Patent · US Expired

Probe for inspecting countersunk holes in conductive bodies

US4996492A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
12References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 7, 1989
Grant dateFeb 26, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 7, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01B7/28
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A probe (20) that inspects a countersunk hole (21) in a conductive body, such as an aircraft part (22), is provided. A plurality of nested cylinders form an electrode cartridge (54) with a countersink portion (74) having a frustoconical shape and a hole portion (76) having a cylindrical shape. A plurality of lower hole electrode strips (72) are mounted on a lower hole cylinder (110) and a plurality of upper hole electrode strips (70) are mounted on an upper hole cylinder (116). A plurality of lower countersink electrode strips (68) are coupled to a lower countersink cylinder (124) and a plurality of upper countersink electrode strips (66) are coupled to an upper countersink cylinder (132). A dielectric layer (64) covers a plurality of measuring electrode tips (67, 69, 71 and 73) and an outer surface (150) of the hole and countersink portions (76 and 74). A grounding electrode (158) is mounted on the upper hole cylinder ( 116). A ground wire (162) is coupled to the grounding electrode (158) and extends beyond the dielectric layer (64). When probe (20) is inserted into the countersunk hole (21), the countersunk hole (21) is grounded by the ground wire (162). A charging current applie…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.