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21.发明授权公开(公告)号：US11149718B2
公开(公告)日：2021-10-19
申请号：US16106560
申请日：2018-08-21
Applicant: The Boeing Company
Inventor： Gary E. Georgeson , Joseph L. Hafenrichter
IPC: F03D80/50 , G01N29/22 , G01N29/265 , G01N29/24 , F03D17/00
Abstract: A motorized rolling maintenance cart that utilizes the angled trailing edge geometry of an airfoil-shaped body (such as a wind turbine blade or rotor blade) to traverse the length of the airfoil-shaped body. The trailing edge-following maintenance cart may be used to carry personnel doing maintenance activities on the blades, such as local repairs or re-painting. In accordance with one aspect, the maintenance cart carries non-destructive inspection sensor units or other maintenance hardware over the surface of the airfoil-shaped body (e.g., in a spanwise direction). In accordance with another aspect, the trailing edge-following maintenance cart is configured to also provide fall protection to one or more independently movable crawler vehicles by means of cables. Alternative embodiments may include only one of the two aspects.
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22.发明授权公开(公告)号：US11110668B2
公开(公告)日：2021-09-07
申请号：US16018317
申请日：2018-06-26
Applicant: The Boeing Company
Inventor： Kenneth H. Griess , Gary E. Georgeson
Abstract: A method is provided for facilitating a vacuum bagging operation during fabrication of a composite laminate. The method comprises applying a vacuum bag over a composite part to fabricate the composite laminate from the composite part. The method also comprises drawing a vacuum in the vacuum bag, and monitoring one or more portions of the vacuum bag for strain within the vacuum bag when the vacuum is drawn. The method further comprises manipulating the vacuum bag to even out strain within the vacuum bag.
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公开(公告)号：US20210245897A1
公开(公告)日：2021-08-12
申请号：US16786588
申请日：2020-02-10
Applicant: The Boeing Company
Inventor： Samuel R. Goertz , Gary E. Georgeson
Abstract: An example system for in-situ inspection of a composite structure includes a surface-strain imaging apparatus and a controller. The surface-strain imaging apparatus is configured to image an area of an outer surface of the composite structure while a temperature of the composite structure warms to thermal equilibrium with a surrounding environment and a temperature gradient exists within the composite structure. The controller includes a processor and a memory, and is configured to detect, using data received from the surface-strain imaging apparatus, an out-of-plane displacement of the outer surface in the area caused by the temperature gradient. The controller is also configured to determine that the out-of-plane displacement satisfies a threshold condition and, based on determining that the out-of-plane displacement satisfies the threshold condition, flag the area of the outer surface for further inspection.
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公开(公告)号：US20210237867A1
公开(公告)日：2021-08-05
申请号：US16782944
申请日：2020-02-05
Applicant: The Boeing Company
Inventor： Gary E. Georgeson , James J. Troy , Samuel R. Goertz , Joseph L. Hafenrichter , Gregory J. Sweers
Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing repair operations using an unmanned aerial vehicle. The methods are enabled by equipping the UAV with tools for rapidly repairing a large structure or object (e.g., an aircraft or a wind turbine blade) that is not easily accessible to maintenance personnel. In accordance with various embodiments disclosed below, the unmanned aerial vehicle may be equipped with an easily attachable/removable module that includes an additive repair tool. The additive repair tool is configured to add material to a body of material. For example, the additive repair tool may be configured to apply a sealant or other coating material in liquid form to a damage site on a surface of a structure or object (e.g., by spraying liquid or launching liquid-filled capsules onto the surface). In alternative embodiments, the additive repair tool is configured to adhere a tape to the damage site.
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公开(公告)号：US11079760B2
公开(公告)日：2021-08-03
申请号：US16202347
申请日：2018-11-28
Applicant: The Boeing Company
Inventor： Joseph L. Hafenrichter , Gary E. Georgeson
Abstract: Methods for performing maintenance operations using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The methods are enabled by equipping a UAV with a maintenance tool capable of performing a desired maintenance operation (e.g., nondestructive inspection) on a limited-access surface of a large structure or object (e.g., a wind turbine blade). The UAV uses re-orientation of lifting means (e.g., vertical rotors) to move the maintenance tool continuously or intermittently across the surface of the structure while maintaining contact with the surface of the structure undergoing maintenance.
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Patent Agency Ranking
公开(公告)号：US20210207958A1
公开(公告)日：2021-07-08
申请号：US16734877
申请日：2020-01-06
Applicant: The Boeing Company
Inventor： William J. Tapia , Gary E. Georgeson
Abstract: A tool for detecting a covered edge of a structural member through sealant material of a fillet seal includes an edge detection probe mounted to a fixture. The probe outputs an interrogation signal toward the covered edge and receives a return signal indicative of a location of the covered edge. The tool includes an electronic control unit (“ECU”) in communication with the edge detection probe and a display screen. The ECU is configured to generate, from the return signal, one or more XY coordinates indicative of the edge location, and to display the edge location on the display screen. Additionally, the tool includes a seal measurement device. In response to the edge location, the device measures a predetermined dimension of the fillet seal, including a thickness and/or a shape of the fillet seal. A method includes detecting the covered edge using the tool.
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公开(公告)号：US20210181161A1
公开(公告)日：2021-06-17
申请号：US16717037
申请日：2019-12-17
Applicant: The Boeing Company
Inventor： Gary E. Georgeson , William J. Tapia , Barry A. Fetzer
IPC: G01N29/265 , G01N29/06 , G01N29/24 , G01B11/30 , B25J19/02
Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses are disclosed for non-destructively a substrate using ultrasound waves, and enhancing resolution of imaging created from ultrasound signals that are back reflected from a substrate surface second, or back surface by maintaining the incident angles of the ultrasonic beams at the substrate second surface such that the ultrasonic beams strike the substrate second surface at an angle that is substantially perpendicular to the complex geometric profile of the substrate second surface by supplying known spatial coordinates to the system to maintain the incident angles of the ultrasonic beams at a predetermined angle relative to the substrate second surface.
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公开(公告)号：US11007635B2
公开(公告)日：2021-05-18
申请号：US16044651
申请日：2018-07-25
Applicant: The Boeing Company
Inventor： Gary E. Georgeson , James J. Troy , Scott W. Lea
Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing gravity compensation to a cable-suspended, vacuum-adhered, tool-equipped crawler vehicle traveling along and following the contour of a non-level surface during the execution of an automated maintenance operation. One technical feature shared by multiple embodiments of the gravity-compensating systems is that a cable spool is operated to wind a portion of the cable from which the vacuum-adhered crawler vehicle is suspended to generate a tensile force that counteracts a gravitational force being exerted on the crawler vehicle during movement. Rotation of the cable spool may be driven by a motor or by a tensioning spring.
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29.发明授权公开(公告)号：US10955310B2
公开(公告)日：2021-03-23
申请号：US16128687
申请日：2018-09-12
Applicant: The Boeing Company
Inventor： Joseph L. Hafenrichter , Gary E. Georgeson
Abstract: A vacuum-adhering apparatus for automated non-destructive inspection (NDI) of airfoil-shaped bodies with improved surface mounting. The apparatus may be used to inspect the leading edge surface and other surfaces of a wind turbine blade, a helicopter rotor blade, or an aircraft wing. The apparatus includes a multiplicity of wheels and a multiplicity of omnidirectional rolling elements rotatably coupled to a flexible substrate made of semi-rigid material. The wheels are configured to enable omnidirectional motion of the flexible substrate. The apparatus further includes flexible vacuum seals supported by the flexible substrate and vacuum adherence devices that keep the wheels frictionally engaged on the surface of the airfoil-shaped body regardless of surface contour. The apparatus also includes a flexible sensor array attached to or integrally formed with the flexible substrate. The crawler vehicle is capable of adhering to and moving over a non-level surface while enabling the sensor array to acquire NDI scan data from the surface under inspection.
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公开(公告)号：US20210002004A1
公开(公告)日：2021-01-07
申请号：US16459081
申请日：2019-07-01
Applicant: The Boeing Company
Inventor： Gary E. Georgeson , Jeong-Beom Ihn , William T. McDowell
Abstract: An aircraft lifecycle in which digital data for an aircraft part is automatically collected, retained, and utilized to individualize aircraft inspection and maintenance is described. Several types of data, including non-destructive evaluation and measurement data and structural health monitoring data, are used in a feedback loop having various phases which may automatically receive data in digital format from other phases. In this manner the part being designed, fabricated, tested, and maintained for the aircraft is optimized and processes involved in the lifecycle of the part is made more efficient.
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