Rivet Measurement System for Concentricity Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for inspecting rivet parameters in vehicle manufacturing, such as concentricity, often require destructive testing, which is time-consuming and costly, and non-destructive methods like x-ray systems are inefficient due to the need for disassembly and reassembly.

Innovation Solution

A rivet measurement system that uses a combination of non-destructive testing measurements, such as button height and diameter, to create a statistical model predicting rivet concentricity, allowing for non-destructive evaluation against specification limits without disassembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If destructive testing is used to obtain rivet concentricity measurements, then measurement accuracy is improved, but manufacturing time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverivet concentricity measurementVSAvoidmanufacturing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a statistical model that copies the relationship between easily measurable parameters (button height, button diameter) and difficult-to-measure parameters (concentricity). This model serves as a virtual copy of the destructive testing process, allowing prediction of concentricity values without actual destructive measurement, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the measurement approach by changing from direct measurement of concentricity (requiring rivet removal) to measurement of alternative parameters (button height and diameter) that can be measured non-destructively. The statistical model establishes relationships between these parameter sets, enabling indirect but accurate assessment of concentricity without time-consuming destructive testing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If destructive testing is used to obtain rivet concentricity measurements, then measurement accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverivet concentricity measurementVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The statistical model creates a virtual representation of the destructive testing outcome, copying the concentricity values that would be obtained through destructive measurement. This allows the manufacturing process to rely on inexpensive non-destructive measurements instead of costly destructive testing, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses inexpensive non-destructive measurement methods (button height and diameter measurements) as substitutes for expensive destructive testing. These cheap measurement approaches provide sufficient information through the statistical model, eliminating the need for costly rivet removal and reinstallation processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Measurement precision

If non-destructive testing with x-ray systems is used, then rivet inspection is performed, but disassembly and reassembly are required making the process inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverivet parameter measurementVSAvoidinspection process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential measurement information needed for quality control (concentricity prediction) from the complex x-ray inspection process. By identifying that button height and diameter measurements are sufficient predictors of concentricity, the method eliminates the need for complex disassembly and x-ray imaging, simplifying the inspection process while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using complex x-ray systems to directly image rivet concentricity, the patent inverts the approach by measuring simple external parameters (button dimensions) and using statistical relationships to infer the internal concentricity property. This indirect approach simplifies the measurement system while achieving the same inspection goal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11327067B2Rivet measurement system

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A method, system, and apparatus for a rivet measurement system for non-destructive testing measurements comprising a first measurement apparatus, a second measurement apparatus and a rivet analyzer. The first measurement apparatus acquires non-destructive testing measurements for sample production grade rivets of a particular class installed in a production vehicle structure. The second measurement apparatus acquires destructive testing measurements for the sample production grade rivets of the particular class. The rivet analyzer creates a statistical model representing a relationship between the non-destructive testing measurements and destructive testing measurements of the production grade rivets and to acquire the non-destructive testing measurements for the button height and the button diameter for additional production grade rivets, predict rivet button concentricity from the non-destructive testing measurements for the button height and the button diameter using the statistical model and determine whether the additional production grade rivets installed in the production vehicle structure are acceptable.