Patents by Inventor Steven Ray Walton
Steven Ray Walton 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).
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Publication number: 20190250128Abstract: Method and apparatus for enabling ultrasonic inspection of a changing, insufficiently defined or unknown shape (e.g., a variable radius or a noncircular radius caused by the use of soft tooling) at a rate that meets production requirements. The apparatus comprises a linear ultrasonic array (i.e., sensor) incorporated in a toppler, which in turn is slidably supported by an oscillating sensor mechanism carried by a traveling trailer vehicle. As a result of this arrangement, the sensor can undergo a back-and-forth sweeping motion coupled with motion along the spar radius. The sensor is further able to displace radially relative to a sweep pivot axis and rotate (hereinafter “topple”) about a topple pivot axis. In this manner, the orientation of the sensor can adjust to the contour of the inspected surface as the sensor scans.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: William P. Motzer, James C. Kennedy, Steven Ray Walton, James J. Troy
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Patent number: 10288585Abstract: Method and apparatus for enabling ultrasonic inspection of a changing, insufficiently defined or unknown shape (e.g., a variable radius or a noncircular radius caused by the use of soft tooling) at a rate that meets production requirements. The apparatus comprises a linear ultrasonic array (i.e., sensor) incorporated in a toppler, which in turn is slidably supported by an oscillating sensor mechanism carried by a traveling trailer vehicle. As a result of this arrangement, the sensor can undergo a back-and-forth sweeping motion coupled with motion along the spar radius. The sensor is further able to displace radially relative to a sweep pivot axis and rotate (hereinafter “topple”) about a topple pivot axis. In this manner, the orientation of the sensor can adjust to the contour of the inspected surface as the sensor scans.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: William P. Motzer, James C. Kennedy, Steven Ray Walton, James J. Troy
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Patent number: 10247706Abstract: System and method for enabling ultrasonic inspection of a variable and irregular shape. The system comprises one or more ultrasonic pulser/receivers, one or more ultrasonic transducer arrays, a shoe or jig to hold and position the array(s), data acquisition software to drive the array(s), and data analysis software to select a respective best return signal for each pixel to be displayed. This system starts with information about the general orientation of the array relative to the part and a general predicted part shape. More specific orientation of the transmitted ultrasound beams relative to the part surface is done electronically by phasing the elements in the array(s) to cover the expected (i.e., predicted) surface as well as the full range of part surface variability.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2016Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Michael C. Hutchinson, James C. Kennedy, Barry A. Fetzer, Michael Joseph Duncan, Navpreet S. Grewal, Steven Ray Walton, Hien T. Bui
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Publication number: 20160274066Abstract: Method and apparatus for enabling ultrasonic inspection of a changing, insufficiently defined or unknown shape (e.g., a variable radius or a noncircular radius caused by the use of soft tooling) at a rate that meets production requirements. The apparatus comprises a linear ultrasonic array (i.e., sensor) incorporated in a toppler, which in turn is slidably supported by an oscillating sensor mechanism carried by a traveling trailer vehicle. As a result of this arrangement, the sensor can undergo a back-and-forth sweeping motion coupled with motion along the spar radius. The sensor is further able to displace radially relative to a sweep pivot axis and rotate (hereinafter “topple”) about a topple pivot axis. In this manner, the orientation of the sensor can adjust to the contour of the inspected surface as the sensor scans.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2015Publication date: September 22, 2016Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: William P. Motzer, James C. Kennedy, Steven Ray Walton, James J. Troy
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Publication number: 20160258905Abstract: System and method for enabling ultrasonic inspection of a variable and irregular shape. The system comprises one or more ultrasonic pulser/receivers, one or more ultrasonic transducer arrays, a shoe or jig to hold and position the array(s), data acquisition software to drive the array(s), and data analysis software to select a respective best return signal for each pixel to be displayed. This system starts with information about the general orientation of the array relative to the part and a general predicted part shape. More specific orientation of the transmitted ultrasound beams relative to the part surface is done electronically by phasing the elements in the array(s) to cover the expected (i.e., predicted) surface as well as the full range of part surface variability.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2016Publication date: September 8, 2016Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Michael C. Hutchinson, James C. Kennedy, Barry A. Fetzer, Michael Joseph Duncan, Navpreet S. Grewal, Steven Ray Walton, Hien T. Bui
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Patent number: 9366655Abstract: System and method for enabling ultrasonic inspection of a variable and irregular shape. The system comprises one or more ultrasonic pulser/receivers, one or more ultrasonic transducer arrays, a shoe or jig to hold and position the array(s), data acquisition software to drive the array(s), and data analysis software to select a respective best return signal for each pixel to be displayed. This system starts with information about the general orientation of the array relative to the part and a general predicted part shape. More specific orientation of the transmitted ultrasound beams relative to the part surface is done electronically by phasing the elements in the array(s) to cover the expected (i.e., predicted) surface as well as the full range of part surface variability.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2012Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Michael C. Hutchinson, James C. Kennedy, Barry A. Fetzer, Michael Joseph Duncan, Navpreet S. Grewal, Steven Ray Walton, Hien T. Bui
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Patent number: 9201047Abstract: A system and method for inspecting a joint fillet having a surface whose radius varies along the length of the joint fillet. In one embodiment, the inspection apparatus comprises: a chassis; a shoe assembly supported by the chassis and comprising an axle; a transducer array assembly translatably coupled to the shoe assembly; biasing means for urging the transducer array assembly to translate relative to the shoe assembly in a first direction; and a lever assembly pivotably coupled to the axle of the shoe assembly and in contact with the transducer array assembly over a range of angular positions of the lever assembly. The transducer array will translate in a second direction opposite to the first direction when the net force exerted by the lever assembly is greater than the biasing force exerted by the biasing means. The lever assembly is used to automatically adjust the array position to the varying fillet radius.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2013Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Steven Ray Walton
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Patent number: 9176099Abstract: Method and apparatus for enabling ultrasonic inspection of a changing, insufficiently defined or unknown shape (e.g., a variable radius or a noncircular radius caused by the use of soft tooling) at a rate that meets production requirements. The apparatus comprises a linear ultrasonic array (i.e., sensor) incorporated in a toppler, which in turn is slidably supported by an oscillating sensor mechanism carried by a traveling trailer vehicle. As a result of this arrangement, the sensor can undergo a back-and-forth sweeping motion coupled with motion along the spar radius. The sensor is further able to displace radially relative to a sweep pivot axis and rotate (hereinafter “topple”) about a topple pivot axis. In this manner, the orientation of the sensor can adjust to the contour of the inspected surface as the sensor scans.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2012Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: William P. Motzer, James C. Kennedy, Steven Ray Walton, James J. Troy
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Patent number: 9010684Abstract: A system and method that allow inspection of hollow structures made of composite material, such as an integrally stiffened wing box of an aircraft. A wing box comprises top and bottom skins connected by a plurality of spaced spars. The system employs a plurality of scanners for inspecting different portions of each spar. The system uses dynamically controlled magnetic coupling to connect an external drive tractor to computer-controlled scanners that carry respective sensors, e.g., linear ultrasonic transducer arrays. A system operator can control the various components by means of a graphical user interface comprising multiple interaction regions that represent the individual scanner motion paths and are associated with respective motion script files.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: William P. Motzer, James C. Kennedy, Michael C. Hutchinson, Martin L. Freet, Ronald E. VonWahlde, Steven Ray Walton, Jeffry J. Garvey, Scott W. Lea, James J. Troy, Daniel James Wright, Hien T. Bui, Michael Joseph Duncan, Mark L. Little, William Joseph Tapia, Barry A. Fetzer, Richard C. Krotzer
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Patent number: 8763462Abstract: A probe is used to inspect the health of a corner radius within an elongate internal cavity of a structure. The probe is transported through the cavity on a carriage that maintains the probe a substantially constant distance from the corner radius as the carriage traverses changes in the cross sectional shape of the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Barry A. Fetzer, Patrick Lee Anderson, Hien T. Bui, Steven Ray Walton
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Publication number: 20140005840Abstract: A system and method that allow inspection of hollow structures made of composite material, such as an integrally stiffened wing box of an aircraft. A wing box comprises top and bottom skins connected by a plurality of spaced spars. The system employs a plurality of scanners for inspecting different portions of each spar. The system uses dynamically controlled magnetic coupling to connect an external drive tractor to computer-controlled scanners that carry respective sensors, e.g., linear ultrasonic transducer arrays. A system operator can control the various components by means of a graphical user interface comprising multiple interaction regions that represent the individual scanner motion paths and are associated with respective motion script files.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2012Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: William P. Motzer, James C. Kennedy, Michael C. Hutchinson, Martin L. Freet, Ronald E. VonWahlde, Steven Ray Walton, Jeffry J. Garvey, Scott W. Lea, James J. Troy, Daniel James Wright, Hien T. Bui, Michael Joseph Duncan, Mark L. Little, William Joseph Tapia, Barry A. Fetzer
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Publication number: 20130340531Abstract: System and method for enabling ultrasonic inspection of a variable and irregular shape. The system comprises one or more ultrasonic pulser/receivers, one or more ultrasonic transducer arrays, a shoe or jig to hold and position the array(s), data acquisition software to drive the array(s), and data analysis software to select a respective best return signal for each pixel to be displayed. This system starts with information about the general orientation of the array relative to the part and a general predicted part shape. More specific orientation of the transmitted ultrasound beams relative to the part surface is done electronically by phasing the elements in the array(s) to cover the expected (i.e., predicted) surface as well as the full range of part surface variability.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2012Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Michael C. Hutchinson, James C. Kennedy, Barry A. Fetzer, Michael Joseph Duncan, Navpreet S. Grewal, Steven Ray Walton, Hien T. Bui
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Publication number: 20130298682Abstract: Method and apparatus for enabling ultrasonic inspection of a changing, insufficiently defined or unknown shape (e.g., a variable radius or a noncircular radius caused by the use of soft tooling) at a rate that meets production requirements. The apparatus comprises a linear ultrasonic array (i.e., sensor) incorporated in a toppler, which in turn is slidably supported by an oscillating sensor mechanism carried by a traveling trailer vehicle. As a result of this arrangement, the sensor can undergo a back-and-forth sweeping motion coupled with motion along the spar radius. The sensor is further able to displace radially relative to a sweep pivot axis and rotate (hereinafter “topple”) about a topple pivot axis. In this manner, the orientation of the sensor can adjust to the contour of the inspected surface as the sensor scans.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2012Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: William P. Motzer, James C. Kennedy, Steven Ray Walton, James J. Troy