Base interface wear indicator

Abstract

A base for analyzing a component is provided. The base includes a housing, an NDT probe disposed on a side of the housing, and a base interface. The base interface is disposed at the side of the housing and contacts the component during analysis of the component. The base interface separates the NDT probe from the component during analysis of the component and moves along the component during analysis of the component. The base also includes a first wear indicator and a second wear indicator. The first wear indicator indicates that the base interface is usable during analysis of the component. The second wear indicator indicates that the base interface should be replaced. Both wear indicators are configured similarly to the base interface and move along the component while the base analyzes the component.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. patent application serial number 17 / 000,508, filed on August 24, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This document relates generally, but not by way of limitation, to mounts for use with non-destructive testing (NDT) inspection devices that can be used to analyze components. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this application relates to wear indicators for mounts that can be used in supporting the analysis of components. Background Art

[0004] Eddy current testing (ECT) is used for various components requiring non-destructive testing. For example, components used in aerospace applications, such as fuselages and aircraft wings, and components in the petrochemical industry, such as metal pipes and other alloy piping, need to be analyzed to detect potential safety-related or quality-related issues. ECT can be used to detect cracks in metal sheets and pipes and identify corrosion beneath the metal surface. Furthermore, ECT can be used to monitor the effects of heat treatment on components and determine the thickness of non-conductive coatings over conductive coatings.

[0005] Typically, ECT requires an eddy current probe, which generates an oscillating magnetic field caused by an alternating current flowing through a coil. When the eddy current probe is brought close to a conductive material, such as a metal fuselage, eddy currents move through the material. Variations in the metal's thickness, or any defects therein, alter the amplitude and pattern of the eddy currents and the resulting magnetic field. The altered amplitude and pattern of the eddy currents changes the impedance in the probe's coil, which can be used by the operator to identify variations and / or defects in the component.

[0006] To maintain the functionality of an eddy current probe, it should be spaced apart from the component during analysis. Typically, a spacer is used to separate the eddy current probe from the component while allowing the probe to remain close enough to the component for proper analysis. For example, an interface may move along the component during ECT with an eddy current probe. However, the interface may wear to the point where the eddy current probe may begin to contact the component during analysis. Contact between the eddy current probe and the component can lead to premature wear of the eddy current probe. Summary of the Invention

[0007] What is needed is a mount that minimizes the likelihood of an eddy current probe contacting a component during analysis of the component. Additionally, the mount should provide an indication to the user that the mount's interface separates the eddy current probe from the component while allowing analysis to proceed through the eddy current probe that should be replaced.

[0008] Examples of the present disclosure address the aforementioned issues by providing a wear indicator for an interface of a base used for component analysis. In an implementation, the base may include a housing, a non-destructive testing (NDT) probe disposed at a side of the housing, and a base interface disposed at the side of the housing. The base may also include a first wear indicator and a second wear indicator. In an implementation, the NDT probe may analyze the component while remaining separate from the component. In an implementation, the base interface may contact the component during analysis while simultaneously spacing the NDT probe from the component. The base interface may have a cylindrical configuration and move along the component as the NDT probe analyzes the component. The first wear indicator and the second wear indicator may provide a visual indication of whether the base interface should be replaced or otherwise repaired. For example, if only the first wear indicator is visible, the base interface may be used for additional analysis, e.g., without the need to replace or otherwise repair the base interface. In an implementation, if the second wear indicator is visible, the visibility of the second wear indicator indicates that the base interface should be replaced or otherwise repaired.

[0009] In an implementation, the first wear indicator can be a first color, and the second wear indicator can be a second color different from the first color. Furthermore, the first wear indicator can be positioned above the second wear indicator such that only the first wear indicator can be visible when the base interface is available during analysis of the component. In an implementation, the base interface can be formed of a first material having a first hardness, and each of the first wear indicator and the second wear indicator can be formed of a second material having a second hardness that can be less than the first hardness of the first material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 An environmental view of a base according to examples of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0011] Figure 2 Illustrated is a reference to an example according to the present disclosure Figure 1 A perspective view of the base is shown.

[0012] Figure 3 Illustrated is a reference to an example according to the present disclosure Figure 2 A perspective view of the base interface of the base is shown.

[0013] Figures 4 to 6 The example according to the present disclosure is shown Figure 3 Wear indicator for the base interface.

[0014] Figure 7 and Figure 8 Illustrated is a reference to an example according to the present disclosure Figures 4 to 6The wear indicator pattern is shown.

[0015] Figure 9 and Figure 10 The example according to the present disclosure is shown Figure 3 Wear indicator for the base interface.

[0016] Figures 11 to 13 Reference to an example according to the present disclosure is shown Figure 3 Various configurations of the surface of the base are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Examples of the present disclosure address the aforementioned issues by providing a wear indicator for an interface of a base used for component analysis. In an implementation, the base may include a housing, an NDT probe disposed at a side of the housing, and a base interface disposed at the side of the housing. The base may also include a first wear indicator and a second wear indicator. In an implementation, the NDT probe may analyze the component while remaining separate from the component. In an implementation, the base interface may contact the component during analysis while simultaneously spacing the NDT probe from the component. The base interface may have a cylindrical configuration and move along the component as the NDT probe analyzes the component. The first wear indicator and the second wear indicator may provide a visual indication of whether the base interface should be replaced. For example, if only the first wear indicator is visible, the base interface may be used for additional analysis, e.g., without the need to replace the base interface. In an implementation, if the second wear indicator is visible, the visibility of the second wear indicator indicates that the base interface should be replaced.

[0018] Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1 , according to an implementation of the present disclosure, a base 100 is used to inspect an environment of a component 102. Although the component 102 is Figure 1 Although shown as a tube, component 102 may be any component, such as, but not limited to, a pressure vessel, an aircraft wing, an aircraft fuselage, a railroad track, a railcar wheel, a hull of a marine or other vessel, or any other type of component. Furthermore, component 102 may be formed from any type of material, including, but not limited to, steel, aluminum, metal alloys, polymers (partials), and the like. In an implementation, base 100 is capable of performing any number of tests on component 102, such as weld inspection, conductivity testing, surface inspection, corrosion detection, bolt hole inspection, pipe inspection, and the like.

[0019] The base 100 may include a housing 200 having a side portion on which a base interface 202 may be located, as shown in FIG. Figure 2As shown. Throughout the specification, reference will be made to one base interface 202 and multiple base interfaces 202. It should be noted that each of these terms is interchangeable. The housing 200 can be formed by a 3D printing process, wherein the housing 200 is formed from nylon. The housing 200 can be formed using other techniques such as casting, injection molding, or any other suitable technique. The housing 200 can also be formed from any type of metal alloy, thermoplastic, or any other type of rigid material, as well as any material suitable for three-dimensional printing.

[0020] The base interface 202 may have a cylindrical configuration, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 As shown. One of the base interfaces 202 may include a body 300 having a cylindrical configuration, which may be formed from carbide. However, it should be noted that in addition to the cylindrical configuration, the body 300 may also have a square or triangular configuration. In addition to carbide, the body 300 may also be formed from: metal alloys such as steel, iron, etc.; plastic materials including polyethylene, polyamide nylon, polyetheretherketone, etc. In an implementation in which the body 300 has a cylindrical configuration, the body 300 may have a diameter in the range of about 3.0 mm to about 7.0 mm. In addition, the body 300 may have a diameter of about 6.3 mm. In addition to the body 300, the base interface 202 may also have a wear indicator 302 and a wear indicator 304. In an implementation, the wear indicators 302 and 304 may be provided at the ends of the body 300. Depending on the implementation of the present disclosure, wear indicators 302 and 304 may be positioned at any location relative to body 300, such as at a mid-portion of body 300 or anywhere between ends 306 and 308 of body 300. It should be noted that while an embodiment having two wear indicators is disclosed, the base interface may have any number of wear indicators, such as three, four, or five wear indicators, wherein the wear indicators may have the features of wear indicators 302 and 304 described herein.

[0021] Each of wear indicators 302 and 304 can be formed from a material that is softer than the material used to form body 300. In other words, the material hardness of body 300 can be greater than the material hardness of wear indicators 302 and 304. In an implementation, wear indicators 302 and 304 can each be formed from plastic, nylon, or an alloy that has a hardness less than that of body 300. Therefore, as the surface of body 300 wears away during use of base 100, wear indicators 302 and 304 will also wear away.

[0022] In implementations, the wear indicators 302 and 304 are used to inform an operator of the base 100 when the base interface 202 should be replaced. In implementations, the base interface 202 should be replaced when the body 300 is worn due to use of the base 100. In implementations, when the base 100 is used to analyze a component 102, the body 300, as well as the wear indicators 302 and 304, can become worn due to friction that can occur between the base interface 202 and the component 102 as the base interface 202 contacts and moves over the surface of the component 102. In implementations, the wear indicator 302 can be formed around the wear indicator 304, as shown more clearly with reference to Figure 4 Thus, in implementations, because the wear indicator 302 is disposed around and covers the wear indicator 304, the wear indicator 302 is thus worn before the wear indicator 304. In implementations, the wear indicator 302 has a hollow portion 500, as shown with reference to Figure 5 Thus, in implementations, because the wear indicator 302 is disposed around and covers the wear indicator 304, the wear indicator 302 is thus worn before the wear indicator 304. In implementations, the wear indicator 302 has a hollow portion 500, as shown with reference to Figure 5 Thus, in implementations, because the wear indicator 302 is disposed around and covers the wear indicator 304, the wear indicator 302 is thus worn before the wear indicator 304. In implementations, the wear indicator 302 has a hollow portion 500, as shown with reference to Figure 6 Thus, in implementations, because the wear indicator 302 is disposed around and covers the wear indicator 304, the wear indicator 302 is thus worn before the wear indicator 304. In implementations, the wear indicator 302 has a hollow portion 500, as shown with reference to

[0023] In implementations, the wear indicator 302 can be formed of a first color, such as green, while the wear indicator 304 can be formed of a different color, such as red. It should be noted that although the wear indicator 302 is described as having a first color and a second color, the wear indicator 302 can have a first indicator, and the wear indicator 304 can have a second indicator that is different from the first indicator. For example, the first indicator can have a pattern 700, as shown with reference to Figure 7 while the second indicator can have a pattern 800 that is different from the pattern 700, as shown with reference to Figure 8 Further, in implementations that use more than two wear indicators, such as three, four, or five wear indicators, each of the wear indicators can have a different color or pattern.

[0024] In an implementation, because each of the wear indicators 302 and 304 is formed of a material having a hardness less than that of the body 300, each of the wear indicators 302 and 304 may wear at the same rate as the body 300 as the body 300 wears through use of the base 100. As described above, in an implementation, during use of the base 100, the body 300 and the wear indicators 302 and 304 may wear due to friction that may occur between the base interface 202 and the component 102 as the base interface 202 contacts and moves over the surface of the component 102. The wear indicators 302 and 304 provide a visual indication of the wear state of the body 300 and the base interface 202 to an operator of the base 100. For example, if only the wear indicator 302 is visible, such as only the green color or pattern 700 is visible, this serves as a visual indication to the operator that the body 300 has not worn to the point where it is no longer usable. Therefore, the base interface 202 does not need to be replaced. Reference Figure 9 An implementation is shown where only the wear indicator 302 is visible. In an implementation, the wear indicator 302 wears away along with the body 300 during use of the base 100. In an implementation, if the wear indicator 304 is also visible, for example, both the green and red colors or both the patterns 700 and 800 are visible because the wear indicator 302 has worn away to the point where the wear indicator 304 underneath it is now exposed, this serves as a visual indication to an operator of the base 100 that the body 300 has worn away and the base interface 202 should be replaced. Figure 10 An implementation is shown in which both wear indicators 302 and 304 are visible. Thus, during a visual inspection of base 100, an operator can easily determine the status of wear indicators 302 and 304, and therefore whether base interface 202 should be replaced.

[0025] Back to Figure 2 The base 100 may include a probe 204 for inspecting the component 102. In an implementation, the probe 204 may be an NDT probe, such as an eddy current probe, a time-of-flight diffraction transducer (TOFD), a phased array sensor, an acoustic probe, or any other type of NDT sensor. During operation of the base 100, the probe 204 performs tests on the component 102, such as the aforementioned weld inspection, conductivity testing, surface inspection, or corrosion detection. In an implementation, when the base 100 inspects the component 102, the base interface 202 physically contacts the component 102 and separates the probe 204 from the surface of the component 102. In an implementation, the probe 204 may be separated from the surface of the component 102 by a range of approximately 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm.

[0026] The base 100 may also include impact protectors 206 and 208 that can be used to protect the housing 200, the base interface 202, and the probe 204 during use of the base 100. The impact protectors 206 and 208 can be formed using a 3D printing process, wherein the impact protectors 206 and 208 are formed from nylon. The impact protectors 206 and 208 can also be formed using other techniques such as casting, injection molding, or any other suitable technique. The impact protectors 206 and 208 can also be formed from any type of metal alloy, thermoplastic, or any other type of rigid material.

[0027] As described above, base 100 can be used to perform various types of testing, inspection, and testing. For example, base 100 can perform weld inspections, where probe 204 can perform subsurface testing of component 102 using ultrasonic NDT, while complementary eddy current methods can be used to scan the surface to find open surface cracks on weld caps and in the heat-affected zone of component 102. Base 100 can also perform conductivity testing, where probe 204's ability to measure conductivity can be used to identify and sort ferrous and non-ferrous alloys and verify heat treatment of component 102. Base 100 can also be used to inspect component 102 for surface cracks using probe 204. In implementations where component 102 corresponds to a thin metal alloy, such as aluminum aircraft skin, base 100 can be used for corrosion testing, where probe 204 can be used to detect and quantify corrosion within the thin metal alloy. In this case, probe 204 can be a low-frequency probe and can be used to locate corrosion on secondary and tertiary metal layers that cannot be inspected ultrasonically. Furthermore, in implementations where component 102 corresponds to a pipeline, base 100 may be used for in-line inspection of the pipeline during the manufacturing phase as well as for in-situ inspection of the pipeline where probe 204 may be an eddy current probe.

[0028] For the applications mentioned above, the base 100 can have various configurations that can allow for testing components having different configurations. For example, as described above, the component 102 has a circular configuration, wherein the base 100 inspects the outer surface of the component 102. In this implementation, the base 100 has a circular configuration as described above. Figure 11 Curved surface 1100 is shown. In this implementation, base 100 can include base interface 202 disposed along curved surface 1100. Additionally, probe 204 can have a configuration similar to curved surface 1100 such that probe 204 can inspect components, such as component 102, during use of base 100.

[0029] The base 100 may also have Figure 12In particular, if the base 100 is used with a component having a generally flat surface, the base 100 may include a flat surface as shown in FIG. Figure 12 Surface 1200 is shown, which is generally flat. In this configuration, base interface 202 and probe 204 are positioned along surface 1200 to facilitate use of base 100 with components having flat surfaces.

[0030] Furthermore, the base 100 may have a convex configuration, as shown in FIG. Figure 13 As shown. In this implementation, the base 100 includes a curved surface 1300, which allows the base 100 to have a convex configuration. In some implementations, a base having this configuration can be used to inspect the inner diameter of a tubular structure such as a pipe, a pressure vessel, etc. In this implementation, the base interface 202 is arranged around the curved surface 1300 so that the base interface 202 has a convex configuration. Similarly, the probe 204 can also have a convex configuration, as described with respect to FIG. Figure 13 It should be noted that although the base 100 is shown with reference to Figures 11 to 13 The configurations shown are illustrated, but the base 100 is not limited to these configurations and other configurations are contemplated according to implementations of the present disclosure.

[0031] The above detailed description includes reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The accompanying drawings show specific examples that can implement the present invention by way of illustration. These examples are also referred to as examples in this article. Such examples may include elements other than those shown or described. However, the inventors have also contemplated examples in which only those elements shown or described are provided. In addition, the inventors have also contemplated examples of any combination or arrangement of those elements (or one or more aspects of those elements) shown or described with respect to a specific example (or one or more aspects of a specific example) or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects of other examples) shown or described herein.

[0032] In this document, the terms a or an are used to include one or more than one, independent of any other instances or usages of "at least one" or "one or more." In this document, the term or is used to mean a nonexclusive or, such that A or B includes A but not B, B but not A, and A and B. In this document, the terms including and in which are used as the plain English equivalents of the respective terms including and wherein. Also, in the following claims, the terms including and including are open-ended, that is, a system, device, article, composition, formulation, or process that includes elements in addition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the following claims, the terms first, second, and third, etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.

[0033] The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) can be used in combination with each other. Other examples can be used in addition to those described above, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is provided to allow a reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that the Abstract is not to be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features can be grouped together or described in a single example for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that the claimed subject matter requires more features than are expressly identified in each claim. Rather, the inventiveness can lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed example. The following claims are hereby expressly incorporated by reference as examples or instances of the subject matter disclosed herein. In terms of this disclosure, each claim is hereby incorporated by reference as a separate example or instance. Thus, the subject matter recited in the following claims is not to be construed simply based on the context provided by the description contained above, but rather is to be interpreted as defining the metes and bounds of the claimed subject matter based on the words of the claims themselves.

Claims

1. A base for analyzing a component, the base comprising: case; a non-destructive testing (NDT) probe disposed on a side of the housing; a base interface disposed at the side of the housing, the base interface configured to contact the component during analysis of the component while separating the NDT probe from the component during analysis of the component, the base interface configured to move along the component; a first wear indicator configured to move along the component; as well as a second wear indicator configured to move along the component; in: each of the base interface, the first wear indicator, and the second wear indicator having a cylindrical configuration; The base interface, the first wear indicator, and the second wear indicator are coaxial with each other; and The first wear indicator is arranged around and covers the second wear indicator such that the second wear indicator is visible when the first wear indicator is worn. 2 . The base of claim 1 , further comprising an impact protector disposed at an end of the shell.

3. The base according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein: The NDT probe is an eddy current probe.

4. The base according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein: The NDT probe is an acoustic probe.

5. The base according to claim 1, wherein The first wear indicator indicates that the base interface is usable during analysis of the component, and the second wear indicator indicates that the base interface should be replaced.

6. The base according to claim 5, wherein The first wear indicator is a first pattern and the second wear indicator is a second pattern different from the first pattern.

7. The base according to claim 5, wherein: The first wear indicator is a first color and the second wear indicator is a second color different from the first color.

8. The base according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: A portion of the second wear indicator is visible when the base interface should be replaced.

9. The base according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The base interface is formed of a first material having a first hardness, and each of the first wear indicator and the second wear indicator is formed of a second material having a second hardness that is less than the first hardness of the first material.

10. The base according to claim 9, wherein: The first material is carbide and the second material is plastic.

11. A base for analyzing a component, the base comprising: case; a non-destructive testing (NDT) probe disposed at a side of the housing; a base interface disposed at the side of the housing, the base interface configured to contact the component while separating the NDT probe from the component during analysis of the component, the base interface configured to move along the component; a first wear indicator indicating that the base interface is usable during analysis of the component, the first wear indicator configured to move along the component; as well as a second wear indicator indicating that the base interface should be replaced, the second wear indicator being configured to move along the component during analysis of the component; in: each of the base interface, the first wear indicator, and the second wear indicator having a cylindrical configuration; The base interface, the first wear indicator, and the second wear indicator are coaxial with each other; and The first wear indicator is arranged around and covers the second wear indicator such that the second wear indicator is visible when the first wear indicator is worn.

12. The mount of claim 11, further comprising impact protectors disposed at ends of the shell.

13. The base according to any one of claims 11 or 12, wherein The first wear indicator is a first color, and the second wear indicator is a second color different from the first color, and wherein a portion of the second wear indicator is visible when the base interface should be replaced.

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