of the present invention, the recirculation system maintains the water level of the immersion tank so that the "I" stiffener and probes are always immersed. The recirculation system recycles the water from the collection tank back into the immersion tank.

In accordance with yet further features of the present invention, conveyor tables fore and aft of the immersion system support the structure as it moves through the inspection station.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes further understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the feedthrough stiffener inspection system which includes the motor/encoder system, data acquisition system, and ultrasonic system;

FIG. 2 is a simplified isometric view of the presently preferred embodiment of the feedthrough stiffener inspection system;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the "I" stiffener;

FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the motor/encoder assembly with "I" stiffener;

FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view illustrating the stiffener and immersion tank;

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the stiffener before entering the immersion tank;

FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating the stiffener in the immersion tank;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the cap probe;

The frontal view of FIG. 7A illustrates the area of inspection coverage;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the flange probe;

The frontal view of FIG. 8A illustrates the area of inspection coverage;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the web probe;

The frontal view of FIG. 9A illustrates the area of inspection coverage;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the cap radius probe;

The frontal view of FIG. 10A illustrates the area of inspection coverage;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of the flange radius probe;

The frontal view of FIG. 11A illustrates the area of inspection coverage.

Ultrasonic inspection probes are known in the composite or laminated structure art; e.g., such a probe is described in a U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,159 entitled "Ultrasonic Inspection Probe For Laminated Structures," by Kennedy, et al., assigned to The Boeing Company. The details of probe shoes, including the ultrasonic transducers, the internal conduits, and the biasing spring assemblies shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,159 may be referred to and are incorporated herein by reference.

Turning now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a block diagram of a feedthrough stiffener inspection system (FSIS) 100 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The feedthrough stiffener inspection system includes: two fore motor assemblies 101 and 102; two aft motor assemblies 103 and 104; a fore encoder assembly 105; an aft encoder assembly 106; an immersion tank 107; a cap probe assembly 108; a flange probe assembly 109; a web probe assembly 110; a cap radius probe assembly 111; and a flange radius probe assembly 112.

The fore motor assemblies, 101 and 102, and the aft motor assemblies, 103 and 104, operate cooperatively to move the stiffener through immersion tank 107. The stiffener direction is indicated by double arrow 113. Ultrasonic electronics 114 and preamp electronics 115 transmit and receive the ultrasonic signals. Data acquisition system 116 receives and analyzes the encoded position information on line 118 and the ultrasonic signal information on line 117 information on line 118 and the ultrasonic signal information on line 117 to determine the presence, position, and size of flaws in the part under inspection. Controller 119 controls the fore and aft motor drives.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present ultrasonic inspection system for laminated structures. A stiffener 120 is resting on the conveyor tables 121 which are both fore and aft of the immersion tank 107. There are a total of six conveyors. The individual rollers 127 are 4 inches long and rotate independently of each other. The "I" stiffener 120 of FIG. 2A has a cap 122, a flange 123, a web 124, a cap radius 125, and a flange radius 126. Stiffener 120 is engaged into motor drive 101 which then begins pulling action. Stiffener 120 then comes in contact with fore encoder 105 which provides the position signals to data acquisition system 116. Engagement with the second fore motor drive 102 forces stiffener 120 to become aligned with the inspection system. Stiffener 120 enters the immersion tank 107 through fore window 128 shaped like the stiffener 120. Window 128 serves two purposes: to further align the stiffener 120, and for reducing the loss of water in immersion tank 107. The water exiting the immersion tank 107 is collected in stainless steel collection tank 129. The water is recirculated by recirculation system 130. The overflow water runs down trough 132 to minimize introduction of air into the water. Air attenuates the ultrasonic signal, thereby producing false readings.

Five probes are required to inspect the entire cross-section of stiffener 120. The five probes are cap 108, flange 110, web 110, cap radius 111, and flange radius 112. Each probe is composed of several shoes that are held together by bearings, rods, and springs. A shoe is a collection of transducers mounted in a machined plexiglass block. Each shoe can hold up to 16 transducers. Each pair of transducers covers an inspection width of 0.125 inch. With the exception of web probe 124, the shape of the ultrasonic probe fits the shape of the part surface, ensuring that there is a stable equilibrium position when the probes are pressed against the part.

The stiffener exits the aft window 131 which is the same as fore window 128. Stringer 120 engages first aft motor 103, the aft encoder 106, and the second aft motor 104. A maximum of four motors are pushing/pulling the stiffener through the inspection system. When fore encoder 105 and aft encoder 106 are engaged on the stiffener 120, position information is being generated by fore encoder 105. As the stiffener 120 disengages from fore encoder 105 and the force encoder 105 stops rotating, aft encoder 106 is activated and starts generating position information. Conveyor table 121 supports the stiffener 120 as it exits the inspection system.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the present motor/encoder assembly. Stiffener direction is shown by double arrow 113. The four motor assemblies are identical. The motor assemblies are attached to a stainless steel base plate. Each motor assembly consists of the following hardware: a fixed mountbase 141; an adjustable mountbase 142; an inside fixed upright 143; an outside adjustable upright 144; a motor mount 145; a motor 146; a grooved drive wheel 147; two shafts 148; two springs 149; a boss 150; a pressure wheel 151;a sliding boss mount 152; and, two split hub clamps 153.

Discussion of Motor Assembly

Fixed mountbase 141 is attached and keyed to baseplate 140. Inside fixed upright 143 is attached to adjustable mountbase 142 which is attached to fixed mountbase 141. Outside adjustable upright 144 is attached to inside fixed upright 143. Outside adjustable upright 144 can be adjusted vertically for maximum contact against stiffener 120, more specifically, web 124. Grooved drive wheel 147 is attached to motor 146 and this assembly is mounted on motor mount 145. The motor mount is attached to outside adjustable upright 144. Drive wheels 147 are grooved to provide maximum traction against wet stiffener 120. Attached to fixed mountbase 141 are two shafts 148. A pressure wheel assembly opposing the motor assembly provides the pinch force necessary to force stiffener 120 through the inspection system. Attach to shafts 148 is sliding boss mount 152. Boss 150 is attached to sliding boss mount 152. Pressure wheel 151 is attached to a shaft and slides into boss 150. Spring 149 and split hub clamp 153 provide the pinch pressure.

Discussion of Encoder Assembly

A similar arrangement of mounting to baseplate 140 is employed in the encoder assembly. There is a fixed mountbase 141 and two shafts 148 which extend horizontally for a sliding encoder mountbase 154. Adjustable mountbase 142 is attached to sliding encoder mountbase 154. Inside fixed upright 143 is attached to adjustable mountbase 142. Outside adjustable upright 144 allows encoder 156 and encoder wheel 157 to be adjusted vertically for proper position on stiffener 120, more specifically, web 124. Encoder wheel 157 is attached to encoder top mount 155 which is attached to the outside adjustable upright 144. Spring 149 provides the necessary pressure against web 124 to rotate encoder wheel 157 for generating position information.

FIG. 4 illustrates the window assembly which includes the following: a window guide 161; a rubber seal 162; and a window 163. The direction of the stiffener 120 is depicted by arrow 160. Rubber seal 162 is sandwiched between window 163 and window guide 161. The window assembly is attached to immersion tank 107.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the stiffener just before entering immersion tank 107. Window guide 161 and window guide 163 are slotted to the shape of stiffener 120 cross-section. Rubber seal 162 contains a slit the shape of stiffener 120. The width of the slit on rubber seal 162 is very small, therefore reducing the loss of water through the opening.

FIG. 6 is a side view of stiffener 120 in immersion tank 107. Window guide 161 opening contains a 30-degree angle around the entire inside and outside edge. This provides for some misalignment of the stiffener. As stiffener 120 enters immersion tank 107, the rubber seal comes in contact with stiffener 120. The interaction between rubber seal 162 and stiffener 120 reduces the loss of water through the opening.

Discussion of Probe in the Immersion Tank

FIGS. 7 through 11 represent the probes in the immersion tank. FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a cap probe and stiffener with a frontal view shown in FIG. 7A and area inspected by the cap probe denoted by numeral 201.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a flange probe and stiffener with a frontal view shown in FIG. 8A and area inspected by the flange probe denoted by numeral 203.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a web probe and stiffener with a frontal view shown in FIG. 9B and area inspected by the web probe denoted by numeral 205.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a cap radius probe and stiffener with a frontal view shown in FIG. 10B and area inspected by the cap radius probe denoted by numeral 207.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a flange radius probe and stiffener with a frontal view shown in FIG. 11B and area inspected by the flange radius probe denoted by numeral 209.

The aforementioned five probes are required to inspect the entire cross-section of the stiffener. The five probes are cap, flange, web, cap radius, and flange radius. Each ultrasonic probe is composed of several shoes that are held together by bearings, rods, and springs. A shoe is a collection of transducers mounted in a plexiglass block. Each shoe can hold up to 16 transducers. Each through-transmission ultrasonic channel covers an inspection width of 0.125". With the exception of the web probe, the shape of the ultrasonic probe fits the shape of the part surface, thereby ensuring that there is a stable equilibrium position when probes are pressed against the part.

The probes (except the web probe) are attached to a positioner. The positioner has vertical and horizontal adjustments to center the probe for the oncoming stiffener. The positioner allows for the probe to move vertically or horizontally during the inspection. The positioner for each probe is identical and is attached to the bottom of the immersion tank.

The cap and flange probes are identical in design and inspect the cap and flange, respectively. Each probe consists of a pair of vertically opposed shoes. Each pair of vertically opposed shoes contains 16 through transmission ultrasonic channels for a total of 32 channels. The probe is designed to maintain a constant distance from the inspection surface. The maximum inspectable cap width is 4".

The web probe consists of a pair of horizontally opposed shoes. The probe is designed to have a total of 16 channels. The shoes are mounted a fixed distance of 2 inches from the stiffener centerline and do not contact the part. The maximum inspectable web height is 2 inches.

The cap radius and flange radius probe inspect the cap radius and flange radius. Each probe consists of a pair of vertically opposed shoes containing 7 through-transmission ultrasonic channels.