Patent ID: 11920915
Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  B | IPC B  G

Claim 10:
11. A method for measuring at a hole, comprising:
inserting a sheathe and a bushing of a hand tool through the hole until an endplate of the hand tool contacts a surface at a proximate end of the hole, wherein the sheathe surrounds the bushing and the bushing surrounds a fiber optic probe;
retracting the sheathe axially back through the hole with respect to the bushing and the endplate to expand a diameter of the sheathe until prongs disposed at the sheathe exceed a diameter of the hole;
continuing retracting the sheathe until the prongs contact a surface at a distal end of the hole such that the prongs and the endplate clamp the hand tool within the hole between the surface at the proximate end of the hole and the surface at the distal end of the hole; and
once the hand tool is clamped, driving the fiber optic probe of the hand tool through the sheathe and the bushing into the hole to begin inspecting walls of the hole.