Patents by Inventor Andrew Bond-Thorley

Andrew Bond-Thorley has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200173937
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a test component and a method of testing a test component for non-destructive testing (NDT) together with a method of validating an NDT process for a component manufactured by an additive manufacturing (AM) process are disclosed. The validation method includes the steps of forming a first test specimen by the AM process, the test specimen containing one or more defects of a specified type and size, confirming both by destructive testing and by a first NDT step the type and size of the defects, forming the component by the said AM process with an aperture to receive the test specimen, forming a second test specimen by the same AM process which contains defects of the same type and size, inserting into the aperture the second test specimen, arranging the performance of a second NDT step on the component for defects, and comparing the results of the first and second NDT steps to validate the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Venkatasubramanian NARAYANAN, Andrew BOND-THORLEY, James EDEN
  • Patent number: 9885690
    Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection tool has a chassis with a two part body, an aperture for providing a clear line of sight between an array and a workpiece, and a series of feet for sliding along the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Bond-Thorley, Neil Hankinson, Richard Freemantle
  • Patent number: 9372174
    Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection probe comprising: a flexible ultrasonic array, a flexible coupling component arranged to ultrasonically couple the flexible ultrasonic array to a workpiece at a coupling boundary surface, a loading component arranged to apply a pressure to the coupling component to a surface opposite the coupling boundary surface to maintain contact between the coupling boundary surface and a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Bond-Thorley, Richard Freemantle
  • Patent number: 9347918
    Abstract: A method is provided in which radiussed components are scanned by moving the focal point of a curved array into the component, while keeping the geometric focal point of the array coincident with that of the radiussed component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Bond-Thorley, Richard Freemantle
  • Patent number: 9335304
    Abstract: A scanner comprises a scanning array mounted within a rotatable assembly having a first wheel on a first side, a second wheel on a second side and a membrane forming a drum around the array wherein a load path is provided between the wheels to divert load from the membrane such that it can be made thinner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Bond-Thorley, Richard Freemantle, Arthur O'Mahony, Luis Rivera, Alun Williams, Andrew Philpot, Neil Hankinson
  • Publication number: 20150226707
    Abstract: An ultrasonic scanner has an encoder contacting a drum containing an array. The scanning assembly can be replaced via a snap fit formation. The encoder and drum are resiliently biased and movable relative to the chassis. The array can also be movable relative to the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventor: Andrew BOND-THORLEY
  • Publication number: 20150219602
    Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection tool has a chassis with a two part body, an aperture for providing a clear line of sight between an array and a workpiece, and a series of feet for sliding along the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Bond-Thorley, Neil Hankinson, Richard Freemantle
  • Patent number: 9010187
    Abstract: An ultrasonic scanner has an encoder contacting a drum containing an array. The scanning assembly can be replaced via a snap fit formation. The encoder and drum are resiliently biased and movable relative to the chassis. The array can also be movable relative to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Bond-Thorley
  • Patent number: 8931343
    Abstract: An inspection device (300) has an ultrasonic transducer (304) encased in a couplant block (302) mounted in a housing (328). The housing (328) has a pair of encoders (340, 342) mounted thereto. The transducer (304) is mounted to scan perpendicular to the contact surface (306) of the block (302). A coupling block with a PTFE layer on the contact surface is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Bond-Thorley
  • Publication number: 20140007689
    Abstract: A scanner comprises a scanning array mounted within a rotatable assembly having a first wheel on a first side, a second wheel on a second side and a membrane forming a drum around the array wherein a load path is provided between the wheels to divert load from the membrane such that it can be made thinner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Bond-Thorley, Richard Freemantle, Arthur Omahony, Luis Rivera, Alun Williams, Andrew Philpot, Neil Hankinson
  • Publication number: 20140000370
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for scanning a workpiece (100) comprises providing an insert (120) insertable within a countersunk bore (106), the insert (120) being acoustically mounted to the workpiece (100) in order to scan regions below the countersunk area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Bond-Thorley, Richard Freemantell, Luis Rivera, Andrew Philpot, Alun Williams, Arthur O'Mahony
  • Patent number: 8578779
    Abstract: An ultrasound scanner (100) which has a plurality of ultrasound transducers (104) directed normal to a scanning surface (106) to scan a workpiece (114), the scanner (100) comprising a couplant filled latex rubber sheath (106) shaped to the surface of a workpiece (114).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Bond-Thorley
  • Publication number: 20130233082
    Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection probe comprising: a flexible ultrasonic array, a flexible coupling component arranged to ultrasonically couple the flexible ultrasonic array to a workpiece at a coupling boundary surface, a loading component arranged to apply a pressure to the coupling component to a surface opposite the coupling boundary surface to maintain contact between the coupling boundary surface and a workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Bond-Thorley, Richard Freemantle
  • Publication number: 20110107837
    Abstract: An inspection device (300) has an ultrasonic transducer (304) encased in a couplant block (302) mounted in a housing (328). The housing (328) has a pair of encoders (340, 342) mounted thereto. The transducer (304) is mounted to scan perpendicular to the contact surface (306) of the block (302). A coupling block with a PTFE layer on the contact surface is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventor: Andrew Bond-Thorley
  • Publication number: 20110100128
    Abstract: An ultrasound scanner (100) which has a pluralityofultrasound transducers (104) directed normal to a scanning surface (106) to scan a workpiece (114), the scanner (100) comprising a couplant filled latex rubber sheath (106) shaped to the surface of a workpiece (114).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Bond-Thorley
  • Publication number: 20110013486
    Abstract: An ultrasonic scanner has an encoder contacting a drum containing an array. The scanning assembly can be replaced via a snap fit formation. The encoder and drum are resiliently biased and movable relative to the chassis. The array can also be movable relative to the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LTD
    Inventor: Andrew Bond-Thorley