IP Library Granted Patent US 11,333,633
Granted Patent B2
US 11,333,633 · App. 16/792,218 · Granted May 17, 2022

Microtexture region characterization systems and methods

Inventors: Yong Tian (Avon, CT); Ronald Roberts (Ames, IA)
Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
G01N29/07G01N29/043G01N29/4427G01N29/4445G01N2291/0234G01N2291/0289
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,333,633
App. No.
16/792,218
Granted
May 17, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for the characterization of a microtexture of a sample, component, or the like. The methods may include methods of determining a service life limiting region of a component, determining a treatment method for a component, and/or selecting components from a batch of components for use in production. The characterization may include calculating a microtexture level indicator from ultrasonic C-scan images for various samples, regions, components, or the like. The microtexture level indicator may include at least one of an average peak factor, a standard deviation of peak amplitude, and/or a baseband bandwidth.

Claims (98)

1. A method, comprising:

scanning a plurality of regions of a component with an ultrasonic transducer;

analyzing the plurality of regions in response to scanning the plurality of regions;

calculating a peak factor for each region in the plurality of regions; and

characterizing a limiting region in the plurality of regions, the limiting region corresponding to a maximum peak factor, wherein the peak factor is calculated based on a peak factor equation

The

Peak

Factor

=

Peak

Amplitude

-

Mean

Amplitude

Mean

Amplitude

.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the peak factor comprises at least one of an average peak factor, a standard deviation of peak amplitudes, and a baseband bandwidth.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scanning is performed in a tank filled with a fluid, and wherein the component is disposed in the tank.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the peak factor of each region in the plurality of regions corresponds to an average peak factor over a range of peaks from the scanning.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising comparing the peak factor of the plurality of regions.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the limiting region is a service life limiting region of the component.

7. A method, comprising:

scanning a plurality of samples with an ultrasonic transducer, each sample in the plurality of samples being different;

analyzing the plurality of samples in response to scanning the plurality of samples;

calculating a microtexture level indicator for each sample in the plurality of samples;

characterizing a peak factor of each sample in the plurality of samples based on the peak factor, wherein the peak factor be calculated based on a peak factor equation

The

Peak

Factor

=

Peak

Amplitude

-

Mean

Amplitude

Mean

Amplitude

.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein each sample in the plurality of samples corresponds to a different heat treatment of an alloy.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising selecting a heat treatment for an alloy corresponding to a lowest peak factor in the plurality of samples.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the peak factor comprises at least one of an average peak factor, a standard deviation of peak amplitudes, and a baseband bandwidth.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising comparing the peak factor for each sample in the plurality of samples.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the scanning is performed in a tank filled with a fluid, and wherein the sample is disposed in the tank.

13. A method, comprising:

scanning a batch of components with an ultrasonic transducer;

analyzing the batch of components in response to scanning the batch of components;

calculating a peak factor for each component in the batch of components; and

scrapping a portion of the batch of components in response to the peak factor of each component in the portion of the batch of components exceeding a predetermined peak factor threshold, wherein the peak factor be calculated based on a peak factor equation

The

Peak

Factor

=

Peak

Amplitude

-

Mean

Amplitude

Mean

Amplitude

.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising scanning a plurality of regions of a component in the batch of components with the ultrasonic transducer prior to scanning a remaining portion of the batch of components; and characterizing a limiting region in the plurality of regions, the limiting region corresponding to a maximum peak factor.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the peak factor for each component is determined from the limiting region in the plurality of regions.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the peak factor comprises at least one of an average peak factor, a standard deviation of peak amplitudes, and a baseband bandwidth.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising comparing the peak factor for each component in the batch of components.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the scanning is performed in a tank filled with a fluid, and wherein the component is disposed in the tank.

Assignments (6)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2021
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 057900/0933 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2021
From: ROBERTS, RONALD
To: IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 057566/0762 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SPELLING ON THE ADDRESS 10 FARM SPRINGD ROAD FARMINGTONCONNECTICUT 06032 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 057190 FRAME 0719. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT SPELLING OF THE ADDRESS 10 FARM SPRINGS ROAD FARMINGTON CONNECTICUT 06032. Recorded Aug 19, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057226/0390 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 16, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057190/0719 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 17, 2020
From: TIAN, YONG
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 051945/0250 →