A test unit (412) has an aerial drone (414) which deploys an NDE scanner (416) on a metal surface of the EUT (26) from an aerial drone (414). The test unit (412) has a winch (424) with a winch drive motor (504) and a drive pulley (520) for dispensing and retrieving a deployment tether (418). The winch (424) also includes a reel motor (502) and a reel (496) on which the deployment tether (418) is spooled. The winch drive motor (504) and the reel motor (502) are synchronized to provide a take-up loop (546) formed of the deployment tether (418) which extends between the drive pulley (520) and the reel (496). A take-up arm (512) is connected between the take-up loop (546) and a position sensor (514) for determining the length (544) of the take-up loop (546). The deployment tether (418) is preferably provided by a cogged drive belt.
A aerial drone deployed NDE scanner test unit (12) has a yoke to which four sets of offset pins (294, 354) pivotally secure a sensor probe (232) in a configuration for rotating about the X-axis and the Y-axis with constrained rotation. Each set of the offset pins (294, 354) are spaced apart, with the ends closest to the terminal ends of the sensor probe (232) and an BUT (26) being more closely spaced than opposite ends of the offset pins (294, 354). The NDE scanner (16) is deployed from an aerial drone (14) with a cable (18) and an umbilical (20) connecting there-between. The cable (18) selectively secures the NDE scanner (16) to the aerial drone (14) and the umbilical (20) provides data and fluid connections. The NDE scanner (16) has a stand-off mechanism (118) which is selectively operated to engage and disengage the magnetic wheels (94) of the NDE scanner (16) from a metal surface of the BUT (26).
A straight line mechanism with anti-tip features is disclosed having a four bar linkage with two fixed rotation pins and two floating rotation pins. A link extends through the two floating pins and downward beneath the floating pins to define a swing arm. A yoke is mounted in cantilevered arrangement from a lower end of the swing arm by means of two spaced apart offset pins, with the mounting spacing thereof being more closely spaced and at a lower elevation at the swing arm than at the yoke. A probe is pivotally mounted in an end of the yoke disposed opposite of the swing arm, free to rotate in an angular direction about an X-axis disposed transverse to a direction of travel along a Y axis and constrained to travel along the Z-axis, which is preferably perpendicular to the Y-axis.
G01N 29/22 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic wavesVisualisation of the interior of objects by transmitting ultrasonic or sonic waves through the object Details
G01N 29/265 - Arrangements for orientation or scanning by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material
G01N 25/00 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of thermal means
G01N 29/26 - Arrangements for orientation or scanning
F16H 21/44 - Gearings comprising primarily only links or levers, with or without slides all movement being in, or parallel to, a single plane for conveying or interconverting oscillating or reciprocating motions
G01M 15/14 - Testing gas-turbine engines or jet-propulsion engines
G01M 3/18 - Investigating fluid tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using electric detection means for pipes, cables, or tubesInvestigating fluid tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using electric detection means for pipe joints or sealsInvestigating fluid tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using electric detection means for valves
F16M 13/02 - Other supports for positioning apparatus or articlesMeans for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
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