Phased array ultrasonic bolt inspection apparatus and method

摘要

Ultrasonic bolt inspection apparatus and methods facilitate in situ as well as bench non-destructive evaluation (NDE) inspection of fastening bolt distal ends and their mating nuts. The apparatus is coupled to an exposed end of a fastener bolt head, its exposed thread tip or to a mating nut. The apparatus retains a phased array ultrasonic probe that generates inspection scan data and a rotational position encoder that generates rotational position data. The probe is coupled to an ultrasonic inspection system analyzer, which converts scan data into inspection data that characterizes possible defects in the inspected bolt. A system controller is coupled to the analyzer and the rotational position encoder, correlating rotation position data and inspection data, in order to identify location and characteristics of possible defects in the inspected bolt end.

主权项

1. An ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation (NDE) inspection apparatus for a fastening bolt, comprising:
a bolt holding fixture adapted for coupling to an end of a bolt about the bolt circumference, for retaining the bolt during an ultrasonic inspection; a transducer plate rotatively mounted on the holding fixture, having an axis of rotation aligned with an axial centerline of a bolt coupled to the holding fixture; and a phased array ultrasound probe coupled to the transducer plate, having a scanning axis intersecting the bolt circumference when the bolt is coupled to the holding fixture.