IP Library Granted Patent US 10,697,897
Granted Patent B2
US 10,697,897 · App. 16/325,505 · Granted Jun 30, 2020

Inspection system, inspection device, and inspecting method

Inventors: Hirofumi Ienaga (Tokyo, JP); Keisuke Maruko (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
G01N21/8806G01N21/88G01N21/954G01N29/04G01N29/043G01N2021/8438G01N2021/8472G01N2021/9548G01N2291/0231G01N2291/044
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,697,897
App. No.
16/325,505
Granted
Jun 30, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An inspection system for inspecting a composite material member formed of a composite material has a main body part; an ultrasonic probe connected with the main body part and configured to contact the main surface; an optical sensor part connected to the main body part to be movable in a first direction; and a processor. The ultrasonic probe is configured to input ultrasonic wave to the main surface of the composite material member and to receive reflection wave generated from the ultrasonic wave reflected by the composite material member. The optical sensor part is configured to emit sensor light in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and to receive reflection light generated from the sensor light reflected on the intersection surface. The processor is configured to output a measurement result based on the reflection wave and the reflection light.

Claims (38)

1. An inspection system to inspect a composite material member formed of a composite material and having a main surface and a through-hole penetrating the composite material member from the main surface in a first direction, comprising:

a main body part;

an ultrasonic probe connected to the main body part and configured to contact the main surface;

an optical sensor part configured to be inserted in the through-hole and connected to the main body part to be movable in the first direction; and

a processor,

wherein the ultrasonic probe is configured to input ultrasonic wave to the main surface of the composite material member and to receive reflection wave generated from the ultrasonic wave reflected by the composite material member,

wherein the optical sensor part is configured to emit sensor light in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and receive reflection light generated from the sensor light reflected on a side wall surface of the through-hole,

wherein the processor is configured to output a measurement result based on the reflection wave and the reflection light, and

wherein the main body part is configured to hold the ultrasonic probe to be movable in a third direction along the main surface in a state in which the optical sensor part is inserted in the through-hole.

2. The inspection system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an actuator configured to move the optical sensor part in the first direction,

wherein the emission of the sensor light and the reception of the reflection light are carried out while moving the optical sensor part in the first direction by the actuator.

3. The inspection system according to claim 1 , wherein the third direction is orthogonal to the first direction.

4. The inspection system according to claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor part comprises:

an optical sensor configured to emit a sensor light, receive a reflection light and generate an output signal corresponding to the reflection light; and

a pipe member having a circular cylindrical surface which has a central axis parallel to the first direction,

wherein the optical sensor is housed in the pipe member, and

wherein the pipe member is connected to the main body part to be movable in the first direction.

5. An inspection device configured to inspect a composite material member formed of a composite material which has a main surface and a through-hole penetrating the composite material from the main surface in a first direction,

the inspection device comprising:

a main body part;

an ultrasonic probe connected to the main body part and brought into contact with the main surface; and

an optical sensor part configured to be inserted in the through-hole and connected to the main body part to be movable in the first direction,

wherein the ultrasonic probe is configured to output an ultrasonic wave to the main surface of the composite material, receive a reflection wave generated by reflecting the ultrasonic wave by the composite material, and output a first output signal corresponding to the reflection wave,

wherein the optical sensor part is configured to output sensor light in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, receive the reflection light generated by reflecting the sensor light on a side wall surface of the through-hole, and output a second output signal corresponding to the reflection light,

wherein the main body part is configured to hold the ultrasonic probe to be movable in a third direction along the main surface in a state in which the optical sensor part is inserted in the through-hole.

6. An inspecting method of inspecting a composite material member which has a main surface and a through-hole penetrating the composite material member from the main surface in a first direction, comprising:

(A) bringing an ultrasonic probe into contact with the main surface to output an ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic probe to the main surface;

(B) receiving a reflection wave generated by reflecting the ultrasonic wave by the composite material member;

(C) outputting a sensor light in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction from an optical sensor part inserted in the through-hole while moving the optical sensor part in the first direction along a side wall surface of the through hole;

(D) receiving a reflection light generated by reflecting the sensor light on the side wall surface; and

(E) outputting a measurement result acquired based on the reflection wave and the reflection light,

wherein bringing the ultrasonic probe into contact with the main surface comprises adjusting a position of the ultrasonic probe in a third direction along the main surface in a state in which the optical sensor part is inserted in the through-hole.

7. The inspecting method according to claim 6 , wherein the through-hole is formed through the composite material member by drilling.

8. The inspecting method according to claim 7 , wherein the optical sensor is housed in a pipe member which has a circular cylindrical surface which has a central axis parallel to the first direction, and

wherein the pipe member has a diameter corresponding to a diameter of the through-hole.

9. The inspecting method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

repeatedly carrying out the (A) to (E) while changing an orientation of the second direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2019
From: IENAGA, HIROFUMI; MARUKO, KEISUKE
To: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 048335/0420 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2016-226203 · Nov 21, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190170658A1 · Jun 6, 2019