Composite material laser flaw detection
US5562788A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 20, 1994 |
| Grant date | Oct 8, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 20, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T156/1788
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of and apparatus for detecting flaws on a composite surface laid-up by a fiber placement machine. The invention includes a vision imaging system (78) mounted on the machine so that it has a field of view of the composite tows after they have been compacted by a compaction roller (74). In one embodiment, the visual imaging system (78) includes a laser analog displacement sensor. The imaging system provides a computer analysis system (84) with data regarding the location of the edges of the individual composite tows. The computer imaging system (84) uses the tow edge location data to compute the location and size of gaps or overlaps between the tows or the presence of foreign material. This information is useful in quality control models to evaluate the manufacturing process or final part quality.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.