IP Library Granted Patent US 11,631,184
Granted Patent B2
US 11,631,184 · App. 17/024,792 · Granted Apr 18, 2023

Feature inspection system

Inventors: Mark Davis Haynes (Andover, KS); Glen Paul Cork (Wichita, KS); Bharath Achyutha Rao (Wichita, KS); John Thomas Baumfalk-Lee (Wichita, KS); Matthew W. McKenna (Wichita, KS); Bruce E. Gabel (Wichita, KS); Scott Bishop (Wichita, KS); Gregorio Balandran (Wichita, KS)
Assignee: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
G06T7/246G01N21/88B64F5/40B64F5/60G06T2207/10032
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,631,184
App. No.
17/024,792
Granted
Apr 18, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for inspecting features of an airframe, the system including a feature inspection device configured to measure an aspect of a first feature and a tracking subsystem configured to determine a position of the feature inspection device when the feature inspection device measures the aspect of the first feature. The system is configured to determine a position of the first feature on the airframe via the feature inspection device and the tracking subsystem, the determination of the position of the first feature being independent from the measurement of the aspect of the first feature.

Claims (31)

1. A system for tracking a fabrication tool and inspecting a plurality of fasteners of an airframe, the system comprising:

a fastener inspection device including a contactless scanner configured to measure a head height of a first fastener of the plurality of fasteners via a scan of the first fastener; and

a tracking subsystem including a plurality of cameras configured to be spaced apart from each other near the airframe, the tracking subsystem being configured to:

measure an output of the fabrication tool when the fabrication tool is used to secure the first fastener to the airframe;

determine a position and an orientation of the fastener inspection device when the fastener inspection device measures the head height of the first fastener; and

determine a position of a skin quality defect of the airframe,

the system being configured to:

determine a position of the first fastener on the airframe via the fastener inspection device and the tracking subsystem, wherein determining the position of the first fastener is independent from measuring the head height of the first fastener,

analyze measurements and positions of the plurality of fasteners to determine trends of fastener non-conformance, and

generate a rework plan based on head heights and positions of the plurality of fasteners.

2. The system of claim 1 , the fastener inspection device including a plurality of tracking targets, the tracking subsystem being configured to determine the position of the fastener inspection device via the plurality of tracking targets.

3. The system of claim 1 , the fastener inspection device being configured to indicate a quality of the scan.

4. The system of claim 1 , the tracking subsystem being further configured to determine a position of the airframe, the system being further configured to determine the position of the first fastener relative to the airframe so that the position of the first fastener is expressed according to an aircraft coordinate reference frame of the airframe.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a human machine interface (HMI) configured to visually indicate fasteners of the plurality of fasteners that do not meet manufacturing specifications.

6. The system of claim 1 , the system being configured to associate the head height of the first fastener and the position of the first fastener to engineering data corresponding to the first fastener in a fastener map.

7. The system of claim 1 , the system being scalable to include a plurality of fastener inspection devices and a plurality of tracking subsystems.

8. The system of claim 1 , the system being configured to be compatible with feature inspection devices in addition to the fastener inspection device.

9. The system of claim 1 , the fastener inspection device being further configured to measure a plurality of additional aspects of the first fastener.

10. The system of claim 1 , the tracking subsystem including a plurality of photogrammetry motion tracking cameras positioned near the airframe.

11. A system for tracking a fabrication tool and inspecting a plurality of fasteners of an airframe, the system comprising:

a fastener inspection device including a contactless scanner configured to measure a head height of a first fastener of the plurality of fasteners; and

a tracking subsystem including a plurality of cameras configured to be spaced apart from each other near the airframe, the tracking subsystem being configured to:

measure an output of the fabrication tool when the fabrication tool is used to secure the first fastener to the airframe;

determine a position of the fabrication tool when the fabrication tool is used to secure the first fastener to the airframe;

determine a position and an orientation of the fastener inspection device when the fastener inspection device measures the head height of the first fastener; and

determine a position of a skin quality defect of the airframe,

the system being configured to:

determine a position of the first fastener on the airframe via the fastener inspection device and the tracking subsystem, wherein determining the position of the first fastener is independent from measuring the head height of the first fastener,

analyze measurements and positions of the plurality of fasteners to determine trends of fastener non-conformance, and

generate a rework plan based on head heights and positions of the plurality of fasteners.

12. The system of claim 11 , the system being further configured to analyze positions and outputs of the fabrication tool to determine trends of non-conforming usage of the fabrication tool.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 073902/0104 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2025
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 073916/0346 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 8, 2024
From: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 068217/0456 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2023
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
To: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.; SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS HOLDINGS, INC.; SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS NORTH CAROLINA, INC.
Reel/Frame 065757/0065 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN NOTES) Recorded Nov 21, 2023
From: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065659/0585 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Nov 23, 2022
From: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 061993/0847 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2021
From: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 056104/0303 →
SECURITY INTEREST - FIRST LIEN NOTES Recorded Feb 16, 2021
From: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 055305/0862 →
SECURITY INTEREST - TERM LOAN B Recorded Feb 16, 2021
From: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 055305/0877 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2020
From: HAYNES, MARK DAVIS; CORK, GLEN PAUL; RAO, BHARATH ACHYUTHA; BAUMFALK-LEE, JOHN THOMAS; MCKENNA, MATTHEW W.; GABEL, BRUCE E.; BISHOP, SCOTT; BALANDRAN, GREGORIO
To: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053822/0435 →