Inspection robot with couplant chamber disposed within sled for acoustic coupling

US10698412B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Gecko Robotics, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Mark Loosararian · Glenshaw, US
• Joshua Moore · Pittsburgh, US
• Yizhu Gu · Pittsburgh, US
• Kevin Y. Low · Pittsburgh, US
• Edward A. Bryner · Pittsburgh, US
• Logan MacKenzie · Penn Hills, US
• Ian Miller · Aspinwall, US
• Alvin Chou · Alpharetta, US
• Todd Joslin · Wexford, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 22, 2017
• Grant date: Jun 30, 2020
• Expiry date: Dec 22, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05D1/0038
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A system includes an inspection robot having a number of payloads, a number of arms mounted to the payloads, and a number of sleds mounted to the arms. The system includes a number of sensors, each mounted to a corresponding sled, such that the sensor is operationally coupleable to an inspection surface in contact with a bottom surface of the corresponding sled. A couplant chamber is provided within at least two of the sleds, the couplant chamber between a transducer of a sensor and the inspection surface. The system includes a biasing member for each of the arms, where the biasing member provides a down force on the corresponding sled.