Stabilizing device and method for handheld measurement device

A stabilizing device for a handheld measurement device. An illustrative embodiment of the stabilizing device includes a device harness adapted to receive the handheld measurement device and having a handle opening and a nose opening and at least one harness attachment device carried by the device harness. A method for taking surface measurements with a handheld measurement device is also disclosed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to handheld measurement devices for measuring surface characteristics. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a stabilizing device and method for stabilizing a handheld measurement device against a surface during surface measurements.

BACKGROUND

In various industries including the aerospace industry, handheld measurement devices may be used to measure various characteristics of a fabricated surface such as the chemical properties, coating thickness or thermal damage, for example and without limitation, of the surface. These handheld measurement devices may generally include a body portion having a nose or measurement end and a handle which extends from the body portion. During a measurement scan using the device, a technician may grip the handle and hold the nose or measurement end of the device against the surface which is being measured and squeeze a trigger to activate the device. The measurement which is being taken may require that this position of the device be held for as long as 90 seconds and may require repeated scans. It may therefore become difficult, cumbersome and uncomfortable for the technician to continually hold the device against the surface without movement or wobbling, particularly over the time period which is required for accurate measurement. Any movement of the device during the scan may result in inaccurate measurement spectra.

SUMMARY

The disclosure is generally directed to a stabilizing device for a handheld measurement device. An illustrative embodiment of the stabilizing device includes a device harness adapted to receive the handheld measurement device and having a handle opening and a nose opening and at least one harness attachment device carried by the device harness.

A method for taking surface measurements with a handheld measurement device is also disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the method includes providing a handheld measurement device; providing a device harness; placing the handheld measurement device in the device harness; fastening at least one harness attachment device to the device harness; attaching the at least one harness attachment device to a surface to be measured; and initiating measurement of the surface using the handheld measurement device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is generally directed to a stabilizing device and method for a handheld measurement device which may be used to measure surface characteristics such as the chemical characteristics, coating thickness or thermal damage, for example and without limitation, of a surface. The stabilizing device may stabilize the handheld measurement device against the surface to be measured and prevent or minimize inadvertent hand-induced movement of the handheld measurement device on the surface during the measurement. This may enhance the accuracy of measurements which are taken using the handheld measurement device. As used herein, relative terms such as “side”, “top”, “bottom”, “front” and “rear” are for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed in a limiting sense.

Referring initially toFIG. 5, an illustrative handheld measurement device34which is suitable for implementation of an illustrative embodiment of the stabilizing device and method is shown. The handheld measurement device34may be conventional and may include a generally elongated body portion35. A generally tapered nose portion36may correspond to the measurement end of the body portion35. A generally elongated handle37may extend from the body portion35. In some applications, the handheld measurement device34may be a PHAZIR (trademark) handheld NIR analyzer. However, the stabilizing device1is suitable for use with any type of handheld measurement device34which is adapted to be held against a surface for the purpose of measurement and/or analysis of the surface.

Referring initially toFIGS. 1-4, an illustrative embodiment of the stabilizing device is generally indicated by reference numeral1. The stabilizing device1may include a device harness2. The device harness2may be fabricated of a flexible fabric or sheet material, for example and without limitation, and may include a pair of spaced-apart side harness portions3; a top harness portion4which connects the side harness portions3; a pair of bottom harness portions5,6(FIG. 3) which extend from the respective side harness portions3; and a rear harness portion7. As shown inFIG. 2, a rear opening8may be provided in the rear harness portion7. As shown inFIG. 4, the device harness2may have a harness interior10which may be defined by the side harness portions3; the top harness portion4; the bottom harness portions5and6; and the rear harness portion7. A nose opening9may be defined by the side harness portions3, the top harness portion4and the bottom harness portions5and6and may communicate with the harness interior10.

As shown inFIG. 3, a handle opening14may be defined in the respective edges of the bottom harness portions5and6. A fastening mechanism12may be provided on the bottom harness portions5and6to facilitate detachable fastening of the bottom harness portions5and6to each other. The fastening mechanism12may be any type of mechanism which is suitable for detachably fastening the bottom harness portions5and6to each other, including but not limited to hook and loop fasteners and snaps.

In typical application of the stabilizing device1, which will be hereinafter described, the body portion35(FIG. 5) of the handheld measurement device34is fastened in the harness interior10of the device harness2. The nose portion36of the handheld measurement device34extends through the nose opening9(FIG. 4), whereas the handle37of the handheld measurement device34extends through the handle opening14(FIG. 3), of the device harness2. In accordance with the present disclosure, a stabilizing nose cap40may be detachably fitted to the nose portion36to stabilize the nose portion36against the surface44(FIG. 6) which is to be measured. The stabilizing nose cap40may stabilize the nose portion36by increasing the surface area of contact between the nose portion36and the surface44during measurement.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, at least one harness attachment device21may be fastened to the device harness2. The harness attachment device21may be any type of device which is suitable for detachably attaching or tethering the device harness2to a surface44(FIG. 6) which is to be measured using the handheld measurement device34(FIG. 5), as will be hereinafter described. In some embodiments, the harness attachment device21may include a suction cup22. A suction cup handle23may be attached to the suction cup22. A handle shaft24may extend from the suction cup22, in which case the suction cup handle23may be provided on the handle shaft24.

The suction cup22may be attached or tethered to the device harness2through any suitable arrangement which is suitable for the purpose. In some embodiments, a lanyard ring tab25may extend from the suction cup22. A lanyard ring26may be attached to the lanyard ring tab25. A lanyard clip28, which may be fitted with a lanyard clip latch29, may be attached to the lanyard ring26.

The lanyard clip28may be attached to the device harness2using any suitable attachment technique. In some embodiments, at least one lanyard fastening ring19may be attached to the device harness2. Each lanyard fastening ring19may be attached to the device harness2through a fastening tab18which may be sewn or otherwise attached to the device harness2. The lanyard clip28may be attached to the lanyard fastening ring19by, for example, opening the lanyard clip latch29; sliding the lanyard fastening ring19into the lanyard clip28through the open lanyard clip latch29; and closing the lanyard clip latch29.

The attachment point for the harness attachment device21may be provided at any location on the device harness2which facilitates tethering of the device harness2to the harness attachment device21in such a manner that the nose portion36(FIG. 5) of the handheld measurement device34can be positioned and stabilized against the surface44(FIG. 6) which is to be tested. In some embodiments, multiple attachment points for one or multiple harness attachment devices21may be provided on the device harness2. Accordingly, as shown inFIG. 2, lanyard fastening rings19may be provided on the side harness portions3and the top harness portion4, respectively, of the device harness2. As shown inFIG. 1, an additional lanyard fastening ring19may be provided on one of the bottom harness portions5,6. The multiple attachment points facilitate flexibility in tethering the device harness2to the surface44(FIG. 6) which is to be measured using the handheld measurement device34, depending on the particular application.

Referring next toFIGS. 5 and 6, in typical application of the stabilizing device1, the handheld measurement device34is used to measure one or more characteristics of the surface44. The surface44may be, for example and without limitation, a surface of an aircraft fuselage. The handheld measurement device34may be used to measure such parameters as a coating thickness or thermal damage, for example and without limitation, of the surface44.

As shown inFIG. 5, the stabilizing nose cap40may be fitted on the nose portion36of the handheld measurement device34. The body portion35of the handheld measurement device34may be placed in the harness interior10(FIG. 4) of the device harness2. This may be accomplished by unfastening of the fastening mechanism12(FIG. 3) to detach the bottom harness portions5,6from each other and inserting the body portion35into the open harness interior10. The bottom harness portions5and6are then fastened around the body portion35by re-attachment of the fastening mechanism12, with the nose portion36and the handle37of the handheld measurement device34extending through the nose opening9(FIG. 4) and the handle opening14(FIG. 3), respectively, of the device harness2.

At least one harness attachment device21is attached to the device harness2at one or multiple attachment points (which may be defined by one or more, respectively, of the lanyard fastening rings19) on the device harness2. As shown inFIG. 6, the harness attachment device21is then attached to the surface44which is to be tested. This may be accomplished by grasping the suction cup handle23and pressing the suction cup22against the surface44. The stabilizing nose cap40is placed against the surface44. A technician (not shown) grips the handle37of the handheld measurement device34and places a slight forward tension against the handle37. This maintains the lanyard ring26, lanyard clip28and lanyard fastening ring19to which the lanyard ring26is attached in a taut configuration and the stabilizing nose cap40in a flush and steady stance against the surface44. A trigger (not shown) on the handle37may be squeezed for a time period of typically about 60-90 seconds or more to facilitate the measurement.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the stabilizing device1may prevent inadvertent movement of the handheld measurement device34and impart comfort to the technician throughout the measurement scan. Furthermore, the stabilizing nose cap40may prevent or minimize rocking of the nose portion36with respect to the surface44. This may enhance the quality of the measurement spectra obtained during the scan and prevent or minimize the need for repeated scans. After measurement, the harness attachment device21may be detached from the surface44and the handheld measurement device34may be removed from the device harness2. In some applications, the stabilizing device1may facilitate hands-free operation of the handheld measurement device34.

Referring toFIG. 7, a flow diagram700which illustrates an illustrative method for taking surface measurements with a handheld measurement device is shown. In block702, a handheld measurement device is placed inside a device harness. In block704, the measurement end of the handheld measurement device may be stabilized. This may be facilitated by placing a stabilizing nose cap on the measurement end of the handheld measurement device. In block706, at least one harness attachment device is fastened to the device harness. In block708, the harness attachment device or devices is/are attached to a surface to be measured. In block710, measurement is initiated using the handheld measurement device. In block712, the harness attachment device(s) may be detached from the measured surface.

Referring next toFIGS. 8 and 9, embodiments of the disclosure may be used in the context of an aircraft manufacturing and service method78as shown inFIG. 8and an aircraft94as shown inFIG. 9. During pre-production, exemplary method78may include specification and design80of the aircraft94and material procurement82. During production, component and subassembly manufacturing84and system integration86of the aircraft94takes place. Thereafter, the aircraft94may go through certification and delivery88in order to be placed in service90. While in service by a customer, the aircraft94may be scheduled for routine maintenance and service92(which may also include modification, reconfiguration, refurbishment, and so on).

As shown inFIG. 9, the aircraft94produced by exemplary method78may include an airframe98with a plurality of systems96and an interior100. Examples of high-level systems96include one or more of a propulsion system102, an electrical system104, a hydraulic system106, and an environmental system108. Any number of other systems may be included. Although an aerospace example is shown, the principles of the invention may be applied to other industries, such as the automotive industry.

The apparatus embodied herein may be employed during any one or more of the stages of the production and service method78. For example, components or subassemblies corresponding to production process84may be fabricated or manufactured in a manner similar to components or subassemblies produced while the aircraft94is in service. Also, one or more apparatus embodiments may be utilized during the production stages84and86, for example, by substantially expediting assembly of or reducing the cost of an aircraft94. Similarly, one or more apparatus embodiments may be utilized while the aircraft94is in service, for example and without limitation, to maintenance and service92.